How Tattooing My (Fat) Body Helped Me Fall in Love With It

As a young girl with much older parents, I got to hear a lot of old-fashioned ideas repeated throughout my childhood. Few were impressed upon me with such sternness as one of my father’s favorite axioms — “Your body is … Read More

Fat Girl 101: Why Fat Doesn’t Mean Unhealthy, And Other Misconceptions

Trigger warning for discussions of fatphobia, negative body image/body dysphoria and disordered eating.

The word “fat”, in all its various (and overwhelmingly negative) connotations, often brings to mind specific images and types of people. There’s the funny fat … Read More

No, “Looking Great” Is Not a Matter of Feminism

I found this article in an old issue of Harpers Bazaar. It was written by Elizabeth Wurtzel, a woman (and prolific writer) who, self-described, is 45 but looks half her age. And she has not pulled off this remarkable feat … Read More

School Dress Codes: More Harmful Than Your “Too Short” Skirt

If you are (or were) one of the 23% of students forced to wear uniforms to school, you know how restrictive and totally uncool they are.

For the remaining 77% of students lucky enough to not be in uniform … Read More

The Ugly Truth: It’s Okay To Not Feel Beautiful

Over the past month or two, a couple of student groups at the small liberal arts college I attend have been leading what are intended to be affirmation initiatives, seeking to improve the images students have of themselves by … Read More

Toxic Pinning: Is Social Media the New Frontier For Fat-Shaming?

Social media is one of my top five favorite things. I’m on Facebook and Tumblr multiple times a day, and Pinterest is a relatively new hobby. I love having access to my friends and new people while putting my … Read More

Disney Sexes Up Brave’s Merida Before Letting Her in the Princess Club

On May 11th, 2013, Merida will become Disney’s 11th ‘official’ Princess.

Well, first of all, she’s already a princess. They call her a princess about a hundred times in the movie. So, this whole ‘induction’ as a Disney Princess can … Read More

The Break-Up Weight Gain War: A Perfect Excuse For Fat-Shaming

There is no question that we are waging war against our own bodies. We are constantly fighting against our thighs, our glutes, and our stomachs. But this war is not always overt; we don’t always talk about it, and … Read More

My Vagina, My Decisions: Why I’m Not Getting a Vajacial to Please Your Male Gaze

Brazilian. Bermuda Triangle. Landing Strip. No, I’m not talking about taking a private jet to a private island with my sexy Latin lover, I’m talking about hair “down-there”. The amount of hype around vajayjay coifs (or lack thereof) is alarming, … Read More

Dove’s “Real Beauty” Sketches Provoke Real Controversy

Dove sets out to redefine beauty with the latest installment of their Campaign for Real Beauty.

“Real Beauty Sketches,” a video released last week shows an experiment to see how women view themselves. In the video, women sit beside … Read More

Scars and Stripes Forever: Stretch Marks Are Warrior Wounds

Women have been ashamed of stretch marks for so long that no one even remembers why they became so shameful. The thing is, most people don’t actually know a lot about them. They only know that if they have them, … Read More

Why Are We Carrying Backpacks Full of Bricks in a Quest for Effortless Perfection?

In 2003, the Duke University Women’s Initiative released a study that analyzed the school’s culture through the eyes of female undergraduate and graduate students, alumnae, faculty and staff, and trustees. One of the conclusions of the study was that female … Read More