Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Brave Angelina?


Most beautiful woman in the world. Sexiest woman on the planet. One half of the most glamorous couple on earth. Hyperbole? There is no doubt that Angelina Jolie made the transition from raw and bad young actress, to regal and elegant in the realm of beautiful people. After her announcement yesterday she has entered another small but significant group of women, those who have undergone double mastectomies. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html?_r=0

Jolie's willingness to be forthright about this surgery is important in a culture where certain unrealistic expectations for physical beauty affect women of all ages. We have considered at other times in this blog the relentless pressure on girls and women to be desirable and to meet impossible standards for body size and shape. Breasts are certainly part of that image.

I'm not really sure what to offer from a Christian perspective and as a man. I read the gospel stories of Jesus' acceptance of women, including those who were objectified and ostracized. Some of them chose to step out of the shadows and stereotypes to be recognized as persons of worth.

Perhaps Brangelina will now stand for Brave Angelina. I certainly think it required considerable courage to "go public."

There are several readers who have tween and teen daughters. What was your reaction to this news? Will you speak with your daughters? Any other thoughts from men and women readers?

Don't forget my Groundling Blog! http://groundlingearthyheavenly.blogspot.ca/2013/05/al-gores-future.html



2 comments:

IanD said...

I think it ultimately serves a higher purpose, this disclosure. Certainly it was couched in those terms in her self-penned contribution to the New York Times that dealt with the procedure.

David Mundy said...

I'm seeing it that way Ian. Thanks.