Justice

Renee Zellweger Speaks out on 'Snark Entertainment'

August 5th 2016

Renee Zellweger, following in the footsteps of Jennifer Aniston, is putting her critics on blast via an essay published on The Huffington Post. Zellweger has a lot to say about "snark entertainment" and how it degrades women.

Though most women cannot, admittedly, relate to Zellweger's paparazzi problems, there are a few passages in her op-ed that ring true for any woman who has struggled with body image.

Zellweger, who was criticized for supposedly getting plastic surgery on her face, is first setting that record straight:

"Not that it’s anyone’s business, but I did not make a decision to alter my face and have surgery on my eyes."

It seems unfair that she even has to clarify that to anyone. She continues:

"Although we have evolved to acknowledge the importance of female participation in determining the success of society, and take for granted that women are standard bearers in all realms of high profile position and influence, the double standard used to diminish our contributions remains, and is perpetuated by the negative conversation which enters our consciousness every day as snark entertainment.

"Too skinny, too fat, showing age, better as a brunette, cellulite thighs, facelift scandal, going bald, fat belly or bump? Ugly shoes, ugly feet, ugly smile, ugly hands, ugly dress, ugly laugh; headline material which emphasizes the implied variables meant to determine a person’s worth, and serve as parameters around a very narrow suggested margin within which every one of us must exist in order to be considered socially acceptable and professionally valuable, and to avoid painful ridicule. The resulting message is problematic for younger generations and impressionable minds, and undoubtably [sic] triggers myriad subsequent issues regarding conformity, prejudice, equality, self acceptance, bullying and health."

The good news is that many women, both celebrity and non-celebrity alike, are standing up to these pervasive (and generally unrealistic) body standards by proudly sharing photos of their cellulite or "bumps."

For every "thigh gap" or "ab crack" there are women who are challenging those images with images of their own "imperfect" bodies.

Let's continue to celebrate this trend, where women are maybe, perhaps finally starting to be satisfied with their bodies, and let's leave Bridget Jones alone.

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