On AlterNet: body image

Stories, blog posts, and videos tagged as "body image"

The Politics of Fat: We Have to Keep Struggling to Liberate Ourselves from Self-Hatred

Allison McCarthy, AlterNet. April 4, 2012.

“We claimed the agency, we granted ourselves the authority. But we never stopped worrying about how our asses looked in our jeans.”

How I Learned the Mainstream Myth About Eating Disorders Was Wrong

Autumn Whitefield-Madrano, Salon. February 29, 2012.

A new awareness campaign once again ties eating disorders directly to body image. The reality is much more complex.

Praying to Be Skinny and Straight: Why Evangelicals Are Concerned With Weight-loss and 'Ex-gay' Therapies

Hannah Tepper, Salon. January 31, 2012.

A new book reveals how evangelical culture equates gayness and fatness as both sinful inabilities to control urges.

How Creepy Conservative Christian Modesty Doctrines Harm Young Women

Sierra, RH Reality Check. November 27, 2011.

When you argue that what’s modest and what isn’t is a valid concern for women, you tell them that their appearance matters most.

Addicted to Beauty? How My Obsession With Looking Hot Screwed Up My Life

Lisa Hickey, The Good Men Project. September 20, 2011.

Compulsive pursuing "beauty" almost ruined Lisa Hickey's life, until she learned to accept herself, as well as her past.

How the Fashion Industry Is Killing Women

Libby Rodenbough, In These Times. April 13, 2011.

The pressure on models to be thin—and the resultant pressure on girls, boys, women and men to conform to an unattainable ideal—is immense.

Women (and Men) Increasingly Hate Their Bodies -- A New Movement Wants to Change That

Sarah Seltzer, AlterNet. March 22, 2011.

Everyone knows poor body image is a problem. A new movement wants to stop talking about it and do something to actually change our culture.

Caught Between Fat and Thin: The Pounds Come Off, But the Label Stays

Greta Christina, AlterNet. December 8, 2010.

Being fat makes you see the world differently -- even when you aren't fat anymore.

Barbie's "Fat Ankles"? 9 of the Doll's Most Embarrassing Controversies

Wendy Norris, RH Reality Check. October 13, 2009.

The doll's history is filled with gender, body image and racial gaffes.

Nudism: Stick It to Your Puritan Forebears By Stripping Down

Liz Langley, AlterNet. July 21, 2009.

Nudism might be a marginalized lifestyle today, but eons ago it was all the rage. And no wonder: public nudity is natural, healthy and fun.

Scarlett Johansson: Sexist Tabloids Make Me Feel Bad About My Weight and Body

Scarlett Johansson, Huffington Post. April 15, 2009.

10 million women and 1 million men in the U.S. battle eating disorders. Our trashy media doesn't help.

Airbrushed Britney: Clever Street Art Makes Fun of Impossible Beauty Standards

Cara, Feministe. January 16, 2009.

Feminist vandalism?

Thin Is the New Miserable

Stephanie Losee, AlterNet. November 19, 2008.

A new book from Valerie Frankel shows how the only lasting effect dieting has is on people's mind-sets about their bodies.

Out-of-Body Image: Women See Themselves Through Eyes of Others

Caroline Heldman, Ms. Magazine. August 14, 2008.

This sort of self-objectification impairs women's body image, mental health, motor skills and even sex lives.

Stripper School: 6 Feminist Lessons Learned on the Stage

FeministeAugust 5, 2008.

A woman who stripped in Vegas writes about what working in a strip-club taught her about feminism in the work place.

The Power of the Miniskirt

Molly Faulkner-Bond, Sirens Magazine. July 18, 2008.

In the '60s, miniskirts were positive, powerful examples of female sexuality. Overexposed starlets like Paris and Britney have tarnished that image.

Avoiding the Fat Trap

Donna Fish, Huffington Post. March 27, 2008.

What do we say when our daughters declare: "I'm Fat"?

Jennifer Love Hewitt Fights Back Against Cruel Body Image Insults, Puts Sexist Sites on the Defensive

Zuzu, Feministe. December 5, 2007.

Zuzu: "To all girls with butts, boobs, hips and a waist," she wrote, "put on a bikini -- put it on and stay strong."

Unilever Ditches Self Esteem as a Marketing Concept, Embraces Misogyny

Lucinda Marshall, Feminist Peace Network. November 20, 2007.

Lucinda Marshall: Their website includes sexist pop quizzes and a "Whack a Blonde" video game.

Sexy, Smooth...Ten Year Olds?

Jill Filipovic, September 19, 2007.

Jill Filipovic: Nair markets hair-removal products to ten-year-olds. Their ad campaign is all about how "empowerful" smooth legs are.

Britney Spears Is NOT Fat

Amanda Marcotte, September 14, 2007.

Amanda Marcotte: Why are straight men so personally offended by Britney Spears' appearance at the VMAs?

Thank You Anita Roddick, R.I.P.

Kate Harding, September 11, 2007.

Kate Harding: The Body Shop founder leaves behind a legacy of fighting for animal rights, the environment, HIV awareness, and numerous other causes.

The Problem With Porn

Guest Blogger, May 30, 2007.

Vanessa Valenti: Naomi Wolf's New York Magazine cover story on pornography makes the mistake of focusing predominately on the effect of porn on men.

Dying to Be Thin

Sophie Goodchild, The Independent UK. November 22, 2006.

Confused by conflicting messages about diet and health, vulnerable young women are turning to lifestyle anorexia websites for 'thin-spiration.'

Is Dieting Anti-Feminist?

Ariel M. Stallings, Sirens Magazine. November 1, 2006.

Her efforts to drop pounds made her feel like she was dropping the ball on women's rights as well. Then the epiphany: What's wrong with wanting to be healthy and look hot?