Thin
Why
must we starve ourselves thin? I ask this question
every time I hear about another 15 year old girl who ended
up in the hospital or even worse dead because she wanted
to look like Kate Moss or one of the thousands of rail thin
models and actresses. To a certain extent, I understand
what these girls are going through, in my teens, I was a
borderline anorexic. (Why borderline? I wasn't vomiting
up my every meal. I have a weird gag reaction thing
that happens when I try to force myself to vomit, being
that I cannot vomit. This is what made me borderline
and probably saved me). In my early 20's I couldn't
stuff enough food down my throat and because of this I gained
alot of weight. In my early 30's, I now have my weight
under control and am a vegetarian. I am still considered
overweight (although I am not by very much), my partner
is constantly at me to get rid of my gut. I am working
very hard to lose weight, but, I am only willing to get
to my healthy weight. I have no plans of looking like
a super model. I would much rather look like Kate
Winslet or Marilyn Monroe. Healthy, curvy women.
BTW, did you know that Marilyn Monroe was size 12.
These women are considered to be beautiful and feminine.
Artists like Renoir would turn in their graves if they saw
what is considered an appealing woman.
Another
tidbit for you all, until the early 1990's the majority
of fashion designers were men. What is my point you
ask? When women and girls are starving themselves
thin, they are doing this to look like the latest models
or actresses. These models and actresses wear the
designs of .....fashion designers. The majority of
these fashion designers are men. What a better way
for a man to oppress a woman than to starve them and force
them to fit and form themselves to an unachievable image.
We
should never have to make ourselves look a certain way in
order to please others. We should make ourselves look
the way we want because it makes us feel healthy and happy.
We should wear the clothes that express who we are, and
we should wear our hair the way we want it. Screw
the fashion magazines, screw the designers and screw the
image that man places on us!!!
I
have constantly struggled with my weight one way or another.
I have come to terms that I have a slow metabolism, that
I will never look like a model and that the people in my
life love me for who I am, not what I look like. I have
gotten over that whole needing to be thin thing and understand
that I am a recovering eating disorder victim. Because
of all of this, I have learned to like who I am and what
my body looks like. I have curves and I am proud of
them! So, I ask this of everyone who reads this article.
Step back from yourself, take a long hard look and appreciate
that you are alive and learn to love yourself for who you
are and not what you look like.
I
have spoken!
comments
Hey,
thanks so much for writing that article of yours. It gave
me a moment of empowerment, a temporary feeling of freedom
and happiness. I'm nearly 17 and have hated how I look (it
feels like) since I was born. I try to tell myself I'll
never be as thin as a model, or even as the more petite
girls at high school. It hurts to think so, but there -are-
times when I can get past that longing and see myself humanly,
instead of critically. When I read your article, that's
how I looked at myself. I thank you for that, and for speaking
up for all those girls and women whose spirits die every
day because of the media's crap. I really do hope that someday
America will take -your- view on what 'looks good'.
Thanks again,
MJ
If
you want to comment on what I wrote, please email me @ bestbytch@shebytches.com
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