Category Archives: Advertising

Advertising Sells Self-Empowerment at the Expense of Dollars and Sense

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Here’s a great article – The New Mind Games Advertisers Play on Women, in which Chung argues (actually not a new argument!) that advertisers prey on the idea that our bodies are always “works-in-progress”, but within the clever disguise of “empowerment.” She quotes Susie Orbach of Fat is a Feminist Issue as saying:

“We reject the idea of being under ‘assault’ from the beauty industry as offensive to our intelligence…[Instead], we transform the sense of being criticised by becoming the moving and enthusiastic actor in our own self-development programme. We will eagerly repair what is wrong… By internalising the pressure to perfect ourselves we develop an odd sense of attachment to the very companies that are bent on exploiting us. It is as though, once having had our faults pointed out, we seize the chance to enhance ourselves by embracing the market’s propositions…We see ourselves as agents, not victims.”

The self-empowerment movement can be addictive. It’s meant to be. If we, as women, accept that we’re always works-in-progress, at least concerning our physical bodies, we’ll never reach a state at which we no longer have to consume the products and services designed to “improve” our bodies and lives – and the entire capitalistic system which feeds off of our perceived insecurities and incompleteness would crash.

It’s political. It’s personal. It’s time to re-think what false promises lure us.

We would all do well to take an honest look at the products in our bathrooms and kitchen cupboards, our magazine subscriptions, our memberships, etc…and compassionately evaluate the degree to which we’re subscribing to the idea that we’re not and never will be good enough. There’s no right or wrong – just self-enquiry. Begin the conversation with yourself – what products make you feel empowered? Why do you think that is? Is it because of a promise they’ve sold you or a genuine sense of self-love?

Oh, and just in case you’re not entirely convinced of the powerful ways in which women are repeatedly told they are “wrong” and then sold a solution to “fix” this manufactured “problem”, check out the latest and greatest solution to a body image woe – Arm Corsets to protect against “bingo wings”!

Whatever Happened to Foreplay?

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This article is fabulous! To see the original posting, with comments, click here. Thank you, Kate Gould!

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Once upon a time there was a thing called foreplay. Sometimes it was silent: just a kiss in a club and an awkward scuffle in the toilets. Others took more time with it. They wrote sweet lines, sent flowers, asked a lady to dance and, even, for her hand in marriage before they even embarked on it.

For some people, it was all about the tease: lips licked over dinner, a glimpse or more of bosom, biceps squeezed with an “Oh you’re so chunky!” and a wink, toes moving up trouser legs. It seemed women did this better than men, this slinking about. Or, maybe, they just had more role models. There isn’t a male equivalent of Dita Von Teese, unless you count Magic Mike which none of my straight male friends has seen so you can’t, really. That said, if you’re a fella on a date with another chap, there are some moves you could steal. You’d most likely do yourself an injury, but that’s all part of the fun of foreplay.

You see, fun was what foreplay was all about.

Then along came Big Pharma declaring that, no no no no no, what people really wanted wasn’t fun; it was a failsafe ticket to instant gratification. Foreplay was pointless and sexual desire was nothing more than a physiological process, ripe for medicalization. Most enticing of all, for Big Pharma, it seemed things didn’t always go smoothly; in fact, things went wrong. People had problems: vaginas wouldn’t lubricate on command, penises wouldn’t get hard, sex drives didn’t render people horny 24 hours a day. But never fear: Big Pharma was on hand to help.

The first step in all this was to come up with a vernacular – some acronyms and terms that sounded like they came from the mouths of experts. Trouble was, sexuality was all a bit messy and the problems complex. What the whole thing needed was some disorders, a few umbrella terms, to neaten it all up a bit. So was born Female Sexual Dysfunction, Male Erectile Dysfunction and, later, Female Orgasmic Dysfunction. Being able to attribute their problems to a disorder, a medical term no less, was comforting for people, right? And if it was a disorder, that meant it was a medical problem which, in turn, meant it required treatment.

With dollar signs in their eyes and patient well-being in their hearts (honest), pharmaceutical companies set about transforming sex from something of the body and mind into a scientific phenomenon. Money poured in and clinical studies, pills, ointments, potions, devices, and patches poured out.

Men’s sexuality wasn’t of particular interest because there was only one process involved in arousal – penile erection – and it was just a question of mechanics so research pretty much stopped with Viagra. If you’re bringing in over $2billion a year in sales with apparently few complaints from consumers, why bother investing any more time or money?

