Body politics - xoJane

The American Medical Association Has Decided Obesity Is A "Disease," Even Though That Doesn't Really Mean Much

Lesley — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0400

What follows is a slightly tidied-up version of my internal monologue upon reading about this in the news.

I Weigh 300 Pounds And I'm Cool With Everyone Knowing It: Thoughts On Zoe Saldana's Allure Cover And The Radical Possibilities Of Disclosing Your Weight

Lesley — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400

Why do we allow a number to hold so much power over our self-perception?

It's Official: Chris Christie Was Fat Shamed Into Weight Loss Surgery

Amanda Blum — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:30:00 -0400

America just shamed a man into surgery because we told him he wasn’t good enough the way he was.

Putting Pictures Of Your Food On Instagram Is Making You FAT, Says Obesity Researcher

Lesley — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400

A Canadian psychologist says that sharing photos of your food on social media may signal a "deeper medical issue." I can't make this stuff up.

The Whole Concept Of The "Beach Body" Is Ridiculous And This Is Why

Lesley — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:00:00 -0400

What if all you need to get a beach body is to GO TO THE BEACH?

CALL ME A MANATEE ANYTIME: Why I Wasn't All That Bothered By Target's Plus Size "Manatee Grey" Dress Debacle

Lesley — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400

THERE IS NOTHING EFFING WRONG WITH A MANATEE.

THIS WEEK IN FAT STIGMA: Samoa Air’s New Pay-By-The-Pound Airfare Policy Is A Real Thing, Yes

Lesley — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:00:00 -0400

What's the difference between ME and a giant sack of donuts representing my equivalent weight? Not much, it turns out.

THIS WEEK IN FAT STIGMA: “Plus Sized” Swedish Mannequins Good, “Overweight” Canadian Public Art Bad

Lesley — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:00:00 -0400

I'm having trouble seeing these so-called "plus sized" Swedish mannequins blowing up on Facebook as some great leap forward in body acceptance. I KNOW, I'M SUCH A GRUMP.

April Flores, BBW Porn Performer, On Being A "Fat Girl" And Loving It

April Flores — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:00:00 -0500

I wanted to take away the shame, and make those words have a positive, empowering connotation.

Photographer Haley Morris-Cafiero Documents The Judgey Looks She Gets From Strangers For Being Fat

Lesley — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:00:00 -0500

Fat folks can't always know why people are glaring at us, but it's tough not to assume the worst.

#1 Junior Tennis Player in the World Benched for Being Too Fat

Lesley — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:00:00 -0400

The USTA doesn't want 16-year-old prodigy Taylor Townsend playing tennis until she's dropped some weight. OBVIOUSLY this is ridiculous on a whole bunch of levels.

WEIRD CONTROVERSY OF THE WEEK: Does the Term "Plus Size" Risk Hurting Fat Kids' Feelings?

Lesley — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 14:00:00 -0400

Bigger kids need bigger clothes, and meeting that need is a booming industry. But some are concerned that using the term "plus size" for children may damage their self-esteem. I'm sorry, but ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?

SURPRISE! I Don't Love My Body All the Time (And That's OK)

Lesley — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:00:00 -0400

Exhortations in favor of "loving your body" are totally overrated and can even be damaging -- but not for the reasons you might think.

If You’ve Seen One Naked Woman Thrashing in a Bathtub, Have You Seen Them All?

Lesley — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:00:00 -0400

Naked Amanda Palmer has replaced Naked Erykah Badu in a fiercely controversy-generating Flaming Lips video. And the whole thing is making me really uncomfortable.

Magazines Are Now Photoshopping Models to Look BIGGER! Um, Yay?

Lesley — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:00:00 -0400

And it's all Kate Upton's fault. Plus: a short art history tour of the feminine ideal. In photoshops.

More Brides Having Plastic Surgery to Feel "Confident" for Their Weddings

Lesley — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:00:16 -0400

Have I ever told you guys about that time I got married? PLUS: JETPACKS!

Do Models Need to Look "Healthy"?

Lesley — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 09:00:22 -0400

The intentions behind this movement may be well-meaning, but we all know what the road to hell is paved with.

I Broke My Nudity Rules to Let Someone Photograph My Vulva

Sarah Eyre — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:04:13 -0400

I don’t get naked with or near people I don’t trust, unless I’m in basic training. And I never, ever let anyone photograph me naked. Until this week.

Is "Fitspo" the New Thinspo?

Lesley — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:00:32 -0400

Heather my love, there's a new unreasonable idealized beauty standard in town.

Meghan McCain's Boobs Weigh 300lbs Each, and Other Fun Twitter "Facts"

Lesley — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:30:22 -0400

When ragging on a lady's politics is no fun, you can always just attack her appearance. AMERICA!