{"id":433305,"date":"2026-01-26T16:30:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T15:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/?p=433305"},"modified":"2026-01-26T16:30:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T15:30:27","slug":"etre-femme-etre-jugee-sur-apparence-michelle-obama-denonce-double-standard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/being-a-woman-being-judged-on-appearance-michelle-obama-denounces-double-standards-433305","title":{"rendered":"&quot;Being a woman means being judged on your appearance&quot;: Michelle Obama denounces a double standard"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Michelle Obama strongly denounces the persistent double standard faced by women, who are judged primarily on their appearance rather than their accomplishments. In the podcast &quot; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1CGYpWS4a6E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Call Her Daddy<\/a> &quot; by American podcaster Alex Cooper, the former First Lady of the United States shares her personal experience and raises awareness about the misogyny ingrained in global culture, using numerous powerful quotes to support her points.<\/p>\n<h2> An exceptional career overshadowed by criticism<\/h2>\n<p> A graduate of Princeton and Harvard, Michelle Obama built an impressive career as a lawyer, nonprofit leader, and vice president at the University of Chicago before serving in the White House from 2009 to 2017. Yet, during her time in the media, commentary consistently focused on her outfits rather than her speeches or her background. She cites as an example a magazine profile whose headline began with her outfit, relegating her education and career to the background: <em>&quot;The headline started with what I was wearing, not my education or my career: it all started with how I looked.&quot;<\/em><\/p>\n<h2> Body shaming as a weapon of control<\/h2>\n<p> <em>\u201cMen will always attack your appearance if you\u2019re a woman. It\u2019s a deeply ingrained habit in global culture to try to put women in their place by attacking their physical appearance,\u201d<\/em> she observes with clarity. This strategy, according to Michelle Obama, transcends borders and persists despite feminist progress, transforming the female body into an easy target for discrediting expressed ideas.<\/p>\n<h2> Education and the private sphere: activist choices<\/h2>\n<p> To counter this misogyny, Michelle Obama has increased her public appearances in books like &quot;Becoming&quot; and at conferences. At home, she is careful with her words towards her daughters, Malia and Sasha: she avoids asking them if they are &quot;dating someone,&quot; a question she considers sexist and indicative of parental insecurities, emphasizing <em>&quot;why would women need &#39;someone&#39; to exist?&quot;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Michelle Obama thus transforms her own experience into a universal plea against double standards, inviting us to question our linguistic and cultural reflexes. Her message resonates as a call to value women for their intellect and actions, far removed from the superficial judgments that still hinder their development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Michelle Obama strongly denounces the persistent double standard faced by women, who are judged primarily on their appearance...","protected":false},"author":8394,"featured_media":433306,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[307],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-433305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-people"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Etre-une-femme-cest-etre-jugee-sur-son-apparence_-_-Michelle-Obama-denonce-un-double-standard-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Etre-une-femme-cest-etre-jugee-sur-son-apparence_-_-Michelle-Obama-denonce-un-double-standard-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Etre-une-femme-cest-etre-jugee-sur-son-apparence_-_-Michelle-Obama-denonce-un-double-standard.jpg","author":{"name":"L\u00e9a Michel","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1721220128171-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":307,"name":"Celebrities","slug":"people","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":307,"taxonomy":"category","description":"<p>The Celebrities section of The Body Optimist follows celebrity news from a specific angle: what stars\u2019 public statements reveal about bodies, mental health, aging and beauty standards. Actresses, singers, models and athletes open up about their insecurities, their battles and their refusal of rigid beauty rules, stories that echo questions many women ask themselves.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Celebrities section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bodies and body shaming<\/strong>: stars criticized for their weight, figure or face, and how they respond to the comments.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mental health<\/strong>: eating disorders, body dysmorphia and anxiety, as when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/after-suffering-from-body-dysmorphia-actress-lana-condor-returns-to-the-pressure-related-to-appearance-446438\">Lana Condor spoke about body dysmorphia and the pressure to look a certain way<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Aging and unfiltered beauty<\/strong>: growing older in the spotlight, gray hair, makeup-free faces and the pressure to stay young forever.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Motherhood and life choices<\/strong>: pregnancy, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/after-criticism-of-her-appearance-the-model-confides-in-her-postpartum-body-446593\">postpartum body<\/a> under public scrutiny and the choice not to have children.