#if you want something that promotes an unrealistic body standard

[alicewhimzy]

Here are my thoughts on Barbie in full as promised. 🏩💃💄

It was okay.

Right away I noticed how self aware and unsubtle movie this movie is. It wears itself proudly on its sleeve. Barbie is both a feminist icon and something that feminists have criticized, so I can understand why they did this. By turning the dial up to eleven and saying its message as loud as it can, the movie is trying to avoid being misinterpreted. Didn't work for some but that's okay. You can't please everyone.

Barbieland at the beginning is a pretty pink paradise, but it's not perfect. The Kens are pretty much just there to be boyfriends and look cool, and the Barbies are meant to achieve their dreams and be content with them. But before long Barbieland is faced with the horror that no girl's toy company wants to face. Real emotion.

When Barbie starts having morbid thoughts it disrupts the perfect pattern. She is comfortable in her routine because it's all she knows, so she wants things to go back to normal. At first.

Barbie is kind of a diva but not to the point that she's unlikable. She prides herself on making her own choices. There is almost no job she hasn't had, meaning that there's nothing she can't do. We're used to seeing this archetype in an antagonistic role, like Sharpay in Highschool Musical or Regina George in Mean Girls, but this movie doesn't do that. What Ruth, and by extension Barbie wanted most of all was to inspire girls and women to be what they want to be. That's not quite what happened in the real world. But I'll get to that later.

The pink drip in this movie is unreal. YOU GET PINK, AND YOU GET PINK, AND YOU GET PINK! EVERYBODY GETS PINK!

The details like Barbie floating instead of walking downstairs and all the water being either plastic or imaginary were hilarious, like toy story humor.

Ken is a fascinating take on finding a healthy way to express masculinity. He's a bit of a simp but he learns to improve and grows out of it over the course of the movie. Since the world kinda revolves around Barbie, she doesn't have much of a filter, particularly regarding her interactions with Ken. He asks if he can stay for a night and she bluntly refuses him. This shows one of the themes that I noticed; much of the conflict in this movie comes from an inability or unwillingness to see things from the other person's perspective.

Ken's problem isn't that he's a misogynist. He acts like one in the third act but it's clear he's just trying to act like he's on top of things when he hasn't yet figured out what he really wants. The entire purpose of the Ken doll was to just be an optional boyfriend to Barbie, so of course he defines himself by how she sees him. He relies on her external validation because it's what he was designed for so it's what he thinks he wants.

Allen never wanted power. He already made peace with himself in a way so, yeah. He's okay.

Barbie is used to things working out perfectly and when she reaches the real world she sees for the first time just how messy and complicated things can be in reality. This kind of loss of naivety culminates in the unironically best scene in the movie, where after she and Ken split up she just sits on a bench. She sees a girl and her mother playing with her and watches as the girl grows up and eventually leaves her folds, including Barbie behind. Barbie opens her eyes and looks around her. She sees people having arguments, laughing, hanging out together and just living. Existing. Glancing next to her she sees an elderly woman reading a book. Barbie looks at this woman and says "You're so beautiful." And you can tell she means it. The woman says "I know." This moment is where Barbie first starts to realize that things may not be as perfect and she's used to back in Barbieland, but that's okay.

Weird Barbie is fabulous. She can't fit in with the pretty pink paradise of Barbieland, so she is ostracized by the others. Despite this, her confidence is unwavering. From the beginning she is aware that things in reality aren't as simple as they are in Barbieland. Throughout the movie she unapologetically owns her own weirdness. She doesn't need to learn the same lesson that Barbie does because she's already learned it, and in the end the others finally give her what she needed; Respect. She steals every scene she's in and I love her.

Taking control of Barbieland didn't bring Ken happiness, because he didn't want control. He wanted to feel validated. Like a person. Just like Barbie. And when she tells him that he can find his own validation without her, it's one of the most honest moments in the movie. It's where he learns that he can be okay with himself as he is. Just like women don't need a man to complete them, vise versa is also true. Being a man isn't about physical strength or material possessions, or dominance. It's about maintaining a healthy attitude about oneself. You are Kenough.

And the Kens should form a dance troupe. They're great at it and they've got the outfits for it.

Sasha and her mother Gloria have opposing ideas on the idea of Barbie herself and what she says about femininity. Sasha takes a blunt critical approach, putting the "look pretty, be happy" idealism and the adherence to unrealistic beauty standards on blast, and while she does come off as harsh, she still has a point. On the other hand, Gloria found Barbie comforting and empowering, which was why she started drawing ideas like "irrepressible thoughts of death Barbie" and "depressed Barbie", using her own fears and insecurities as inspiration to give Barbie more depth than Mattel was willing to give. Eventually, both mother and daughter are able to reconcile these views and repair their relationship.

It's okay to enjoy a story or a character even if other people don't like it. No matter what they say, that doesn't mean that you can't still enjoy it. Just because it means a lot to you doesn't mean it's flawless, and just because it can be interpreted in a troubling way, that doesn't mean it's ruined. It can always be changed and improved on with each new version. This is something I definitely agree with.

There's nothing much I can really add to Gloria's being a woman monologue. It sums the whole issue up and it shows that the more people that are made aware of it, the closer we are to fixing it. Brilliant.

Barbie has to take control of her life away from Mattel. She has been living under the control of men and she never even knew it. She comes to learn so much about herself and the world around her that she doesn't want to be Barbie anymore. She wants to be Barbra. She knows that the real world isn't all she thought it would be, but that's okay because she's ready to tackle it. She's not afraid to leave paradise anymore. She's not afraid of cellulite, she's not afraid of the patriarchy, and she's not afraid of death. Like all the women she wanted to stand for, Barbra is finally a real person with real feelings.

