NATURAL BEAUTY
What's the only message more harmful to a young woman's body image than the barrage of unrealistic, obviously photoshopped pictures of models? Claiming that the itsy bitsy size can be attained "naturally". Or, as twenty-inch waisted Model Ioana Spangenburg put it, by "snacking on chocolates and crisps all the time".
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20568120,00.html
It's hard enough for young women - and men, for that matter - to be visually assaulted by unrealistic images and expectations of attractiveness.
Many models of beauty, like the Victoria Secret Angels and Ana Paquin (see links at the end of the article for the specific references) are at least honest about the excessive amount of time and energy that they put into making their bodies fit the socially expected "norm". Though they are rejecting the opportunity to take a braver stance in helping redefine our media's notions of beauty, they are at the very least honest about the heavy cost of their subjugation.
But the precedent Ms.Spagenburg is setting - the suggestion that a painfully small 20 inch waist can be obtained "naturally" - is even more dangerous. All it takes is a 2 minute browsing of Ms. Sapgenburg's photos to realize that, though she may not be photoshopped, she's certainly not snacking on chocolate all the time.
So how do we fight this? How to we rally against the kidnapping of the terms "natural" and "real" by the media?
You want REAL? You want reality? Check out the brave bellies of 75 women who aren't afraid to show off their real beauty.
http://www.xojane.com/fun/gallery/bellies-part-2#4
And let this project be an inspiration to you! Take some initiative to make yourself and the women and men around you feel beautiful - grab a set of post-its, fill it with words and quotes that make you proud, and stick them all around your bedroom or bathroom mirror. Or, make up a beauty project of your own and post it as a comment to our blog! Do whatever you need to do to get your REAL, NATURAL beauty on!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/07/victorias-secret-angel-diet_n_1079315.html
http://www.self.com/magazine/blogs/selfystars/2010/06/self-do-you-ever-feel.html
Written By: Leah Burleson
Looking through all the belly pics made me cry. I've always been incredibly self conscious about my body and I do think that if we saw more real true "natural" beauty, it would change so much.
ReplyDeleteThe knowledge alone that not everyone can or does look the way models and superstars look is not enough, the exposure to the "real thing" is what really makes a difference in perspective...