Female sexuality was something different altogether. For a start, a lot of it went on down there where, unless you happened to have your head in the right place, you couldn’t see it. Thinking it might be a simple case of mechanics, a few scientists gave devices a shot: the Orgasmatron involved the insertion of an electrode into the spine attached to a control button pressed to stimulate nerves in the clitoris but which was more likely to make your legs jerk than send you into mind-melting heights of orgasmic ecstasy, and the clitoral vaginal vacuum suction pump was equally ineffective and as unsexy as it sounds. No, it seemed that there was more to it than could be sorted through mechanics. It called for something subtler than suction and electrodes. It called for pharmaceuticals. Inspired by the phenomenal success of Viagra, companies raced to find a female equivalent – a pill that could be popped and all bedroom troubles forgotten.

The race has gone on for a few years now but is yet to come up with anything to cure the “secret epidemic” (as it’s been termed) of FSD, despite the fact that it’s said to affect around 40% of women. Oprah said it, so it must be true. The latest cure-all to arrive is Tefina, a nasal testosterone spray, created by Trimel and currently entering clinical trials with an estimated release sometime in the next 3-5 years. It’s being marketed as a treatment for Female Orgasmic Dysfunction, a condition apparently unheard of until Trimel came up with the name and decided it needed a treatment.

In case you’re worried you might have it, according to Trimel, “FOD is defined as the persistent or recurrent delay in, or absence of, orgasm following normal sexual excitement phase that causes marked personal distress or interpersonal difficulties”. What constitutes “normal” sexual anything no one knows, but let’s not let specifics get in the way of vast generalisations. You might be concerned about the potential side effects of the absorption of testosterone, but Trimel is quick to reassure people that Tefina is “expected to present an attractive safety profile, with virtually no androgen-related side effects such as acne, facial and body hair growth or deepening of the voice”. Probably just as well, given the adverse effect on your sex life of waking up with a hairy chest and baritone growl.

There are many cooked-up statistics to support the existence of and, therefore, need for treatment of FOD of the unspecified “studies have shown” variety. For example, one in five women has FOD, 30% can’t climax during sex, not 1 in 5 but 43% of women have FOD and “many women” have sex up to five times a month, despite not wanting to, because they think it is what their partners want and is, therefore, good for their relationship. I find this last factoid disturbing because, technically, this is sex against the woman’s will so raises the issue of consent which is far greater cause for concern than the potential efficacy of a nasal spray. Not that relationships have anything to do with sexuality – no, it’s all about the chemicals.

Despite being billed as an “on-demand” treatment, the spray takes up to two hours to have any effect which doesn’t sound very on-demand to me. I suppose I could fill those hours on something fun like, I don’t know, foreplay, maybe. Once you’re fired-up, the effect is reckoned to last around six hours. Yet to be released is any literature on what this effect is likely to be and, crucially I think, what happens if you have a squirt but don’t have sex. Say you take it before you go out, but don’t meet anyone you’d want to have sex with, are you left, squirming on a bar stool, horny as hell, with an engorged clit and wet pussy? If that’s likely to be the case, Trimel should be providing pocket rocket vibrators with every prescription.

Genitally Feminist & Healthy

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Published on National Women’s Health Network (http://nwhn.org)

(See above link for the original article and references)

Genitally Feminist and Healthy

The Women’s Health Activist

By Kate Ryan and Amy Allina

Heart-shaped pubic patch? Take it all off? Vajazzle it with sequins? Deodorant? Bleach? Cosmetic surgery? There’s an astounding range of products and services available these days for changing the appearance of female genitals. Take to the Internet and you’ll find both discussion and debate about these practices. The discussion includes pros and cons of various techniques; reviews of, shall we say, stylists and practitioners in your area; and DIY (do-it-yourself) instructions and tips. The debate often comes down to two questions: is it feminist? And, is it harmful to your health?

Feminists of every era have challenged traditional notions of beauty. The suffragists scandalized their contemporaries by wearing bloomers. Second-wave feminists broke free from the constraints of girdles and binding brassieres and popularized the clean-faced, no-makeup look. Feminists today wear skirts and dresses when they want to, but, with the exception of presidential candidates, we can also wear pants without exciting much public comment. Many of us wear lipstick at times, but we can leave the house without makeup and not risk starting neighborhood rumors.