Her first stop; A gynaecologist.

This Barbie is okay.

🏩💃💄

~A.W.

[racheljsk]

Week 10 Face Filters

Yassifying Oneself

Face filters comes in many shapes and forms, ranging from those Instagram beauty filters that gives your face a flawless, airbrushed look to those TikTok filters that tells you what book troupe you are (I want an enemies to lovers trope so bad). In this post, we are going to be focusing on beauty filters. Now, what are beauty filters?

“A beauty filter is a function that can be executed using an app. It is used to add a filter to a photograph or a video, placing this over the body of the person (or people) depicted and thereby changing their appearance.” (Opitz 2020).

Now that we know what beauty filters are, let us discuss the impact that beauty filters have on our lives. A good example of how much of impact beauty filters have on us is the video below.

In that video, Dr Lara Devgan, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon stated that 5 or 10 years ago, patients would take a picture of a magazine cover supermodel but now instead of doing that, she stated that patients will give her a picture of themselves but in a slightly optimised way whereby a Facetune or Snapchat filter will give them better facial features. In my opinion, this is so much healthier compared to comparing oneself to a supermodel and then getting something done so that you will look like someone else. The reason why I said this is because by using your own pictures, you can see what looks better on your own face rather than following the footsteps of someone that does not have the same face as you. However, like in every story, there is a good side and bad side.

The bad side of beauty filters is that it promotes an unhealthy and unrealistic standard of beauty. Using the video shared earlier as an example yet again, the girl in the video, Marla, told everyone that the reason why she got surgery is that she is tired of editing her pictures, so by getting surgery plastic she can become the image that she really wants, and this can help save up time when it comes to editing her photos. This is what I consider something as bad. This is because people will be happy when they use the beauty filters at first, but the minute the beauty filters come off and it shows one’s natural face, people are often times will become more self-conscious and have higher tendencies to have low self-esteem.

In conclusion, I think beauty filters have their own advantages and disadvantages, but in the long run, if used in an excessive amount to the point of obsession, it will then turn into a disadvantage.

References

Misman, N 2023, ‘Augmented Reality (AR) Filters’, MDA20009 Digital Communities, Learning materials via Canvas, Swinburne University of Technology, 1 June, viewed 13 June 2023.

Opitz, S. C. 2020, ‘BEAUTY FILTERS WHEN BEAUTY IS STANDARDISED’, From Print to Pixel, 5 June, viewed 13 June, < https://www.fromprinttopixel.ch/en/my-networked-images/beauty-filter>.

VICE Life 2015, I Got Surgery to Look Like My Snapchat and Facetune Selfies, 7 December, viewed 13 June 2023,

< https://youtu.be/5ZOpLpSNW6c>.

[duhioncaffeine]

How the Beauty and Wellness Industry benefits from your Insecurities

When you mindlessly scroll through Social Media you fall into this endless cycle of watching influencers following a "perfect" routine, whether its green juices, skin care, makeup styles, or the way you dress, social media constantly makes you want to change yourself, fitting into a beauty standard, following a diet to look a certain way and so many more so-called “solutions” to ‘problems” made up by the beauty and wellness industry. What we don't know is that these wellness trends that were created to make you feel better about yourself, end up making you feel worse. In this blog, we will explore some prevalent toxic wellness trends and the impact they have on individuals, particularly women. From promoting unrealistic beauty standards to fostering doubt, self-blame and shame. Toxic wellness trends harm the lives of women ranging from teenagers to adults.

WHAT ON EARTH IS BUCCAL FAT REMOVAL?

Buccal fat removal is a procedure where the buccal fat under your cheeks is surgically removed to give this sculpted appearance and accentuate your facial features.

Many celebrities have had this, mine and yours favourite, Miss. Bella Hadid and others like Zoe Kravitz, Anya Taylor- Joy and Lea Michele. The only downside of this procedure is that it is irreversible. So, once your cheeks are gone, they're gone. So you can say that having a round face really…is a huge NO.

Ageing is a Crime

Every time you scroll through TikTok or the reels section of Instagram or even Youtube several influencers promote anti-wrinkle tape, botox, red light therapy masks and other similar solutions to “ageing”. When originally anti-ageing was meant for the older demographic now it aims towards teenagers. Because of these, It brings us to think that is ageing that bad.

Essentially if your skin doesn't look a certain way if it isn't ‘glass clear” or “wrinkle-free” something is wrong with it. This ideology results in women feeling inferior and insecure in their bodies.

Thinspo

Diet culture has been around for way too long and there have been many diets which come and go but they all have the same motive more or less and that is to lose weight and be skinny. In the 20th century, there was this thing called “munching parties” where people would gather around and chew food till it became liquid only to spit it out.Yeah, that is how scared they were of becoming “fat”.

Since celebrities are looked up to by the general public, The Kardashians also had their BBLs removed which meant that “Thin was back in” that ideology also brings us to “heroin chic” a term invented in the 90s by the fashion industry given to models who had an extremely thin figure, dark circles and pale skin. Models like Gia Carangi were first associated with this trend and then later models like Kate Moss and Jaime king made anorexia aspirational.

Diet cultures not only promote bad food habits but also eating disorders, and to fit into a particular beauty standard women follow certain diets which obviously can be detrimental to a person's mental and physical health.

Spiritual By-passing and Cultural Appropriation

The practice of using spiritual beliefs or practices as a way to avoid dealing with difficult and actual emotions or problems, or appropriating spiritual practices from cultures that are not one's own, can be harmful if individuals are not addressing the root causes of their issues and instead using spirituality as a form of avoidance or cultural theft. Because of social media, we have been introduced to a lot of wrong information regarding spirituality, amongst this the most popular is wearing the Nazar or Evil Eye Locket to ward off evil intentions or jealousy. This random information from the internet makes women delusional and sways them away from what is happening around them, thereby impacting their mental health.

