Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
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Friday, February 17, 2012
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Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
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Saturday, February 11, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Women - Body Image
For women, life can often seem like a beauty pageant. Throughout every phase of our lives, from childhood to maturity, our appearance is judged and critiqued. Our looks are compared to those of our peers, our sisters, the women in the media, or imaginery ideals. We’re rated pretty, ugly, plain-or just plain average. No one has ever asked us if we want to complete in this lifelong beauty contest. Being born female automatically makes us contestants, whether we like it or not.
From the moment we are a pretty little girl in a cute dress, and our brother is a big, strong boy who is smart, we learn what society expects from us. We internalize the message that as women, we are defined by our looks, not by our actions, character, or brainpower. These messages surround us in the media, in our communities, and sometimes in our own homes.
Our individual experiences also affect how we feel about our bodies. If we have experienced violence or abuse, we may feel unsafe in our bodies. If we have experienced racsim, been ridiculed because we’re in a wheelchair, or been made fun of becase we have a “big” nose, we may dislike, mistrust, or even hate our bodies. We may respond to hurtful experiences by wanting a “perfect” body, thinking that if we looked like a supermodel, we would be shielded from discrimination, become successful and find true love. Or we may respond by abusing our bodies with promiscuous sexual behavior, excessive exercise, alcohol or drugs, binging on junk food, or starving ourselves.
How do we nurture a positive body image while we’re constantly being judged, while women’s bodies are turned into sex objects, and while violence against women prevades our society? What if we are not the current ideal women, tall and thin with large breasts and a fair complexion? What if we are women of color: what if we are fat, disabled, or super-skinny? While there are many things that divide us as women, the fact that our bodies are never good enough unites us all. By examining external pressures, we can begin to love ourselves and feel comfortable in our skin. One of the most radical things a woman can do is love her body.
From the moment we are a pretty little girl in a cute dress, and our brother is a big, strong boy who is smart, we learn what society expects from us. We internalize the message that as women, we are defined by our looks, not by our actions, character, or brainpower. These messages surround us in the media, in our communities, and sometimes in our own homes.
Our individual experiences also affect how we feel about our bodies. If we have experienced violence or abuse, we may feel unsafe in our bodies. If we have experienced racsim, been ridiculed because we’re in a wheelchair, or been made fun of becase we have a “big” nose, we may dislike, mistrust, or even hate our bodies. We may respond to hurtful experiences by wanting a “perfect” body, thinking that if we looked like a supermodel, we would be shielded from discrimination, become successful and find true love. Or we may respond by abusing our bodies with promiscuous sexual behavior, excessive exercise, alcohol or drugs, binging on junk food, or starving ourselves.
How do we nurture a positive body image while we’re constantly being judged, while women’s bodies are turned into sex objects, and while violence against women prevades our society? What if we are not the current ideal women, tall and thin with large breasts and a fair complexion? What if we are women of color: what if we are fat, disabled, or super-skinny? While there are many things that divide us as women, the fact that our bodies are never good enough unites us all. By examining external pressures, we can begin to love ourselves and feel comfortable in our skin. One of the most radical things a woman can do is love her body.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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