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Representation and diversity<\/strong>: plus-size artists, LGBTQIA+ public figures and athletes who challenge conventional ideas of femininity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Celebrity style<\/strong>: red carpet and everyday looks as inspiration to adapt to your own body type.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How can you follow celebrity news without comparing yourself?<\/h2>\n<p>Following celebrities without comparing yourself means remembering that their images are the result of professional work: lighting, makeup, styling, picking the best shots and sometimes retouching. A few habits help:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Focus on what the person says or creates rather than on their weight or age.<\/li>\n<li>Notice which accounts make you feel uneasy and clean up your feed.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid commenting on celebrities\u2019 bodies, even to compliment them: praising weight loss reinforces the very norm that causes harm.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t treat a makeup-free face as a feat, as our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/confiance-en-soi\/applauding-celebrities-posing-without-makeup-heres-why-we-need-to-stop-431912\">why we should stop applauding stars who pose without makeup<\/a> explains.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Our approach: listening to what stars say about their bodies<\/h2>\n<p>Celebrity news is often fleeting. What interests us are the moments when a public figure talks about their body, their health or the pressures they face, because these stories resonate with our readers\u2019 daily lives. We aim to share these voices rather than judge anyone\u2019s figure, and to place each story in a broader context: the pressure to be thin, ageism and sexism in the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n<h2>Articles to start with<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Actress Madhuri Dixit opens up about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/actress-madhuri-dixit-criticized-for-her-weight-reveals-she-has-suffered-from-body-shaming-444560\">the body shaming she faced over her weight<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>An actress told she wasn\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/deemed-not-attractive-enough-leading-role-actress-denounces-beauty-standards-446807\">\u201cattractive enough\u201d for a lead role<\/a> calls out beauty standards in the film industry.<\/li>\n<li>Heidi Klum talks candidly about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/heidi-klum-discusses-weight-gain-related-to-menopause-435490\">weight gain during menopause<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Olivia Wilde <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/actress-olivia-wilde-famous-benefits-age-446182\">celebrates the upside of getting older<\/a>, pushing back against the pressure to stay young.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What is body shaming?<\/h3>\n<p>Body shaming means criticizing, mocking or judging someone based on their physical appearance: weight, height, skin, body hair, age or facial features. Public figures are especially exposed because every photo of them is publicly commented on, but it affects everyone, online and in everyday life.<\/p>\n<h3>What is body dysmorphia?<\/h3>\n<p>Body dysmorphic disorder, often called body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition marked by an excessive preoccupation with a perceived flaw in one\u2019s appearance that is minor or invisible to others. It can cause intense distress and repetitive behaviors, such as constantly checking one\u2019s reflection. Only a health professional can diagnose it and recommend appropriate support.<\/p>\n<h3>Why do celebrities\u2019 stories about their bodies matter?<\/h3>\n<p>When a widely followed public figure talks about insecurities, an eating disorder or criticism of their weight, they bring visibility to an experience that is often lived in shame. These stories can help others speak up and encourage them to seek help. They remain personal accounts, however, and are no substitute for advice from a health professional.<\/p>\n<p>Want to go further? Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/culture\">Culture<\/a> section analyzes movies, TV and music through the lens of representation, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\">Society<\/a> section looks at beauty standards and discrimination, and our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\">Body positive<\/a> section supports you on the road to accepting your body.<\/p>","parent":0,"count":2802,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":307,"category_count":2802,"category_description":"<p>The Celebrities section of The Body Optimist follows celebrity news from a specific angle: what stars\u2019 public statements reveal about bodies, mental health, aging and beauty standards. Actresses, singers, models and athletes open up about their insecurities, their battles and their refusal of rigid beauty rules, stories that echo questions many women ask themselves.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Celebrities section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bodies and body shaming<\/strong>: stars criticized for their weight, figure or face, and how they respond to the comments.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mental health<\/strong>: eating disorders, body dysmorphia and anxiety, as when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/after-suffering-from-body-dysmorphia-actress-lana-condor-returns-to-the-pressure-related-to-appearance-446438\">Lana Condor spoke about body dysmorphia and the pressure to look a certain way<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Aging and unfiltered beauty<\/strong>: growing older in the spotlight, gray hair, makeup-free faces and the pressure to stay young forever.