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?
By the way, Facebook recently clarified its stance on nudity, writing, “We remove photographs of people displaying genitals or focusing in on fully exposed buttocks. We also restrict some images of female breasts if they include the nipple, but we always allow photos of women actively engaged in breastfeeding or showing breasts with post-mastectomy scarring. We also allow photographs of paintings, sculptures and other art that depicts nude figures.” For the full story see here.
Why does a fitness blog even care about body image? You can read about that here.
TO: LINDA HEASLEY, C/O LANE BRYANT, RE:#IMNOANGEL
We met a couple of months ago in NYC along with a dozen other bloggers and your Chief Marketing Officer. We gathered to discuss how Lane Bryant can better serve the plus-size community and it turned into a passionate discussion where those in attendance openly requested more diversity both on the catwalk and online. That, and less Sharkbite dresses, wink wink. I left the lunch inspired and looking forward to what Lane Bryant would produce next. Truthfully? While it’s absolutely gorgeous, I expected more than the #ImNoAngel campaign.
Even though I was disappointed, I’ve been reading the responses with great interest since your launch; observing those who applaud the images saying FINALLY, and others who are saying We want more. It’s been fascinating to say the least. What has interested me the most though, is watching some individuals quickly become frustrated with those who demand representation. Individuals asking “for more” are often told to stop “whining” about a “first world problem” and many defended the campaign saying that fashion figures are supposed to be aspirational and not necessarily representational. Many of these comments were visibly supported by your company via social media.
This seems to conflict, however, with your ultimate intention. You were quoted as saying:
“Our ‘#ImNoAngel’ campaign is designed to empower ALL women to love every part of herself. Lane Bryant firmly believes that she is sexy and we want to encourage her to confidently show it, in her own way.”Personally, I question how empowering these images can be for “all women.” #ImNoAngel only shows ONE shape while redefining the sexy plus women; that shape being the traditional hourglass: a body with a waistline considerably smaller than a larger bust and hips. This is almost always (and is, in this case) accompanied by a flat belly.
21 women who shut down their body shamers
Body shaming doesn’t discriminate. Whether you’re a celeb in the spotlight or a new mom breaking out an old bikini, no one is immune to hateful comments, whether you’re “too fat,” “too skinny,” or even “too pregnant.” Take inspiration from these 21 strong women to shut down the haters and embrace your unique and beautiful body, no matter your size.
As babies, we’re fascinated with our bodies—we can spend hours just checking out our toes. (Wow, there’s so many of them! And they fit in my mouth!) And as children, we confidently attempt handstands and skateboard ollies, and launch into impromptu dance parties, having fun and not thinking much about our appearances.
Yet somehow on the path to being a bill-paying, job-working, relationship-having Official Adult, instead of appreciating how strong our legs are or how hard we can kick a ball, we fret about how our legs look in our shorts and whether they jiggle when we run.
Instagram, enough with the fat shaming!
This morning I woke up to the news that a picture (the one you see above), which is part of a series of nude and semi-nude photographs that Montreal photographer Julie Artacho had published on the This is Better than Porn Tumblr account had been promptly censored and removed by Instagram.
Instagram had already gotten on my nerves when it decided to (twice) remove Rupi Kaur’s blood-stained period picture from its account because the sight of ONE DROP OF BLOOD might somehow be too much to handle for people living in a world where videos of ISIS decapitations are shared on social media and where game hunters get to post their smiling smug faces next to the carcases of dead animals they just killed for shits and giggles. After all, we need to draw the line somewhere, right? And let’s face it… a period seems like the right place to start.
Julie, as you can see from the picture is a bigger girl. She’s a beautiful, talented young woman, but based on today’s beauty standards she would never be confused for a top model. She’s heavier than the standard anorexic-looking females that grace the covers of most magazines and from what I can tell from the pictures, her breasts are real. Two strikes against her already.