Overall. It is important to approach wellness trends critically and seek out evidence-based practices that are sustainable and promote holistic and positive well-being. These wellness trends are created out of pre-existing issues and insecurities that women have faced for years on end. Remember that every individual's health and wellness journey is unique and personal. The beauty and wellness community profits off of *your* insecurity so it is important to accept yourself for who you are, rather than trying to conform to societal expectations or trends, we should inculcate changes in a way that benefits us positively and practice self-care and self-compassion instead of blindly following whatever is over the internet or what Miss. Bella Hadid said in her interview :p

[weriseandthrive]

🌟 Embrace Body Positivity: Celebrating the Beauty Within! 🌟

Hey there, beautiful soul! Today, I want to talk about something truly empowering and liberating: body positivity. It's time to embrace and celebrate the beauty that resides within you, just as you are. Each and every one of us is unique and deserving of love, respect, and self-acceptance.

In a world that often bombards us with unrealistic beauty standards and unattainable ideals, it's crucial to remind ourselves that true beauty is not limited to a specific shape, size, or appearance. It is found in the diverse tapestry of humanity, in every curve, line, freckle, and imperfection that makes us wonderfully human.

Remember, your worth is not determined by the number on a scale, the size of your clothes, or the opinions of others. It's about embracing your authentic self and radiating confidence from the inside out. Embracing body positivity is a journey, and it begins with self-love and acceptance.

Start by focusing on the things you appreciate about yourself, both internally and externally. Shift your mindset from self-criticism to self-compassion. Treat yourself with kindness, just as you would a dear friend. Nurture your body with nourishing foods, engage in activities that bring you joy, and prioritize self-care.

Surround yourself with positive influences. Seek out communities, online or offline, that promote body positivity and inclusivity. Engage in conversations that challenge societal norms and celebrate the beauty in all shapes, sizes, colors, and abilities. Let go of comparisons and instead, appreciate the unique journey you're on.

Remember, you are more than your appearance. Your worth extends far beyond your physical attributes. Embrace your talents, passions, and the qualities that make you truly remarkable. Shift your focus to what your body enables you to do rather than how it looks. Celebrate its strength, resilience, and ability to experience the wonders of life.

Be mindful of the media you consume. Surround yourself with diverse representations of beauty and bodies. Challenge the narrow standards and demand inclusivity and authenticity. By reshaping the narrative, we can create a world where everyone feels seen, accepted, and loved.

Lastly, let's remember that body positivity is not just about ourselves. It's about extending love, acceptance, and support to others. Lift each other up, celebrate our differences, and stand united against body shaming and unrealistic expectations. Together, we can create a world where every body is celebrated and embraced.

So, my friend, I encourage you to embark on this beautiful journey of self-acceptance and body positivity. Embrace your unique beauty, love yourself unconditionally, and radiate the confidence that comes from within. You are worthy, you are beautiful, and you are enough. Let your light shine bright and inspire others to do the same. 💖

[pimpkinpieee]

Week 9 – Digital Citizenship and Health Education: Body Modification on Visual Social Media

What a fun topic to talk about! This was the topic that I presented in class this week and it was by far the most interesting topics I’ve talked about. It is on Body Modification on Visual Social Media!

I am sure the first thing that comes into your head is “photoshop edits” or “cosmetic surgery”. Well, yes. Those are all part of this week’s topic. Before we dive deeper into this topic, here is a brief introduction of what the topic actually means.

Body modification on visual social media refers to the practice of sharing and showcasing various alterations made to the human body on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. It encompasses a wide range of intentional modifications, including but not limited to tattoos, piercings, scarification, hair dyeing, body painting, cosmetic surgeries, and even more extreme alterations like implants or extreme body modifications. In addition, body modification can also be done digitally through Photoshop apps. One can alter their appearance which includes modifying body shape, size, skin tone, facial features, or adding elements like tattoos, piercings, all through an app.

Plastic surgery is one of the most well-known and widely practiced methods of body modification. Plastic surgery involves surgical procedures that alter or enhance a person's physical appearance. It can be performed for various reasons, including reconstructive purposes to correct deformities or injuries, or for aesthetic purposes to enhance specific features or achieve a desired look. Some popular procedures of plastic surgery include breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, liposuction, facelifts, tummy tucks, and buttock augmentation, among others. The realm of plastic surgery is now completely surrounded by the Internet and social media (Robert 2018). According to a study conducted by Vardanian et al (2013) more than half of American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) members who participated in a survey reported using social media for either personal or professional reasons. Furthermore, 42% of surgeons claim that their patients want aesthetic surgery to enhance their looks on Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and other social media platforms (American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2017).

Through this data, it illustrates the extent to which social media can cause someone to feel self-conscious or insecure about their appearance and to desire plastic surgery. Social media platforms often promote and perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards through edited and filtered images. Seeing flawless and heavily edited photos can create a sense of inadequacy and make individuals feel that their natural appearance is not good enough. I can relate to this statement too because I used to go through something similar. In addition to this, Instagram has established itself as a leading platform for businesses seeking to promote to millennials, and its use in cosmetic surgery is on the rise. Many surgeons used Instagram as a tool for patient education and company growth quickly, and as a result, many now have sizable (Falzone 2016). In my opinion, this can be classified as social media misuse as it is causing plastic surgery to become more widespread as society advances. People may become more self-conscious about their appearance as a result and undergo plastic surgery right away with easy access.

