Q: Which of these women is the right shape and size?

The British media's obsession with the weight of women in the public eye reflects the fear that women are becoming 'out of control.' The more space women take up in public life, the thinner the female public figure is expected to be. However a famous woman who becomes too thin makes the media feel very uncomfortable, as evidenced by the Daily Mail's agonised concern that actress Calista Flockhart may be suffering from an eating disorder. The popularity with men of big women such as Kate Winslet is a reminder that neediness has never been, and never will be, sexy.