This is where we share stuff we can’t share on Facebook page for fear of being kicked out! Read why here. Usually the posts are about body image, sometimes there’s nudity but we’re all adults here. Right?
Breaking free of the male fantasy, these artists are shifting the female body’s artistic depiction into the 21st century – warts and all… Here, we take a look at some of the most radical female artists reclaiming their body in the 21st century, and in doing so, opening up a new realm of independence and possibility.
“Untitled 2” from Plastic Bodies, 2014, Pree Bright explores the complex nature of racial identity, finding the beauty standards set by mass-produced, ubiquitous Barbie dolls to be problematic via sheilapreebright.com
29-year-old Keira Knightley has been the subject of many a digitally manipulated photo and feminist debate. After witnessing the “battleground” discourse of the sexualization and objectification of women’s bodies, she decided to pose topless, sans-englargement and sans-retouching, for legendary fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier.
Knightley appeared in the September issue of Interview Magazine, in which six photographers shared images of their “ideal woman.” She later told British newspaper The Times why she decided to pose nude:
I’ve had my body manipulated so many different times for so many different reasons, whether it’s paparazzi photographers or for film posters. That [shoot] was one of the ones where I said: ‘OK, I’m fine doing the topless shot so long as you don’t make them any bigger or retouch.’ Because it does feel important to say it really doesn’t matter what shape you are.
A new study by researchers at the University of Waterloo has touched on a somewhat taboo question: “What if women were to accept themselves with deep self-compassion — flaws and all?” In other words, what if we looked upon ourselves with kindness, compassion and forgiveness as we would a loved one or a dear friend? Would we gain a more positive body image?
The answer is yes. For the study, researchers asked 153 female college students to answer questions about their height and weight as well as their perceived levels of self-compassion, self-esteem, body image and their eating behaviors.
According to the findings, women with strong self-compassion had a more positive body image regardless of body mass index (BMI). In fact, women who accepted their imperfections were found to be better at handling life in general, as they more easily tackled negative events and setbacks in their personal lives.