All in all, the decision to undergo plastic surgery should be a personal one, driven by a genuine desire for self-improvement and an understanding of the potential risks and benefits involved. Loving the way we look involves a combination of self-acceptance, self-care, and making choices that align with our personal values and well-being. My advice would be to love yourself because you are perfectly imperfect just the way you are. You are YOU and that is what makes you special <3

References

Dorfman, RG, Vaca, EE, Mahmood, E, Fine, NA and Schierle, CF 2018, ‘Plastic Surgery-Related Hashtag Utilization on Instagram: Implications for Education and Marketing’, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 332–338.

Falzone, D 2016, Plastic surgery docs use Instagram stars to boost their practices, Fox News, viewed 12 June, <https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/plastic-surgery-docs-use-instagram-stars-to-boost-their-practices>.

Vardanian, AJ, Kusnezov, N, Im, DD, Lee, JC and Jarrahy, R 2013, ‘Social Media Use and Impact on Plastic Surgery Practice’, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, vol. 131, no. 5, pp. 1184–1193

[captainmdhridoyhossain-blog]

[ad_1] The filter makes users look younger and more glamorous. Some TikTokers are concerned that the tool promotes unrealistic beauty standards. (Story aired on All Things Considered on March 8, 2023.) STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: What you see on social media is not necessarily real life. Many people use filters when they're posting photos on social media - filters that change the light and maybe make people look brighter, more attractive. If you don't know, now you know. TikTok has unveiled a new filter powered by artificial intelligence which might be too good. NPR's Bobby Allyn takes a look.BOBBY ALLYN, BYLINE: Annie Luong (ph) noticed it right away when she opened up TikTok recently.ANNIE LUONG: I just saw a lot of girls turning on this filter and their reactions to the filter and how it was such an advanced filter, so I wanted to try it.ALLYN: Luong is talking about TikTok's new beauty filter called Bold Glamour. It's become a viral sensation because it's different than past beauty filters. It uses advanced artificial intelligence. Instead of just putting a digital layer over your face, this filter completely re-creates your nose, chin, cheeks and eyes using a process known as machine learning. Luong, a 28-year-old who works in management consulting in Toronto, looked at herself in the Bold Glamour filter and thought...LUONG: OK, this looks pretty cool, but it just didn't feel like reality. And maybe that - it's because I know that it's not reality, where I'm like, I know that's not how I look in person, and I know that's - I'm not even going to try to look like that.ALLYN: Some of the tens of millions of TikTokkers who have tried the filter have had similar reactions.(SOUNDBITE OF MONTAGE)UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Like, this is hard to tell that it's a filter.UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: This is just so scary. Like, it's so realistic, this one, and so damaging for people that think that this is what everyone should look like.UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: I don't know what kind of sorcery that filter is...ALLYN: Not only is the filter creating a glossier, skinnier, more movie-star version of yourself, but people have been freaking out because it's just so persuasive.Luke Hurd is a consultant who works on filters for Instagram and Snapchat.LUKE HURD: It is different. It's not cartoony. It's not drastically aging you or turning you into a child or flipping your gender on its head. And there are a lot of times where you have to kind of look down in the corner and see, wait, is there a filter on this person? And lately, it's been yes.ALLYN: That blurring of the line between reality and fiction is something that can have a lasting effect on your sense of self, says Renee Engeln. She's the director of the Body and Media Lab at Northwestern University.RENEE ENGELN: So your own face that you see in the mirror suddenly looks ugly to you. It doesn't look good enough. It looks like something you need to change. It makes you more interested in plastic surgery or other kinds of procedures.ALLYN: Engeln says some might see a TikTok filter as a playful thing, but it should be taken seriously.ENGELN: It's not like a TikTok filter directly causes clinical depression, but I think it adds to this culture where a lot of young people are feeling really alienated from themselves.ALLYN: Whether creating freakishly good images out of scratch or chatbots that can hold sometimes disturbing conversations, artificial intelligence has been taking the internet by storm, and TikTok and other social media companies are trying to incorporate the latest AI magic into their apps to seize the moment. TikTok wouldn't comment on the design of the filter, and they wouldn't discuss how the feature could potentially worsen people's image of themselves. Luong, in Toronto, says she's happy to see so many people on TikTok - mostly young women - using the filter to talk about how social media perpetuates unattainable beauty standards.

Many who commented on her video using the filter said, you know, I prefer the version of you without this filter.LUONG: But then there were a few comments where it's like, oh, it improved so much; like, you look so much better; like, you should always keep that filter on.ALLYN: Another TikTokker said, as she turned the filter on then off, no wonder everyone feels so ugly all the time.Bobby Allyn, NPR News. Copyright © 2023 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. [ad_2] #AIpowered #TikTok #filter #sparking #concern #NPR

[marizmda20009blog]

Week 9: Digital Citizenship and Software Literacy: Instagram Filters

Societal beauty standards have been perpetually and unrealistically unreachable, and have been set upon women from a very young age where they are expected to look constantly look hairless, slim, with no stomach fat, and yet have a big derriere, with clear flawless skin. Being taught this from a very young age has led multiple girls to have their self-esteem plummet exponentially, leading to body dysmorphia and low confidence. This also brings women to dislike certain though natural bodily aspects of themselves such as acne, stretch marks, body hair, etc (Jones, 2021).

The increased use of Instagram, a popular image-based social media platform has provided what is described a toxic mirror where young women view their bodies in a distorted fashion (Campos, n.d.). Not only do we critique our bodies in mirrors, but with digitization, it is now possible to digitize our body dysmorphia by virtually modifying what we dislike, creating our “perfect” selves (Coy-Dibley, 2016), and this has been contributed by popular celebrities such as the Kardashians and James Charles, who have been accused of using various photo editing applications such as FaceTune to enhance their features and slim their bodies, and thus promote body dysmorphia since they obviously do not look like that in reality. 

