DEL.ICIO.USMichelle Obama’s sleeveless style
Associated Press
Friday, April 03, 2009
First lady Michelle Obama stands tall and regal in her official portrait, a double strand of creamy pearls around her neck, her figure clad in a fitted Michael Kors dress. But there’s one aspect of this seemingly benign photograph that’s causing something of a commotion, and it lies in that exposed 10-inch-or-so stretch between her shoulder and elbow. The first lady is buff, and she’s not afraid to show it.
Her curvy biceps have become something of a lightning rod for remarks from both sexes in a larger discussion of how much female muscle constitutes too much. While some praise Obama as a role model in a world gone obese, others say she’s gone too far in displaying the fruit of her workouts. Read one online forum comment: “There is nothing uglier than manly, muscular arms on a woman. Mrs. Obama should be hiding them instead of showing them off.”
Joyce N. Boghosian/The White House
Michelle Obama’s official White House portrait shows her often talked about arms.
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Even more vitriolic comments have been aimed at Madonna, with her uber-ripped physique.
But why do we care so much? The issue speaks volumes about how men and women view femininity and strength.
“In some ways it’s kind of an old, tired way of thinking about women and power and boundary policing - when you can display that power and when you can’t, or when it’s appropriate,” says Sarah Banet-Weiser, an associate professor at the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication.
The idea of how much muscle is too much is entirely subjective, and people often have a visceral reaction to what they do or don’t like.
Says personal trainer Ramona Braganza, a member of Gold’s Gym Fitness Institute, Madonna is “burning so many calories constantly, and her metabolism’s sky-high. I’m not being hard on how she looks, but sometimes it’s nice to have a little body fat as you get older. It’s just healthier looking, and people almost look younger when they do that.”
And though strong legs and a flat belly are often interpreted as sexy features on a woman, bulging biceps rarely are.
Yet arms are the one body part women often don’t mind flaunting, says Janet Lee, deputy editor of Shape magazine. “They may have issues with their legs or their midriff, but they can get away with showing their arms.” When they’re firm, Lee says, it’s like waving a flag. “It’s your fit calling card, and it lets people know that if your arms are in shape, your body’s in shape.”
The first lady’s taut form may be causing women to think about their upper-body musculature as the sleeveless season approaches. “This is the time of year everyone’s starting to think about bikinis and tank tops,” Lee says. “Women are definitely wanting to firm things up so they’ll look toned and fit. The panic will be starting soon, no doubt.”
But many women, celebrities included, don’t seem to want much upper-body definition. Survey any red carpet lineup of stars in sleeveless and strapless gowns and you’ll see thin arms, but not necessarily muscular ones. Braganza says some of the celebrities she trains — especially those who have an athletic background — don’t fear a muscle striation or two. Braganza trained Anne Hathaway before this year’s Oscars (the actress appeared in a silvery strapless Armani). She says Hathaway wanted to feel healthy overall, “toned, but not in a very sculpted way.”
Perhaps women ultimately fear the kinds of reactions Nicole Ball fields. The Canadian competitive female bodybuilder is not as muscular as some of the sport’s more extreme contestants, but baring her ripped arms in public never fails to prompt reactions.
“You can see out of the corner of your eye; you get looks,” she says. “Some people say, ‘Women shouldn’t look like that.’ “
Where’s the happy medium?
“In society I don’t think there is one,” she says. “Everybody should do what makes them feel secure in themselves and doesn’t harm them.”
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