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Motherhood and life choices<\/strong>: pregnancy, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/after-criticism-of-her-appearance-the-model-confides-in-her-postpartum-body-446593\">postpartum body<\/a> under public scrutiny and the choice not to have children.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Representation and diversity<\/strong>: plus-size artists, LGBTQIA+ public figures and athletes who challenge conventional ideas of femininity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Celebrity style<\/strong>: red carpet and everyday looks as inspiration to adapt to your own body type.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How can you follow celebrity news without comparing yourself?<\/h2>\n<p>Following celebrities without comparing yourself means remembering that their images are the result of professional work: lighting, makeup, styling, picking the best shots and sometimes retouching. A few habits help:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Focus on what the person says or creates rather than on their weight or age.<\/li>\n<li>Notice which accounts make you feel uneasy and clean up your feed.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid commenting on celebrities\u2019 bodies, even to compliment them: praising weight loss reinforces the very norm that causes harm.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t treat a makeup-free face as a feat, as our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/confiance-en-soi\/applauding-celebrities-posing-without-makeup-heres-why-we-need-to-stop-431912\">why we should stop applauding stars who pose without makeup<\/a> explains.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Our approach: listening to what stars say about their bodies<\/h2>\n<p>Celebrity news is often fleeting. What interests us are the moments when a public figure talks about their body, their health or the pressures they face, because these stories resonate with our readers\u2019 daily lives. We aim to share these voices rather than judge anyone\u2019s figure, and to place each story in a broader context: the pressure to be thin, ageism and sexism in the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n<h2>Articles to start with<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Actress Madhuri Dixit opens up about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/actress-madhuri-dixit-criticized-for-her-weight-reveals-she-has-suffered-from-body-shaming-444560\">the body shaming she faced over her weight<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>An actress told she wasn\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/deemed-not-attractive-enough-leading-role-actress-denounces-beauty-standards-446807\">\u201cattractive enough\u201d for a lead role<\/a> calls out beauty standards in the film industry.<\/li>\n<li>Heidi Klum talks candidly about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/heidi-klum-discusses-weight-gain-related-to-menopause-435490\">weight gain during menopause<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Olivia Wilde <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/actress-olivia-wilde-famous-benefits-age-446182\">celebrates the upside of getting older<\/a>, pushing back against the pressure to stay young.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What is body shaming?<\/h3>\n<p>Body shaming means criticizing, mocking or judging someone based on their physical appearance: weight, height, skin, body hair, age or facial features. Public figures are especially exposed because every photo of them is publicly commented on, but it affects everyone, online and in everyday life.<\/p>\n<h3>What is body dysmorphia?<\/h3>\n<p>Body dysmorphic disorder, often called body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition marked by an excessive preoccupation with a perceived flaw in one\u2019s appearance that is minor or invisible to others. It can cause intense distress and repetitive behaviors, such as constantly checking one\u2019s reflection. Only a health professional can diagnose it and recommend appropriate support.<\/p>\n<h3>Why do celebrities\u2019 stories about their bodies matter?<\/h3>\n<p>When a widely followed public figure talks about insecurities, an eating disorder or criticism of their weight, they bring visibility to an experience that is often lived in shame. These stories can help others speak up and encourage them to seek help. They remain personal accounts, however, and are no substitute for advice from a health professional.<\/p>\n<p>Want to go further? Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/culture\">Culture<\/a> section analyzes movies, TV and music through the lens of representation, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\">Society<\/a> section looks at beauty standards and discrimination, and our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\">Body positive<\/a> section supports you on the road to accepting your body.<\/p>","cat_name":"Celebrities","category_nicename":"people","category_parent":0}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/433305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8394"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=433305"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/433305\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":433358,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/433305\/revisions\/433358"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/433306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=433305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=433305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=433305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}