Unattainable body standards are achieved through face and body modifying applications such as Skinny Camera, which encourages people to ‘forget about diet and weight!’ and to ‘slim down, pose and look thin’ using the application itself (Coy-Dibley, 2016). Many of these photo editing applications detect your facial and body features, which upon analyzing, allow you to enhance and modify how you want to look like, showcasing how technology has been advancing as of lately. 

Not only Instagram and Snapchat, but Zoom have beauty augmented face filters where it is possible to enhance your features and shape to your ideal face (Haines, 2021), which definitely differs in reality where our skin looks more dull, with various hyperpigmentation and acne scars on our faces, but remember, it is completely normal and everybody has gone through or is currently on that stage as well! It is definitely something not to be ashamed about, and societal beauty standards is unfair and almost unattainable if you actually think about it (unless you got the money for body modification proceedures...).

All in all, it is still admittedly hard to embrace your true body image and properly detach yourself from the toxic culture women has been set dead on their entire life. Just remember and tell yourself that you are and will always be unconditionally beautiful to begin with, and you will slowly feel the heavy burden of societal beauty standard lifted off from your shoulders in time.

Reference

Campos, G, n.d., ‘ Instagram and its effect on body image’, Amherst Wire, viewed on 5th May 2022, <https://amherstwire.com/26484/lifestyle/instagram-and-its-affect-on-body-image/#:~:text=There%20are%20a%20variety%20of,bodies%20in%20a%20distorted%20fashion.>.

Coy-Dibley, I 2016, “Digitised Dysmorphia” of the Female Body: The Re/Disfigurement of the Image, Palgrave Communications. 2:16040 doi: 10.1057/palcomms.2016.40

Haines, A 2021, ‘From ‘Instagram Face’ To ‘Snapchat Dysmorphia’: How Beauty Filters Are Changing The Way We See Ourselves’, Forbes, viewed on 5th May 2022, <https://www.forbes.com/sites/annahaines/2021/04/27/from-instagram-face-to-snapchat-dysmorphia-how-beauty-filters-are-changing-the-way-we-see-ourselves/?sh=27020f284eff>.

Jones, J 2021, ‘ The beauty standards placed on women are unrealistically unachievable’, Meteamedia, viewed on 5th May 2022, < https://meteamedia.org/20179/opinions/the-beauty-standards-placed-on-women-are-unrealistically-unachievable/ >.

[masonsleclerc]

definitely agree that kim wearing the dress was extremely obnoxious, the dress is so iconic so it definitely should’ve been in the exhibition inside and not on kim or anyone else for that matter, but what about her losing weight is damaging? not trying to undermine your feelings in any way btw just wanted if you could further explain your views on this

kim kardashian has been the pin up girl for the ideal body type for YEARS, and she feeds into diet culture constantly by promoting diet teas, diet pills, diet fucking lollipops (she doesn’t do it as much now, but she used to do it ENDLESSLY). her (and the rest of her family) have been the poster girls for unrealistic body standards going back years, and are constantly changing and editing themselves to fit the mould. i just don’t understand what someone gains from doing something so damaging to their body, and it pisses me off so much especially now that calories are plastered all over menus. it makes diet culture all the more prominent in young peoples (and adults, for that matter) brains and makes them feel guilty for not looking a certain way or not eating a certain thing. my mind is frazzled rn so i definitely didn’t explain that better but here are some screenshots of tweets & an article to get my point across

[daydreamingleclerc]

To that anon its not about her doing what she wants of course she can its the fact that she presenting this perfect image that girls see online who some unfourtantly develop disorders realted to that with the goal of achiving something the no one is which is perfect and she make it seems like the fact that you can only get something by selling your body and anything more deeper than that is irealvent and that is sad... not to mention that that mason seems to be just shallow its sad.

yeah, i agree. this is why i despise wag culture bc it’s very evident that most of these footballers are shallow and only date these women (short term, mostly) bc of their aesthetic the way that these women only date them for the money. claire - along with many other influencers - promotes unrealistic beauty standards and especially now she’s got her numbers bumped up w the whole mason sitch, most of the people following her are young girls who think “i can date people or be validated if i look like that” (i’ve been there, i’ve survived through ED’s at both ends of the scale, i know how it feels) and it’s so fucking toxic lol. that’s half the issue i have w her :)

[maplecornia]

chapter 31

𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔡 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔱: 1.26K

𝔤𝔢𝔫𝔯𝔢: romance | slice of life | fluff | angst | bts x female!reader | ot7

𝔰𝔲𝔪𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔶: You watched them from the sidelines ever since you were a young teenage girl. Now you’re grown up, they’ve returned after 2 long years and everything has changed. What happens when you pull back the mask and find the darkness within? What happens when you see that they’re broken?

𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰: cliffhangers | angst | fluff | slight mentions of self hatred | depression | mental health illness | self harm | occurs in the year 2024 | set in a timeline where BTS went to the military together | slight language

tags: @kookaine | @fangirl125reader | @kookiebbyxx | @taradevonne | @rae-bear |@mangminnie | @pixiekooo | @cana | @canarystwin

Opening the door to your apartment, you sigh.

It was a long day. The photoshoot lasted longer than you expected, and you didn't even get a chance to reprint your schedule. It was for the best though, you supposed. Namjoon didn't need you to do much of anything else besides assist him while he set up to get some work done.

Biting your bottom lip, you try not to feel guilty that you left him all alone. He said he needed no distractions, but you pray he doesn't pull an all-nighter. Knowing him, however...Glancing down at your phone, you wince at the week's schedule Mr. Sejin gave to you before leaving. He told you that getting a daily schedule would be tedious, and informed you that weekly schedules would be sent to you every Sunday.

As for this week...