In recent years, however, feminists have been grappling with a new class of beauty regimens: products and services to change the appearance of women’s genitals. When it comes to these genital beauty regimens, feminist opinions range across a wide spectrum. There are well-developed critiques of how air-brushed pornography has set unrealistic expectations that risk leaving real women, who can’t bring Photoshop into the bedroom, feeling inadequate. There are sincere and passionate descriptions of the sensual pleasure some women take in hairlessness and the light-hearted fun of vajazzling — defined by the Urban Dictionary as “decorating your vagina with sequin”1(although what’s being decorated is technically the vulva). As with many debates about feminist behavior, part of it does come down to choice. We don’t just swing from one constrained path to another — from only skirts to only pants. Feminism has opened up a greater range of choices for women, and we embrace that range.

But as the feminist health movement has revealed in case after case, the rhetoric of choice can be co-opted to present harmful and dangerous practices as tools of empowerment. Whether it’s breast implants, contraception, or vaginal beautification, a woman needs full information about the benefits and risks of the options she’s choosing between, including what is not known, so that she can make a real choice about what’s best for her.

This article explores the known and unknown health consequences of a range of products and services that claim to improve the appearance of women’s genitals. To do this, we sorted the practices into three general categories: hair removal, including shaving, waxing, and laser hair removal; scent and color modification, which includes douching, deodorant sprays, bleaching and coloring; and a cosmetic surgery called labiaplasty.

Hair Removal

It is not uncommon today for women to shave their pubic hair. And, in last few years, additional methods for removing hair have grown in popularity, such as waxing and laser hair removal. Although some doctors have expressed concerns about the risks of shaving and waxing — such as a potential increased likelihood of infection due to the small open wounds that can be caused by hair removal — there isn’t evidence to support this opinion. There’s more reason to question the safety and effectiveness of laser hair removal, however.

Laser hair removal is widely advertised and, like many products and treatments that straddle the medical-cosmetics line, the advertisements over-estimate its benefits and under-estimate its risks. On the website for Laser Cosmetica, for example, laser hair removal is described as a “permanent alternative to waxing, shaving, and electrolysis;2 Capital Laser similarly describes the procedure as “safe, painless, and effective.3 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, warns that laser treatment does not result in permanent hair removal4 and the Mayo Clinic — a respected leader in medical care, research, and education — cautions that the procedure is less effective for people with darker skin and those with light skin and light hair because the laser technology works by differentiating the hair from the skin.5

You won’t learn that from the ads! Laser Cosmetica also claims that “there are no long term health hazards” – but the fact is there are no long-term health studies.6 Some women find that the treatment causes short-term redness on their skin, or longer-term problems like discoloration and scarring.7 The claim that the treatment is painless is also misleading, which is why the FDA has specifically ruled that manufacturers cannot make this claim.8 The Mayo Clinic also warns that laser hair removal can cause blistering and swelling.9 Finally, in 2009, the FDA issued a warning about potentially serious and life-threatening side effects from misuse of the numbing agents used in laser hair removal procedures.10

Scent & Color Modification

The products and practices in this category are intended to improve the scent and color of your vagina. Although this topic certainly raises worthwhile questions about whether and why the scent and color of your vagina need improving, it also raises questions about the health effects of the products that claim to do it. Unfortunately, because the FDA doesn’t regulate cosmetics the way it does drugs and devices, women can’t always get answers to these questions and may not be clearly warned about these products’ potential health risks.

If you weren’t already familiar with vaginal “cleansing” products like deodorant sprays and douches, Stephen Colbert may have brought them to your attention with his parody critiquing the sexism inherent in last year’s outrageous Summer’s Eve commercials. Colbert complained about how marketing that focuses only on women, “telling them that their bodies aren’t good enough the way they are,” shortchanges men and asked why men aren’t “encouraged to purchase products to make [their] groins acceptable in polite company.”11

While Colbert addressed the racism of the controversial ads for the vaginal cleansing products, he didn’t provide a health-based challenge to the company’s claim that “these are products that every v[agina] needs.”12 The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Women’s Health, have, however. These respected health authorities advise women to avoid deodorant sprays and douching completely, because these products can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs).13 HHS also warns that douching can cause vaginosis (a bacterial infection) and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to infertility, and notes that “women douche because they mistakenly believe it gives many benefits.”14 These warnings send a clear message that, from a health perspective, the risks associated with use of these products outweigh any benefits.

