Was just thinking..if someone were to ask very learned doctors (mostly male) of the Renaissance era why women's bellies were beautiful, they would probably be astounded, since it was then a given that women's bellies were beautiful.
If someone were to ask very learned doctors (some male, some female) why women's bellies are considered beautiful or not beautiful, they would probably be astounded, since it is still a given in many circles that women's bellies are embarrassing.
And yet if you consider the belly, a woman's belly, as part of a woman's body, without its cultural baggage and no-no's, of which there are still admittedly many, its slope and soft heft -and grandeur when pregnant- make it pleasing to touch and hold and nuzzle. Babies of course seem to know this. Why not others?
Happily, in Fat Poets Speak 2: Living and Loving Fatly, several of our poets speak lovingly of bellies. Bravo, belly-appreciating poets. May your love of bellies spread so all the world can once again appreciate them.
I just spent part of my morning touching my partner's fat belly and waxing, yes, poetic about its softness and grandness.
ReplyDeleteHow sad that so many others can't or won't recognize the sheer delight of fat bellies.
We do our part in Fat Poets Speak to change this view, and you do as much as anyone, Elle Hill :)
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