Last weekend this picture a la Origin Magazine found itself winding its way through the pages of the internet.
My immediate reaction was “Yes, get the word out!” but as I took a pause and read the flurry of activity surrounding it I realized that this montage suggests that “real woman” can’t be skinny, something that simply isn’t true. While many may not like it there are healthy, skinny woman out there. Skinny woman who don’t have curvy hips or voluptuous breasts, woman who are still as beautiful as any counterpart. Let’s face it. All woman are beautiful. Fat, thin, skinny, average, and everything in between. And guess what? We are all real woman.
That being said, several of the woman in the above picture do have well documented eating disorders or body image issues (but what woman doesn’t?), and even the women pictured in the “Hotter Than This” photos almost all have body shaping gear on as if to suggest that what their natural shape is still isn’t good enough. While I still wouldn’t take the step of denying them the status of womanhood I would argue that images of bodies, especially those who are going through times of disordered eating or sickness, thin or fat, shouldn’t be paraded around as normal or healthy. THese images can be and are disturbing and don’t need to further dig us into the hole of Photoshopping, plastic surgery, or general body dissatisfaction that is present in our modern times.
In rebuttal to this picture the following montage appeared this morning:
The pictures are in the same vein, (and all Photoshopped), but the message is different and I couldn’t agree more!
This comes at a good time for me as I digest everything that has happened over the past month. I’ve never felt so in my body before and while it is a welcome place to reside having so much feeling both mentally and physically is quite a switch. In a rebound from not taking care of myself for some time I’ve seen the numbers on the scale creep up since coming home (yes, yes throw it out right?) and it is hard not to react to this. I’m sitting with these feelings and sitting in these sensations. As I recognize and confront what once seemed insurmountable and uncomfortable starts to shift and abandon its hold. So what if the numbers change? So what if my clothes are different? These material and external things aren’t where life vibrates, aren’t’ where the warmth of my heart or the manifestation of my soul appear. They are only dark illusions that have filled my space for far too long. I can make the choice to turn my back and walk the other way.
That isn’t to say that these thoughts don’t still try to lure me back, but it is my choice to move forward and move towards authenticity and a full and happy life. No gym requirements or bizarre food behaviors allowed. I have my breath, my body, and my spirit. This is where my roots are and where I grow. I’m choosing to abandon my “recovery” ideal of living on the edge of health. If that is where I end up fine, but if it isn’t what happens then so be it. I have more to live for than subcutaneous fat. Of course an eating disorder isn’t really about the subcutaneous fat, but putting it in such blunt terms sure sounds ridiculous, right?
How is your relationship with your body? Have you noticed it evolving over the years?
Photo Credits: Facebook
Thanks for making this point. My body image has certainly evolved in recent years. The result has been that I now care much less that I am naturally skinny. I have often been made to feel “too” skinny and sometimes, even guilty about it – random unsolicited comments, jokes when I go to the gym, jokes when I make an effort to eat healthfully, and so on.
It feels great to care less now! Immersion in yoga and a yoga community has helped me a lot with body acceptance.
I agree – skinny or not, let’s focus on natural and healthy!
Yes, lets bring it back to a focus on health! Embrace our bodies!
I certainly know that feeling of watching the number on the scale creep up and wanting to revert back to disordered eating. It’s not an easy feeling to resist, but it’s worth sitting with that anxiety because it’s the only way to live an authentic life.
Sarah recently posted..I Accept Myself. No, For Real.
Authenticity is what I am aiming for. The real strength comes from facing what we are most scared of right?
Hannah it is hopeful to hear that one can reach a place where they are more comfortable and accepting of their body as it is naturally, without being manipulated by the evil and dictatorial rules of the ED. I am not yet in that place, but that is a part of recovery I am desperately longing for. I feel like an alien in my body; and a disgusted alien at that. My yoga practice is greatly hindered bc I cannot get my mind beyond the negative reaction to the physicality of my body. It’s a struggle to even own it as mine; usually I can only refer to it as “this body” bc I fear so intensely an attachment to something I despise. I don’t want to be like this; I truly don’t! Will you shed some light on the journey of how one reaches this state of acceptance of their own body?
ps- I should note that my judgments and aversions are only applied to myself; I firmly believe that every other body is truly and uniquely beautiful.
Kate,
While I still struggle with my own image of my body, and don’t claim to be beyond this issues I can offer the advice to try to move from your attachment. What does it represent? What if you tried to accept your body? What would happen? Would you wake up having turned blue in the morning? Would you cease to exist? Or more importantly what will happen in the future if you don’t move towards embracing yourself…you have one life. Live it to the fullest
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