But, according to the cosmetics industry, it’s not just the smell of your genitals you need to change — it’s the color too. Fortunately, they can help you with bleaches and temporary dyes. Creams like Bleach Babe promise to get rid of the natural coloration of the skin around the vagina,15 while products like My New Pink Button promise to “restore the youthful pink color back to your labia.”16 My New Pink Button is a temporary vaginal dye that comes in four shades of pink and is applied to the inner labia using an applicator like one you use to apply eye shadow. While the company’s website doesn’t make it clear exactly how the product works (and they didn’t respond to our queries), it does imply that using My New Pink Button will improve your sex life, claiming “it will bring out that sexy, hot pink I am fired up look,” “it will bring out the animal in you,”17 and “tonight it’s show time.”18

Many of the advertisements for changing the color of your genitals also carry an overt racial message that lighter skin is more attractive, which could be the subject of an entire article by itself. And no matter what your skin color, you might agree with blogger Heidi Ferrer, who questions the benefit of having a vagina that is painted “Barbie dream house” pink.19 Read enough of these ads and you’re likely to be left with the sense that somehow the vagina you were born with isn’t quite right. What you won’t get is any reliable information about whether these bleaches or temporary dyes work the way the manufacturers claim they do and whether they pose any risk to your health.

Cosmetic Surgery

Last, we come to surgical ways you can “greatly enhance the cosmetic appearance of the outer vagina.” We don’t have space here to address all of the many elective vaginal surgeries available today20  — so we are focusing on the specific type of surgery, labiaplasty, which is promoted primarily for its ability to change the appearance of your genitals. Labiaplasty is surgery that removes part of the labia to reduce its size or change its shape.

As with many cosmetic procedures, advertisements promoting labiaplasty overstate the benefits and understate the risks. The Cosmetic Surgery Center of Maryland, for example, claims that having large labia can cause “distancing in relationships” and that having a labiaplasty “boosts self confidence.”21 The Manhattan Center for Vaginal Surgery’s ads promoting labiaplasty claim it will make you feel “prettier” and give you “greater confidence and self esteem.22  But, you won’t be surprised to learn, the surgeons can only back up those claims with anecdotal testimony from satisfied patients, because there’s no actual research that supports them.

Promotional materials for labiaplasty also fail to acknowledge how little is known about possible risks. For instance, there are no data on how having a labiaplasty might affect a women’s ability to have a vaginal birth. Nonetheless, in an FAQ on the Manhattan Center for Vaginal Surgery’s website, the response to a question about whether a woman can have a labiaplasty if she hasn’t already had children reads: “Yes. Whether you have had children or not is not the issue.”23

The Women’s Health Activist has covered this issue before (“Made-to-Order Vaginas,” July/August 2007), describing the labiaplasty procedure and the lack of evidence supporting its safety. The Network is not alone in raising these concerns. The New View Campaign, http://www.newviewcampaign.org, led the way in raising the alarm and organized protests as early as 2008 to demand that medical professionals and government regulators ensure that women considering this surgery are given full information about possible risks.24

And it’s not just activists who are concerned about labiaplasty. Today, medical professional associations like ACOG agree that “women should be warned about the lack of data supporting the efficacy of these procedures and their potential complications, including infection, altered sensation, dyspareunia [painful sexual intercourse], adhesions, and scarring.”25 In addition to the lack of evidence about the health effects of labiaplasty, as New View points out, there is a lack of training, oversight, and accountability for doctors performing labiaplasty procedures. Women know that medical training takes years and years of hard work, and few realize that most surgeons performing labiaplasty don’t go through any additional training to do these surgeries. Even fewer are aware that there’s no medical authority monitoring the safety of the practice and no data on the safety of the procedures in the first place.

Andy Wright, a San Francisco-based blogger, framed her critique of the beauty industry’s products for vaginas by pointing out, tongue in cheek, that if you think there’s nothing wrong with your vagina, “you’re probably wrong.”26 But she quickly reassures readers, “Don’t worry — there’s nothing that money can’t fix.” In this consumer culture, why should our vaginas be different from any other aspect of our lives?  But whether you think a little vajazzle will add sparkle to your life or not — and whether you want to spend money changing the look, smell or color of your genitals — you should have a reliable source of information about the health consequences of these practices and products. And today, that just isn’t available for many of the products the ads encourage us to use.

Amy Allina is the NWHN Program & Policy Director, Kate Ryan is the NWHN Senior Program Coordinator

Fat Politics, Fatkinis, & Body Image Lessons

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Hello lovelies. So sorry it’s been ages since I last posted. I’ve been settling into new roles/responsibilities which is keeping me quite busy. On that note, if you’re interested in submitting a guest post to help me keep this site up and running, please email me at joy@followyrbliss.com.

