Ashley Judd’s Puffy Face: Why Do We Care?

Actress Ashley Judd is again in the media spotlight for slamming the media spotlight.  This week, Judd penned an  article in Daily Beast about her appearance – specifically her so-called “puffy face” – and the media’s obsession with it. Judd writes that she chose to address the criticism because it was “misogynistic and embodies what all girls and women in our culture, to a greater or lesser degree, endure every day, in ways both outrageous and subtle.”  Judd’s response has led to questions about the way celebrities, especially women, are represented in the media, and our culture’s obsession with celebrities’ faults.  Mary Elizabeth Williams  writes about women and the media as a Staff Writer for Salon.  Cindy Gallop is an advertising consultant and former chairwoman of the advertising agency BBH.