Maintaining pride in having a body that is too big, too small, or not ideal is a political statement against the many voices that tell us our bodies are problematic. Mainstream culture normalizes the flawless bodies that dominate every kind of mass media... At home, girls are taught to cross their legs in public and take up as little physical space as possible. Magazines preach the gospel of constant diet/exercise to achieve bikini bodies meant to lounge poolside and be gazed upon. It is a true testament to the misogyny of our culture that women are encouraged to whittle away their bodies and maintain postures that make them as unobtrusive as possible. So how do we fight this war against us and our bodies? Through the power of our bodies -- but NOT the way companies tell you your body is powerful. We are sold the lie that weight loss, new clothes, cosmetic surgery, etc., are empowering. The thing is, they’re not. We’re confusing “empowerment” with “feeling beautiful” or, more specifically, “feeling like other people think we look good.” Empowerment has to be so much more dynamic and encompassing. “Power” from beauty is cheap and fleeting. It can be consumed and discarded at any moment. Your power is in who you are and what you do. Its in your physical power to be, do, live, and move. When we exercise to increase fitness, rather than to improve our looks, we are more likely to feel positively toward our bodies. Physical activity leads to body satisfaction when we develop an appreciation of what our bodies can DO, rather than how they appear. This post preaches the TRUTH -- your body is an instrument for your use, not an ornament to be gawked at.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 17:21:08 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015