But, here are some interesting reads for now:

The BBC recently wrote an article about the necessity of teaching body image lessons to kids. Yes. Yes. Yes.

And, here’s a controversial BBC article which questions whether or not we should stop calling people overweight. It’s an interesting debate. Are the words “fat”, “obese” and “overweight” unhelpful and shaming, or do they indeed motivate people to pursue a healthier lifestyle? Considering there are 1178 comments, you’ll have plenty to consider.

Awhile back, I told you about the belly project by XOJane. Well, she’s at it again with the Fatkini Gallery – 31 Hot Sexy Fat Girls in Skimpy Swimwear. Some say she’s promoting obesity – others say they appreciate images of body diversity. Watch an interview here, to see Gabbi Gregg comment on the Today show. What do you think?

Here’s a great reminder for all of us – The Art of Listening to Your Body

Why We Need Curvy Yoga. Absolutely true.

5 Steps to Enhance Your Self-Care

5 Steps to Renovating Your Life

Hope this keeps you inspired as you kick off the weekend…

Cheers!

International No Diet Day & Write On! Recovery E-book Sale until May 6th

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Mark your calendars! You don’t want to miss International No Diet Day!

This is a holiday I try to celebrate every day, with every meal – every decision to nourish myself vs. deprive, punish, or feel guilty.

It’s a firm resolve:

A friend of mine made a good point when she said, “If there was a diet that actually worked, Oprah would have found it.”

The strict, restrictive and often unsustainable nature of diets can lead to over-compensatory behaviours, fluctuating weight and many negative psychological effects such as feelings of guilt over ‘lack of self control’, low self esteem and obsessive thoughts and behaviours surrounding food. In addition, people who diet frequently are more likely to experience depression – not to mention being grumpy, uncreative, and tired (not a winning combo in my book)!

The dangers of diets go deeper – check out - Dieting: A Potent Political Sedative.

In honour of your recovery and path to develop a healthy relationship with food, why not give yourself a gift and purchase my e-book, Write On! Recovery with 20 guided writing prompts to help you go deeper in your recovery and discover who you are without an eating disorder. On sale until the end of May 6th, for just $12 $10USD.

And, what better time than now to wear the message with a Riot-Don’t-Diet Tee shirt or Tote Bag.

I’m jazzed.

Let us know how you’re going to celebrate this year.

Your Body Is a Temple, But You Don’t Go to a Temple Only for the Architecture

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Habu Temple, Egypt

This was my yoga teacher, Kaustaub Desickachar’s, reply when asked to comment on his view of Yoga in the West. He lamented that Yoga, traditionally a practice to refine the mind, has been reduced to an obsession of toning the body and achieving a sense of aesthetic perfection. 

I’ll argue that it goes one step further. As a yoga instructor and practitioner, I’ve been witness to a growing number of people who abuse yoga classes as a form of dieting/purging, posing risks to their health. Power yoga classes and others which focus very strongly on physical refinement, can feed people’s obsession with the thin ideal and be reduced to another means of burning calories.

I’m not arguing that people can’t come to Yoga for the physical benefits, but if Yoga is seen as a means to an end (weight loss, body sculpting, etc) it’s just another form of the diet mentality. And, as in the theme of the last post, exercise (I prefer the term “joyful movement”) is meant to make you feel alive, appreciate what your body can do, and connect you with the larger world. It’s not meant to be excruciating, a form of punishment, motivated by guilt, or done as a way of controlling the body.

The idea of “joyful movement” is counter to all we’re told about anything physical, and Yoga is not immune to the stereotype that movement = calories burned = a smaller version of you = success as defined by society = happiness. Are you still buying into this equation?

When we look at how Yoga is advertised, we all too often see young, white, hyper-flexible, ultra-toned women in pretzel poses (the same images used to sell alcohol, only instead of a pretzel pose it’s usually a pose of vulnerability). And, sadly, many of these adverts bank on the use of sexualization, emphasizing, again, that women’s ultimate aim is sex appeal, not emotional balance, spiritual awakening, connectedness, etc…

Going back to the title of the post – Your Body is a Temple, But You Don’t Go to a Temple Only for the Architecture…

Remember, temples come in all shapes and sizes. Temples are meant to be protective of the refuge within, the place of the heart and spirit, the place of truth and wisdom. This “place” is where our efforts should really be focused, where our time is “well spent”. At the end of your life, would you rather be remembered as being a certain dress size or a woman of courage, wisdom, kindness, resolve…?