They have hardly any free time, especially Namjoon. Filled to the brim with practices, photoshoots, and interviews...you can't imagine what it'd be like when promotions start. He really shouldn't be pulling all-nighters nowadays, he needs to rest now to prepare for the workload that will come his way.

You scoff.

Who are you kidding? Namjoon won't be likely to do that. He's the type to pour out every last of his waking spirit into his work. Even if you did go back to help, you'd probably be in the way. Not to mention the fact he wouldn't listen to a word you say.

Shaking your head, you wonder if your mother felt the same way when she was raising you.

Studying all night, practicing until your voice was sore or you couldn't dance anymore, pushing yourself to the very limit, preparing for your dream...

Swallowing hard, you push the thought out of your mind.

You don't have time for guilt.

Slipping out of your shoes, you advance, locking the door tightly behind you. In the corner of your mind, you wonder if Sunoh is sleeping already. Glancing at the clock, you roll your eyes. If he wasn't, he'd be crazy.

3 am already?

Reminds you of the times you would write till the wee hours of the morning. Creating countless stories and adventures, different worlds and different people, trying to find a way to escape when you had nowhere else to run. When was the last time you were inspired to even pick up a pencil much less write?

"I hate being alone." You murmur, rubbing your face. "I always think too much."

Setting your satchel on the counter island, you empty its contents and come across the contract. Freezing, you slowly pull it out and stare at it.

This is your dream.

So why are you hesitating?

Taking it to the table, you pull out a chair and carefully set it down.

It couldn't hurt to read through, could it?

You wonder why you are so afraid. What he did wasn't even something to be worried about. But when the one you cherish the most tells you you'll never make it, that you aren't talented enough...

He heard your voice and called it mediocre, amateur, and told you to find a new dream. Told you to give up on something you would never succeed at. Told you everything you worked so hard for was worthless. It was unrealistic, it wasn't worth trying.

You'd never make it anyway.

You weren't nearly as pretty enough to fit their standards.

You weren't perfect enough to pass their expectations.

You weren't made for the dream, so you shouldn't be given the chance to achieve them.

Groaning, you try to swallow the lump in your throat, you try to ignore everything you wish to hold back, but you can't.

How?

How could they see that you were worth something?

Obviously, you aren't worth that much, obviously, you aren't that special...

"Why are you hesitating?"

Remembering what Suga said, you wonder at the question yourself.

This is supposed to be your dream, you are supposed to hold onto it no matter what others tell you. No matter what people may think. It's something that's made to be eternal, that won't give up as long as you don't give up either.

Are you afraid?

"Yes. I'm terrified."

But why are you terrified? Why can't you forget the past?

"What if he's right? What if I'm not cut out for this?"

So are you afraid of what others think?

"No."

Then what is it?

You think of everyone who is counting on you, their high expectations. What they are risking for you. You think of the people who came before you, how hard they tried for this chance, just so they can achieve a dream they may never get. You think of your mother, who lost the very same dream and could never achieve it.

What is holding you back?

"What if I let them down?" you whisper softly, as a tear finally escapes its blockade and lands on the very same contract you've been holding in your hands.

You've dreamed of this. Receiving your first contract and signing with a company, ready to become a trainee, ready to be the singer; the performer you've always wanted. You've imagined the scenario in your head, acted it out many times over and over again. This was supposed to be a happy moment, the moment when all your hard work meant something. The moment when you finally took the next step towards your goal.

Inwardly, you want to scream in joy. You want to cry from happiness. But that fear, that blockade of terror, that is the one thing that holds you back.

What if when you finally let go, when you allow yourself to be happy again, it's ruined?

I gave everything to you.

"Shut up."

But you threw it away.

"Stop."

And for what? A dream that will never find its way out of your head?

"You're not here."

It's worthless hoping for something that can never happen.

"You don't know that."

Do you want to be worthless?

"You don't get to dictate my life."

Biting your lip, turn the final page of the contract, and find the dotted line. A line that will sign your life away. A line that holds every dream, every wish, every hope you've gathered in your small wish to be an idol. To sing on the stage, to perform and touch the world with your music.

Your world.

Finding a pen amongst the confines of your satchel, you put the tip gently to the paper and sign your name.

You smile once you do, and hold your hands to your face.

Letting out a small shriek, you let your excitement take control of your body and you allow the euphoric feeling of happiness to spread throughout you. You push back the feelings of doubt, the paralyzing helplessness of terror. For now, that doesn't matter. At this moment, those feelings aren't important.

Who cares about what's to happen in the future?

Would you rather be held back because of things you can't control?

No, this is your choice. This is your life.

You make the choice, no one else can make it for you.

At the harsh ringer of the phone, you jump. Startled, you turn to it from where it sits on the counter and check the caller ID.

One step at a time right?

That's all it takes to be okay again.

To move on.

Maybe it's time you talked to her.

Setting the pen down, you pick up your phone, taking a deep breath before accepting the call.

"Hi, Mom."

she finally called her mom! question, on a scale of 1-10 how angry would your guys' mom be if you ghosted her for this long? 0.o cuz mine would disown me for the longest time.

chapter 32 here

check the Infinite Stars masterlist for more chapters

check my BTS masterlist for other BTS content

check out my masterlist for other kpop fanfics

[tirfnotterf]

so im starting to like the label of trans inclusive radical feminist as I like a lot of the original tenants of rad feminism but dont vibe with the terfs that occupy the space now. I'm not completely anti sex work though, I think prostitution and porn is okay but only if we can somehow regulate it IMMENSELY. The current porn industry is very fucked and I am totally against it. I just dont think it needs to be eliminated completely, just the system changed to the point where it's no long harmful to women. is this hypocritical?

Hi anon! Sorry it took me so long to reply to you!

