I can honestly say that almost every female stomach I have ever seen in the media has been flat. And this is a fact that makes me sick. In no way do I have anything against flat stomachs or people who have them. I accept all body types. I just wish that the media would… Continue Reading →
Thinking we are defined by our bodies is holding us back
It’s hardly news that we’re constantly surrounded by images of the “ideal body.” But evidence continues to point out how damaging this ideal is, and how it holds women back from achieving in many areas. And this really gets me riled up! My own experience of existing in this world, of walking down the street,… Continue Reading →
Love: one size fits all?
Brad and Angelina. Kim and Kanye. Beyoncé and Jay Z. Besides being famous, rich, and beautiful, what else do these powerhouse couples have in common? Their size. Think about it. Have you ever thumbed through a magazine and seen celebrity couples who weren’t roughly the same size? If you did happen to see such a… Continue Reading →
Dear fitness center, the BMI chart on the wall is NOT okay with me
I have a HUGE bone to pick with my fitness center; a fitness center that I was drawn to because, at the time I joined, I thought that its focus was health and physical activity, not weight loss and numbers. This was incredibly important to me as an individual recovering from a severe eating disorder…. Continue Reading →
Can we stop trying to define “real beauty?”
By now, we’re probably all familiar with Dove’s “Real Beauty” campaign – in which the company showcases and celebrates “real bodies and real curves,” aiming to expand the definition of beauty and boost women’s self-esteem. Just take this picture on the left, for example – the familiar lineup of thin, lithe models is contrasted against… Continue Reading →
Narcissism in numbers: what our sizes say about us
I’ve felt that all-too-familiar terror of walking into a store and wondering what size I’m going to be this time around, or worse, if anything will fit at all. There’s a bit of buzz right now in the media around “vanity sizing” or “size inflation.” Vanity sizing refers to the trend of clothing measurements getting… Continue Reading →
Fabulously fat: The Adipositivity Project
Scrolling through the news on my phone the other day, a headline caught my eye, “Turning the Lens on Fat Shaming.” Given the unusual title, I was intrigued; what was this story about? The link led to a video highlighting The Adipositivity Project, a grass roots initiative started by two photographers, Substantia Jones and Haley… Continue Reading →
Facebook, give me a break from your dieting ads
Yesterday as I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed, I was treated to an ad that Facebook had decided was relevant to my life as a high school female. The words “Skinny Confidential” headed the advertisement; below, the post expanded, informing me: “‘1 Summer Weight Loss Trick:’ This Secret Was Designed to Lose Weight and… Continue Reading →
Media finds Kate Middleton’s new body more interesting than new son
I hate to say it, but the way I found out about Prince George’s birth was through reading this article. I was happy to see the body-positive title, “Kate Middleton’s royal baby post-bump is a boost of confidence for new mums everywhere” — despite the strange wording (“baby post-bump”?). However, I was sickened by the… Continue Reading →