Take care of yourself and please join me in the “Joyful Movement” revolution – the conscious decision to reject exercise as a form of punishment and embrace movement which uplifts the mind and heart, is enjoyable, and helps you reconnect with your body. There’s no one way of movement that’s right for everyone, so experiment and see what you like.

And, if you’re looking for a body-positive Yoga site, please check out Curvy Yoga for online podcasts and practice videos, or contact me for private tuition (if you’re in Melbourne).

Looking for Guest Contributors

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Calling all activists, writers,  & recovery warriors! I need to take a break from blogging for awhile, but don’t want to completely abandon ship. Is there anyone out there who would like to contribute?

Here are the kinds of things I’m looking for:

- original recovery inspired visual art/poetry

- personal recovery memoir

- articles on anti-dieting, mindful eating, intuitive eating

- self-help tips for living binge-free, embracing imperfection, dealing with various stages of recovery

- recovery and how the process affects relationships

- recovery and natural weight – learning how to embrace genetics and ditch the thin ideal

- how to talk to people about your recovery

- recovery/ED book reviews

- critiques of the media – thought-provoking responses to pop culture, advertising, etc…

If you’re interested, send your article/story/art to joy@followyrbliss along with a link to your website, etc… and I’ll feature your work here. Please share this with people you know who would like to get involved.

Hope to hear from you!!!

 

It’s a New Season – Why Not Take a Data Detox

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Hello Recovery Warriors!

I haven’t written anything in a week & I want to tell you what I’ve been up to.

I’ve been “busy” letting go  – untying the habit of busyness and need to constantly produce things, soak up information, & feel connected to the manic pace of the cyber world.

I disconnected from the world-wide-web & evaluated my automatic habits around how and why I use the internet. I didn’t like what I saw. I didn’t like that I sat behind a glowing window first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I didn’t like feeling the constant need to stay informed, to be available, and to produce, contribute, and update. I didn’t like the mindless surfing, distractions, and chaotic multi-tasking that often led me down the dark path of tabbed browsers from which I didn’t resurface for hours. I didn’t like that I was spending more time with my laptop than outside, with my partner, friends, or myself.

So, I went on a data detox. You know I’m not one for restriction, rules, or deprivation, so technically it wasn’t a diet, but a cleansing. Besides that which was essential for work, I didn’t log in to any personal website or write personal emails for more than 20 min/day. I filled my evenings with reading, cooking, listening to music, writing in a hard-bound journal, taking walks, and observing the world around me.

Over the week, I read the book Enough: Breaking free from the world of more by John Naish and spent time contemplating “enoughness” – as it relates to my daily life – food, internet, success, material things, work, happiness, etc… It was a lot to think about, and I’m still digesting/processing, but here’s what I’ll leave you with (besides a book recommendation!)… try a digital detox – it doesn’t have to be a full week – even just one evening or a weekend day without your computer/phone/other gadgets can show you how attached/dependent you are, and give your mind a chance to breathe & the space to process all the extra information that’s been floating around. Have a look at this initiative – The National Day of Unplugging (just passed last week, but it’s never too late!) and get inspired to join the revolution to take back your time.

I’ll leave you with this quote (taken from Enough: Breaking free from the world of more): & a stellar video “Yelp”

What’s the optimum level of information that you need to thrive? As a rule-of-thumb, it’s best to treat communications and infotainment warily – as habit-forming substances to be consumed only when they offer the potential to enhance life. Treat adverts and marketing as particularly toxic: they are only designed to entertain in order to catch your attention and make you dissatisfied with the life that you already have. With a clearer head, you can start to decide what’s helpful and what’s just a hindrance…ensure that you start doing enjoyable, productive things to fill the time that your media diet opens up. It’s like being a recovering substance addict. You need to keep occupied until you readjust. You can revive your data-addicted brain by stimulating the growth of new neural networks, through learning or rediscovering a creative skill such as painting, cooking, or playing an instrument…

 

Sunday Snippets

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Here’s this week’s reads. Have a great start to your week!

Are you chronically apologising? Check out this article on stopping the habit of apologising for your appearance.

Here’s a beautiful article by Linda Sparrowe, editor of Yoga International about Yoga as a Tool to Make Friends with your Body.