I used to think like this. I don't think it's hypocritical per say, I think your intentions are from a good place. But the goal of radical feminists is to radically change the position of women in society. How exactly can we reform the porn industry in a way that isn't misogynistic? Even women who aren't trafficked are being exploited. If a women 'consents' to being in porn because she has no other options to survive financially, that's not consent it's coercion. Even for the few (mostly western) women who have an onlyfans as a side hustle for extra cash and don't necessarily need to do it to survive, it is still extremely questionable and misogynistic. Even among these women who claim to do it just because they want to and aren't being trafficked or coerced, the majority do not make that much. Onlyfans makes all the profit. Furthermore, porn promotes unrealistic standards for women's bodies and expectations of women during sex, as well as increasingly extreme and violent kinks where women are physically and verbally abused and degraded. The more of this content people consume, the more desensitized they become to it, leading to them seeking out more extreme violent content overtime.

Even putting all this aside, let's say we were able to reform it in a way where violent content was no longer created, pimps and male corporate elites weren't making the profits and nobody was being coerced or trafficked. The ideology is still incredibly misogynistic. Let's take a step back and examine why is it that the majority of sex workers are female while the majority buying sex / consuming porn are male? Doesn't this inherently say something about how women are seen in society? Doesn't it communicate that women are objects that exist for the consumption of men? The argument that it is simply like any other job because all labour is unethical under capitalism doesn't hold up because in sex work, the women is not just an employee providing a service or product, her body IS the product being bought and sold. And if she withdraws consent by quitting, those images and videos are still going to exist, be consumed and be spread without her consent.

Hope this answers your question and I'm glad to hear you're getting into radical feminism! Good for you! ❤

[mavrex]

Struggling with stress?!

Stress is something that we all know and few of us have a lot of it. So I think there is no need for introduction. I saw a few helpful tips for stress and I wanted to share it with you all

 1. Daily anxieties are a part of life. But do not increase today’s anxieties by adding tomorrow’s to them. Try to live one day at a time. Stress can cause anxiety. First, recognize that some stress is inevitable. Fretting over things you cannot prevent increases your stress. Second, understand that quite often things do not turn out the way we may fear they will. 

 2. Do not be a perfectionist. Avoid setting unrealistically high standards for yourself or others. Be modest, set reasonable standards, and know both your limitations and those of others. When you do this, you will reduce stress all around and even encourage greater success. Also, keep a sense of humor. When you laugh​—even when something goes wrong—​you relieve tension and brighten your mood. 

 3. Try to maintain order in your life. We like a reasonable amount of order in life. One thing that can contribute to disorder​—and stress—​is procrastination, and this may lead to a growing list of unfinished tasks. Why not try these two suggestions? Make a practical schedule, and stick to it. Identify and correct any attitudes that cause you to procrastinate. 

 4. consider your priorities. List your tasks in order of importance. This will help you focus on the more important jobs, and it will reveal which ones you can put off, delegate, or even eliminate. For a week, keep track of how you use your time. Then look for ways to make better use of it. The more you are in control, the less pressured you will feel. Schedule some downtime. Even short breaks can reinvigorate you and reduce your stress. 

 5. Talk things over with an understanding person. A confidant may help you to see things differently or even to see a solution you overlooked. And just unburdening yourself can make you feel better. Ask for help. Can you delegate a task or share the workload? If a  classmate or work associate stresses you, look for ways to improve the situation. For example, could you kindly and tactfully tell the person how he or she makes you feel?  If such measures fail, can you reduce the time you spend with the person? 

 6. Regular exercise promotes better health. Develop healthful habits. Physical activity can lift your mood and improve your body’s response to stress. Eat nutritious food, and try to avoid skipping meals. Be sure to get enough rest. Avoid harmful “solutions” to stress, such as smoking or drug and alcohol abuse. In the long run, these heighten stress, perhaps by robbing you of your health and hard-earned money. See your doctor if your stress becomes overwhelming. Getting professional help is not an admission of failure. I know this is a lot to read and you may not read everything but just wanted to share this with you. Hope at least one point will help you. You all deserve the best. Wishing you all a great day.                                         

[merrybrides]

6 Ways to Cope With the Pressure of Looking Good for Your Wedding

Your wedding is one single day in the scheme of your entire life, yet it holds so much weight to you, your significant other, so many of your family and friends. So, if your big day is about to roll around and you’re feeling some wedding-related pressure, it’s certainly no surprise. How many other events in your life involve all eyes zeroing in on you with the focal point being your physical appearance—your hair, your body, your attire, your shoes, your jewelry. It’s no wonder so many people have tremendous anxiety over their wedding day.

A lot of this pressure and insecurity that can weigh heavily on a bride, or a groom comes from the unrealistic expectations as to what they are “supposed” to look like portrayed on social media. Most of the content readily available, especially in the beauty department, is extremely misleading, as it’s mostly heavily edited and filtered. Though social media can be a wonderful tool for couples planning their wedding, it can also negatively affect the experience as well.

Here are some expert tips for how to handle wedding-related pressure gracefully.

Cultivate self-compassion.

Self-compassion is more than just loving yourself—it’s also the act of being kind to yourself in the face of your imperfections or mistakes and refers to learning from mistakes without beating yourself up.  Ways to cultivate self-compassion include engaging in mindfulness practices like meditation, giving yourself the benefit of the doubt when you are less than perfect, and reminding yourself of positive experiences that have arisen out of mistakes.

Re-evaluate your beauty standards.

Look at the motivating factors behind your exercise and diet goals. We recommend asking yourself whether your beauty standards are flexible and inclusive of different body shapes or if they are narrow and only represent a small portion of the population. If your goals are centered around beauty standards that are narrow and rigid it might be time to re-evaluate why your body isn’t good enough. 

