When does discrimination within the elites should matter to the masses?

Today is the last day of Black History Month. I so have to bring up a Jackson and so it shall be the one called Janet.

So Janet Jackson went from this :

To this :

[via New York Post Online Edition: gossip]

February 13, 2006 -- WE'RE all about to see a lot less of Janet Jackson - literally. The pop queen bulked up over the last year but has been given her marching orders by her label, Virgin, to lose the weight by September - or it won't release her album. "Janet had a really bad year," our spy said. "After the incident at the Super Bowl [two years ago], it just went downhill. Her album 'Damita Jo' was a flop. Then her brother Michael had the child-molestation trial - it just wasn't good to her." Jackson found solace in food and, as recent photos will attest, has packed on the pounds. "This new album is supposed to be pretty good, but Virgin feels it can't market it without Janet being back in fighting form, so they have hired her a personal trainer and put her on a diet. She has to lose at least 20 pounds." But a pal said: "Janet always gains weight when she's not working - and always loses it in time to promote her albums. Janet always takes care of it when it matters." Reps for Virgin and Jackson didn't return calls.

So she is rich and famous and privileged and what should we care if Virgin Records tells her if she's fat they're taking away her privileges (notice how they don't name names of real people but just mention 'the company' as if a piece of paper were telling her what to do).

How is this discrimination different from the everyday piggish treatment a waitress, flight attendant or stock trader may have to endure to 'make it' in a man's world?

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