I’ve recently discovered a new site, Gentle Living. Here are some nice tips on Getting Out of a Funk.

And, another sweet find – Kind Over Matter! Here’s a page of E-books, e-courses, links and lots of love for projects focused on self-development/empowerment & all things self-love. Check it out!

Oh, boy. The weight-loss industry has really gone over the top this time, with Autom, the Weightloss Robot.

An absolute must-read: That Perfect Body Isn’t Going to Bring You Jack Shit.

I’ve followed Zen Habits for awhile, and never tire of his simple, practical, and wise advise. Here’s a post on becoming Empty-Handed & Full-Hearted.

Each day is a journey, and we load ourselves up with material possessions, with tasks and projects, with things to read and write, with meetings and calls and texts. Our hands are full, not ready for anything new. Drop everything, be open to everything. Enter each day empty-handed, and full-hearted.

And, here’s a very succinct list – 20 Instructions for Life by the Dali Lama.

Enjoy!

 

Link Love

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As this weekend was Labour Day in Australia, I was away from the computer, for the last romp at the beach (hence no Sunday Snippets this week). But, I still want to give you some good reads to get the week kick-started with positivity.

Check out A Survival Guide for Beating Information Addiction if you think you’re spending too much time in front of your glowing window and not enough time with friends/family or simply enjoying nature and giving your mind a rest. We all need and deserve breaks!

Are you questioning your job? Considering if it’s time to move on to something more in-line with your passion? Check out the Is This Job Right For Me Cheat Sheet to help you in the decision-making process.

If you’ve been getting a lot of negative feedback lately, feeling like a failure, or questioning your abilities to excel in whatever it is your heart is beating for (or in recovery), take a look at this video, and remember “If you’ve never failed, you’ve never lived.” LIFE = RISK.

Check out Beauty Redefined’s article about objectification and how many women have internalised this pracitce, such that they are always imagining themselves as objects on display. Remember, You are capable of much more than being looked at.

And last, but not least, come along with Tara from Medicinal Marzipan and read about Working with those nagging negative thoughts to improve your self-worth

 

Sunday Snippets

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Here’s this week’s roundup (lots of videos).

In honour of ED Awareness Week, here’s End the Silence. Remember, no one chooses to have an Eating Disorder!

This is absolutely lovely – “Fat-Bottomed Girls” by Kim Selling.

As part of Body Image Warrior Week (started by Already Pretty), have a look at what Kate from Eat the Damn Cake has to say about Why She Writes on Body Image

11 bloggers contributed to the project – check it out here!

Although the media presents Eating Disorders as an illness which only affects young, caucasian, middle/upper class women, EDs don’t discriminate. Here’s a piece on Eating Disorders in Mid-life

And, shame on Geico for their new ad which normalises dieting among “popular” middle school girls. Check out what About-face has to say about it – here.

If you follow Carrie Arnold’s ED Bites, you might also like to check out Feasting On Research for links to articles on the latest research in the field of Eating Disorders

Happy reading/viewing!

 

Sunday Snippets

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Here is this week’s round-up:

This seems to be a book worth checking out – Beautiful You: A Daily Guide to Radical Self-Acceptance by Rosie Molinary. And, while you’re at it, check out her response to: Are Make-up and Fashion Compatible with Self Acceptance? This sums it up quite nicely:

The self-accepting fashionista recognizes that all of her accomplishments are propelled from within and that her body, clothes, hair are never more important than her heart, soul, and brain.

On the same thread, Weightless posted an interview with Adrienne Ressler, asking the question: Is Make-up Bad for Our Body Image? What do you think?

If make-up is your thing, more power to you. But, how about becoming an informed consumer? Check out What You Need to Know About Cosmetics & Chemicals

Wow! It’s that time again (Feb. 26 – March 3) – National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

How will you celebrate? Why not purchase a Riot-Don’t-Diet Shirt or Tote as a conversation starter and a way to support this site?

Here’s Tumblr’s new policy on Self-harm blogs. They’re asking for feedback, so now’s your chance to have your say.

We all need this from time to time – 10 Things to Remind Yourself Everyday (particularly the bad ones)

I love, love, love these pictures of 6 Inspirational Yogis in Their 90s

Here are some fun and useful facts on Why Sleep is So Important

Anything can become an addiction, even that which is good for us in moderation (think exercise, yoga, etc…). Here’s an interesting read from a self-professed Self-Improvement Addict. Can you relate?

