I've heard of people campaigning for Barbie dolls that look "normal" or like "real women" for ages. The most recent one, is this doll, and the creator is actually on his way to getting them manufactured. Personally, I think the dolls are very pretty, and if I were a little girl I'd love to play with them. However, whenever these types of things come up I get a little confused. There's no denying my own personal issues with my physical appearance, and that I started being insecure when I was very young. However, I don't think I'd blame my Barbie. I don't think I would blame any of my dolls. Honestly, I cannot pin point where my self-consciousness about my body engendered itself, but I don't think I would blame my dollies because they made me so happy as a child and I would spend the ENTIRE day, sun up to sun down, playing with them. I had a pretty good understanding of the fact that they were DOLLS, not real people, and not modeled to look real. Dolls are rooted in fantasy, in imaginative play; of course they aren't going to look "real."
Then I find annoyance in the concept of the "real woman." I hate the term "real woman." Not everyone looks like this "Normal Barbie" and they shouldn't be shamed for it. Some people are shorter, taller, thinner, fatter, etc. There are people out there with bodies that look more like the long legged, buxom Barbie (sans chronic tippy toes). Placing a standard on what is normal is just as dangerous as the "thin is in" standards of our media today.
If we really want to create dolls that represent "real women" then they need to come in every shape and size combination under the sun (as well as skin colors, hair, eyes, and even things like cellulite, muscle tone, and veins will need to be brought in). I appreciate the efforts for positive body acceptance because not all young girls understand that fantasy element of dolls, or even that the media's interpretation of beauty is flawed (seriously, if we were given the list of people it took to make an actress look as she does our minds would probably be blown). However, I don't think we should use words like "real" or "normal" because it still others different bodies. It isn't really fair to shame a tall and skinny girl, but it also isn't fair to shame a short girl with an average body weight, or an average heighted girl who is considered overweight. In fairness, I think people and our media are much more cruel to average or overweight women, but it's not exactly right to be hateful to someone for having a different body than you, regardless of how "good" or "bad" you find their body to be.
I've surely said it before, but I'll say it again: We need to stop obsessing about how big or small someone's body is, and think more about being healthy. Eat what's good for you, enjoy the not so healthy stuff in moderation (I think it's impossible to just outlaw cake from your life), exercise now and then, and do things like listen to music or read books that just make your brain happy. If you're brain is happy, you'll feel a bit better, and actually want to take care of your body.
*drops mic*
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Friday, March 7, 2014
Thursday, February 6, 2014
More thoughts on Weight
I don't know why this blog has had so many entries thus far dedicated to exercise/weight/health, but that's just what's on my mind, as well I'm seeing a lot of posts about it on the internet lately.
I think it's pretty safe to say that our culture is quite obsessed with body image. We tell people that being "thin" is beautiful, yet if someone is too thin they we assume they have a disorder. Even if someone is a healthy thin they are scrutinized (oftentimes out of envy, frankly). On the flipside, women who aren't thinny thin are pegged "real women," "plus sized," "fat," "unhealthy," "obese," etc. Point being that regardless of what type of body a woman has she cannot win! Want to know how many conversations I've had, texts I've gotten, that were about a woman's body? A lot. You know, "oh my god, she got HUGE," or "oh my god she got so skinny she looks like a skeleton."
I absolutely think we need to learn to be respectful to all types of bodies. HOWEVER, what we really need to do is embrace health. While we shouldn't shame people for being over/underweight, we need to encourage healthiness. Now, I don't think we should all run around telling people who are obese to work out. It's really not my business what people do with their bodies and how they eat (or don't). I do think our media could change with this one, and start promoting healthiness, regardless of size, to the public. Take an actress like Jennifer Lawrence. She is, in my opinion, a THIN girl. I remember being very disturbed when George on The Fashion Police described her as "bigger" than other actresses during an episode. Seriously, you've got to be kidding me. To me, Jennifer Lawrence looks like a healthy woman. She's not emaciated by any means, but she's skinny by my own standards.
People should be encouraged to want to love their bodies and take good care of them, and you can weigh quite a few weights in order to do that. The better care you take, the better you feel, and it's also just freaking good for your health. Who wouldn't want to live longer? I think it would kind of suck to die prematurely because I didn't take care of myself. I also just feel better if I try to eat healthy and care for myself. If I spend all day being inactive and eating potato chips, I don't feel as well. However, if I exercise a little, and eat decently, I am much more comfortable.
This is complicated to write about because I don't think it's fair to shame or disgrace anyone for their body. I think we do need to encourage healthy living though, regardless of what weight that puts you at. It is much easier said than done, I know this from firsthand experience. When you hate how you look you aren't going to feel motivated to eat better or take a little walk.
I think it's pretty safe to say that our culture is quite obsessed with body image. We tell people that being "thin" is beautiful, yet if someone is too thin they we assume they have a disorder. Even if someone is a healthy thin they are scrutinized (oftentimes out of envy, frankly). On the flipside, women who aren't thinny thin are pegged "real women," "plus sized," "fat," "unhealthy," "obese," etc. Point being that regardless of what type of body a woman has she cannot win! Want to know how many conversations I've had, texts I've gotten, that were about a woman's body? A lot. You know, "oh my god, she got HUGE," or "oh my god she got so skinny she looks like a skeleton."
I absolutely think we need to learn to be respectful to all types of bodies. HOWEVER, what we really need to do is embrace health. While we shouldn't shame people for being over/underweight, we need to encourage healthiness. Now, I don't think we should all run around telling people who are obese to work out. It's really not my business what people do with their bodies and how they eat (or don't). I do think our media could change with this one, and start promoting healthiness, regardless of size, to the public. Take an actress like Jennifer Lawrence. She is, in my opinion, a THIN girl. I remember being very disturbed when George on The Fashion Police described her as "bigger" than other actresses during an episode. Seriously, you've got to be kidding me. To me, Jennifer Lawrence looks like a healthy woman. She's not emaciated by any means, but she's skinny by my own standards.
People should be encouraged to want to love their bodies and take good care of them, and you can weigh quite a few weights in order to do that. The better care you take, the better you feel, and it's also just freaking good for your health. Who wouldn't want to live longer? I think it would kind of suck to die prematurely because I didn't take care of myself. I also just feel better if I try to eat healthy and care for myself. If I spend all day being inactive and eating potato chips, I don't feel as well. However, if I exercise a little, and eat decently, I am much more comfortable.
This is complicated to write about because I don't think it's fair to shame or disgrace anyone for their body. I think we do need to encourage healthy living though, regardless of what weight that puts you at. It is much easier said than done, I know this from firsthand experience. When you hate how you look you aren't going to feel motivated to eat better or take a little walk.
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