Our bodies, our hells
Glamour magazine recently conducted a body-image survey and found that, sadly, more than 40 percent of women are unhappy with their bodies. Those results are quite similar to what Glamour editors found when the magazine first conducted the survey back in 1984.
Details of the survey are discussed in an article in this month’s issue and the article is worth a read. (Click here to check it out).
The story features also three women talking about how they conquered their body image issues. I was happy to see that these were women with curves. But I also give Glamour kudos for featuring Muriel Hurtado, a slender Latino woman who talks about struggling with the fact that her butt isn’t big.
Oftentimes mainstream magazines and even mainstream women’s movements ignore (or maybe they just don’t know) that in most Black and Latino communities curves are a good thing and some girls who are naturally thin grow up feeling less of a woman because they don’t have big hips and an apple bottom booty.
The women polled in the survey were also asked about body image boosters. High percentages of women said they felt better about their bodies when they: eat right, exercise, have a good romp in the sack, achieve professional goals and get compliments from other women.
Honestly, my bod and I aren’t getting along right now. As some of you know I suffer from a chronic illness that leaves me tired and in pain, a lot. My job is also pretty stressful lately and therefore I’m too busy and/or too wiped out to exercise as much as I used to. But I’m trying to get back in the swing of things.
I second all the suggestions made in the Glamour article. I have found also that I feel better about my body when I’m wearing a cute outfit. (But I shouldn’t be encouraging shopping during a recession.)
The women surveyed mentioned that they feel better when they get compliments from other women, but I’ve found I get a little boost when I compliment other women, too. I can’t explain it, but when I let someone know she looks great in that dress she’s wearing, my belly suddenly feels a little flatter.
How do you feel about your body these days? What are your confidence boosters?
only 40% that seems a small amount to me.
i admit..i hate my body… ive been overweight/obese my whole life and havent been able to control my weight or get a small as i want.
maybe one day ill get use to the body.
Merch, you are nowhere NEAR obese!
I know, right. She must have one of those fun house mirrors at home.
well EDVACIA ill have you know that the height weight charts have me in the obese area!
And we all know medicine/science doesnt lie. LOL
Be prepared: as soon as I have about $30,000 to $40,000 to play with, you won’t be able to recognize me. Breast implants, Brazilian butt lift, tummy tuck … the body on the new me will be poppin!
Merch, those charts are stupid. They don’t take into account a person’s bone structure or muscle mass. According to those charts most athletes are morbidly obese.
Mariam, I hope you know you’re gorgeous as is and that if you have $30,000 to burn you should start a theater company or a magazine or something. I’m just sayin’.