And…here’s an article from fellow About-face blogger, which drew an irate audience. What do you think about Pole Dancing for Toddlers?

Read anything interesting this week? Let us know!!

 

Sunday Snippets

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I know, I know. It’s not Sunday anymore. That’s just how it goes. So, here is this week’s roundup. Enjoy and please let us know if you’ve read anything inspiring/thoughtful this past week.

Here’s my most recent post at About-face regarding the new, shameful Australian weight loss reality show, Excess Baggage.

This year, why not Make Valentine’s Day about Self-Love

& another post in the spirit of V-day, here’s 25 Acts of Self-Love

Self-love is THE most important thing you need in order to have ANYTHING you want, really make you happy, loved and fulfilled. Without self-love you will constantly be wondering what is wrong with you, why things “never work out” and why you aren’t getting what you want. Self-love is the critical foundation in getting what you want.

Here’s the lovely Margaret Cho on Learning to Love Ourselves

I love this post on Women of Substance – REAL stories of women who have RECOVERED from eating disorders and gone on to live fulfilling lives and share their unique gifts and talents.

Here’s a Q&A session with More of Me to Love founder, Jay Solomon – a place for people of all sizes to learn to love their bodies and themselves.

Here’s an oldie, but a goodie at Curvy Yoga – Why Happiness Doesn’t Equal Weight Loss

I’ve long been an anti-diet advocate, but now even Weight Watchers Admits Diets Don’t Work according to Beyond Chocolate’s wrap-up of the recent DitchDieting Protest.

If you’re in the UK, now’s your chance to have your say. The Body Image Enquiry is inviting people to take part and give evidence by completing a questionnaire about the causes and consequences of body image anxiety in the UK and what practical steps can be taken to address this.

From Harvard Health Publications, Why Stress Causes People to Overeat

Whether you’ve had a child or not, this video is a BEAUTIFUL meditation on celebrating the belly and the female form. Wow!

Sunday Snippets

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Does your self-care need some revamping? Check out this list of 30 Things to Start Doing for Yourself. It’s a lot, but choose one thing you can work on this week. Write it down and treat it like an experiment. No pass. No fail. Just observe what it’s like to try something new.

Here’s a thought-provoking article that encourages you to dig deeper and ask yourself, What Am I Really Hungry For? You might be surprised at what you find out.

On a more political note:

Fit and Feminist explores how the scale has replaced the glass ceiling in a critique of a recent New York Times Op-Ed in which the author discusses the trend that most of her female friends have listed weight loss as their number one goal of the year (a trend she sees as a waste of women’s lives). Again, we must ask ourselves where we draw the line between taking care of our bodies so we can fulfill our dreams, have families if we wish, etc… and wasting our lives by pursuing an impossible ideal?

Not too long ago, I touched on a similar subject in the article: Dieting: a A Potent Political Sedative.

If we opt out of the beauty game, what are the consequences, given a recent New York Times article which discusses research that shows women are perceived as more competent when they wear a moderate amount of makeup?

On a bit of a lighter note, here’s an interesting read from a massage therapy student about what she has learned by seeing naked bodies.
My personal favorite insight:

Your weight is the least interesting thing about you. I promise.

Ever wonder if loving every part of your body, all the time, is even achievable? Here’s a great discussion about the difference between loving and respecting your body and the idea that none of us love our bodies all the time, which is OK.

Even if you don’t really love your body, you can start the journey by learning how to give you body sincere compliments.

And for a teensy bit more on the subject of body love: Learning How to Love Your Body, Regardless of Your Size.

Or think of it from this perspective, as presented by Already Pretty.

… if everyone had the exact same figure, we’d be busting our butts to force our figures to stand out, look different, be distinctive. We’d be falling all over ourselves to create the diversity that exists naturally today

Happy reading and hope you have a lovely wind-down to your weekend. Let us know if you read something interesting you’d like to share.

 

 

In Search of the Perfect Vagina

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We’ve been on the topic of bellies this week & the hyper-focus placed on hardening, hiding, and hating our midsections. For all the gripes I’ve made about the media dissecting women’s bodies and telling us what each individual part should look like, you’d think I would have exhausted the subject. I haven’t. There’s more. Now we’re talking designer vaginas via cosmetic surgery – a topic I discuss in this article. Please read it & watch the attached film, The Perfect Vagina, for your own sake, the sake of your friends, daughters, and all women, worldwide.