During the last couple of years I've done a lot of thinking (or more than usual - it's not like I just started) about women's bodies, body image, health, and societal norms. This has led to some interesting conversations and revelations in both online and offline life with friends, Twitter acquaintances, local artists, and others. There are some incredible things happening in Richmond right now that I'm looking forward to sharing in the future.
Right now, I'm working on Susan Singer's body image survey. She's looking for more women to participate, so go!
In the past few days, these videos have caught my attention. Great messages!
"Do you think that this tree isn't pretty because it doesn't look like that tree?"
This video from Planned Parenthood is aimed at teens, but I think many adults need to hear that "different is normal," too. I wish more teenagers had access to the kind of education that PP can provide. Less abstinence-only sex ed, more copies of Taking Charge of Your Fertility.
In case you weren't already aware, Planned Parenthood is under attack by many of our elected officials. If you're one of the people who thinks PP is some kind of immoral abortion factory that must be shut down, please educate yourself regarding what important services they actually provide. If you already know about and value PP, go here to offer your assistance in the effort to make sure reproductive health services remain available to those who need them.
On a lighter note, I've also had this one stuck in my head on auto-repeat.
Love the inclusion of stray hairs and stubble in the close-up shots. Here I thought I was the only one who looks worse shaven than not, thanks to sensitive skin. I've been crushng on Amanda Palmer lately, she who proclaims, "I don't believe in the beauty standard."
I think this post marks the first time I've used profanity in a title. Yay, milestone moments. It's a tip o' the hat not only to Amanda Fucking Palmer, but also to the irresponsible media outlets who misreported the findings of a University of Arizona study showing that cussing helps to ease pain, but at a social cost. Multiple media sources who picked up the story reported that cussing women suffer socially more than men do. Hold on just a cotton pickin' minute, y'all. The study ONLY looked at women, so neither the researchers nor you can say anything about the effects on women vs. men. Not that it would surprise me at all that women would be more penalized for their language than men are. But until we see a study that clearly supports that claim, I'll thank the media not to create the very misogynist environment that they are supposedly reporting.
