a fun cultural note to get you thinking

for all the women reading this blog who have ever felt self concious about their bodies (in particular, their butts), i have a fun bit a senegalese culture to share. here, a big butt is what every woman wants to have and is a huge compliment if someone tells you you have a big butt. some senegalese women here who are tall and skinny, like runway models, they lament about not having a butt, while women who have got a larger backside are very proud about it. this is such a big deal that i have seen stretch pants with pads sewn in them to make someone's butt look bigger-- just imagine push up bra for the butt... i almost keeled over in laughter when i saw it, trying as best i could to explain that this is the last thing you would ever find for sale in the US and how anyone in the US who has a bigger butt is probably trying to get rid of it... needless to say, the women were appalled at this. talk about complete opposite conceptions of beauty.