Jennifer Livingston, a television anchorwoman in LaCrosse, Wisconsin responded on-air yesterday to an email she received from a man criticizing her weight.
Livingston didn’t identify the man, who wrote that he was surprised to see her “physical condition hadn’t improved for years.” He added, “Surely you don’t consider yourself a suitable example for this community’s young people, girls in particular.”
Livingston responded with a 4-minute editorial on bullying. “You don’t know me,” she said to the letter-writer. “You are not a friend of mine. You are not a part of my family, and you have admitted you don’t watch this show. You know nothing about me but what you see on the outside, and I am much more than a number on a scale.”
In her editorial, Livingston urged children who get picked on not to let bullies define them or their self-worth.
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Labeling deeply impacts our children – whether it’s by grades, looks, behavior, economic status, physical or mental categories. We have become quick to label in our culture, and therefore quick to identify and pathologize a myriad of human traits that may now include shyness as a ‘disorder’ in a healthy child.
Labels categorize children and separate them. They can also call out perceived winners and losers at an early age. This can carry on through school, through cliques, and through bullying.
When I was a child, I saw a TV show that affected me on a deep level for life. It was called “Free to Be You and Me,” and it emphasized empathy, tolerance and equality.
Perhaps Jennifer will have that effect on a few more kids today.
See also my previous post on Bullying Prevention Month.
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OS Editor
Kerry Lauerman
Salon.com
Comments
I'm so happy to see Ms Livingston stand up for herself against this unenlightened jackass. The studio hired her b/c she's GOOD at her job, not b/c she was anorexic-model material!
Brava to her and to all of us who recognized these comments for what they really are: bullying! AND a controlling tactic; what's more personal to any woman than remarks about the size of her ASS?
Great question and great answer! The dress size of the average American woman is 14 -- not 2, and certanly not zero, as has been invented. But I don't think this refers only to women - I think there are boys and girls in school who are the brunt of poor perception and treatment because of a few additional pounds. Granted, we have some health issues around obesity in the US but the newswoman is intelligent, passionate, well-spoken and attractive. I think that is her example, and it is a good one indeed.
I'm not overweight, but I am an atheist. I understand that people feel freer to hurt atheists than anyone, even people who are overweight, either overtly or subtly. So I have been the target of well-meaning but misguided people. Intolerance and insults are certainly not called for in either case.
Fortunately for me, the Hubs prefers a size 14 to a size 4.
We are the only country in the world that replaced the meaningful compliment, "You look/are beautiful," with the lame and heartless, "You look good;" as in, "you are not beautiful, but you are thin, and thin is better than beautiful." You see, money can buy thinness, but not beauty. It is called American Democracy.
Beautiful sentiment, and an excellent post.
Excellent comment - thank you
If there is anything to be learned from this example, it is that perception is key to producing an onslaught of comments, some of which may not be received as they were intended.