Moving away from unrealistic beauty standards can be helpful in setting goals that are relevant and achievable as well as improving body satisfaction and positive body image. We recommend identifying and shifting your beauty standards by looking over the different social media accounts you follow and taking notice of any trends you see in the images. If you notice that your feed is full of highly edited individuals with a similar body it might be important to seek out accounts that highlight and uplift diverse body shapes.

Prioritize what your body does, not just how it looks.

Our culture has a way of allowing us to forget all the incredible things our body does—like gleaning nutrients from food that make us healthy and strong—and only focusing on its size and shape.  Spending time reflecting on what our body does and not just how it looks can promote more self-acceptance which is important for improving body image and relieving the pressure of needing to look a certain way.  An effective strategy for prioritizing your body is to look in the mirror and when you notice a body part that you’re dissatisfied with, verbally remind yourself of the function that body part does and how you’re grateful for all the hard work your body does.

Let go of the need for perfection.

Many couples experience significant pressure to have a perfect wedding, but this expectation is almost always unattainable and will only lead to disappointment. Instead, try to accept things as they are rather than how you want them to be.  You can work hard to look your best on your wedding day, but in the end things may not be perfect.  When you notice something that does not meet your expectations, try taking a deep breath and focusing your attention on a positive mantra like ‘things are exactly as they need to be right now.’”

Find the balance.

Balance is key in so many areas of your life.  We can look at everything as a scale from one extreme to another and work to live not in the extremes, but somewhere in the middle.  One side of the extreme is doing nothing to care for yourself and your body, which leads to unhealthy outcomes, and the opposite extreme is obsessive exercise and crash dieting which is unhealthy to maintain. Try to create a sustainable plan that’s kind to your body and to your mind and something that you would have trouble maintaining comfortably.

Move your body in a way that brings you joy and supports your health.

Even though you might not have access to the gym or an exercise studio, you can still find healthy ways to move your body without feeling like it’s a form of punishment. Exercise that’s aimed at weight loss often feels punishing and is hard to sustain in the long-haul. Instead, find a way to move that you enjoy and that you can continue to return to over the course of your life. If you’re used to exercising primarily to achieve changes in weight or shape, try to find a more long-lasting reason to exercise, like getting to reach old age with a partner, being fit enough to engage in activities together, or being strong enough to conceive children or chase them around the house.

[robotslenderman]

OK but screw the whole “Brujah whose activism is their entire personality” stereotype. There’s like, SO many ideas and places you can go with a clan whose weakness is to argue, criticise, and be contrarians.

Give me Brujah who(se):

Is an activist primarily for groups that are less popular, ie the disabled and overweight.

Is an activist for groups that are mostly socially unacceptable even in left wing groups, ie they’re campaigning for otherkin to be legally recognised as animals.

Activism is several decades out of date, even though they know this. But for some reason they feel compelled to keep being an activist for a social issue that no longer has the same context or is no longer relevant in the society they live in -- ie, their focus is on decriminalising homosexuality in a country where there’s marriage equality and the focus is turned on employment or adoption rights. And no, they’re not focusing on decriminalising homosexuality in a country where it’s actually illegal, they’re focused on it out of context.

Activism has nothing to do with social justice. EG, all they ever try to do is turn the conversation towards how you shouldn’t let your cat outside.

Genuinely thinks they’re oppressed because they’re part of (privileged group here).

Genuinely thinks they’re oppressed because of (insert something that has nothing to do with oppression here). EG, “Hair curlers exist?? YOU’RE CLEARLY TRYING TO GET ME TO CONFORM TO CERTAIN BEAUTY STANDARDS, FUCK YOU.”

Was vegan in life. It shows.

Was vegan in life. It doesn’t show, until the topic actually comes up.

Was vegan in life. It doesn’t show because they’re mad about toy soldiers or something else mundane.

Very reserved, and so most people don’t know they’re Brujah unless they’re told. It’s not until the Brujah trusts you that they will suddenly unleash all of their Opinions on you.

Doesn’t give a shit about social issues or any other issues at all, but will go on rants about the pettiest, most unimportant stuff. They’re not even dressing it up as being for a good cause, they’re just fucking Like That (eg they won’t claim they’re against purple hair dye because it somehow promotes unrealistic body standards, they’re just against purple hair dye because they hate the colour).

"Activism” involves something extremely obscure, like how mad they are about certain microscopic staining techniques from the ‘50s that nobody uses any more and how fucking dare they.

True opinions aren’t known, because they will literally argue against anything they perceive as being the dominant thought of a group, simply because they feel morally obliged to show a different perspective to what’s being discussed and react badly if you tell them not to treat it like it’s a game. Bonus points if they actually have integrity and are following some sort of internal logic that makes perfect sense... but nobody else can figure out what that is, not unless they get to know this person well.

Is otherwise your stereotypical activist, but nobody has any idea because they’re diehard Cammy and are dressed to the nines like a Ventrue while lying in front of bulldozers.

Thinks Kindred all suck and keeps trying to make friends with Garou and wishes they were a werewolf.

Thinks people of all species all suck, and keeps getting mistaken for Gangrel because they just want to be left alone to play with their animals.

Will get into all-out mudslinging, name-calling, yelling arguments; then go out for metaphorical drinks with the person they’ve just called a horrible racist that kicks puppies like nothing ever happened.

Ideals are technically and morally correct by modern standards, but is abusive as hell in how they go about trying to uphold them, and is genuinely a lovely person when they’re not doing this, leading to the mindfuck of everyone who interacts with them.

So sick of the Brujah because again, they’re a contrarian so they’re bound to think groups suck, and keeps trying to get adopted into a different clan.

Autarkis through and through. They tried to join the Anarchs but their compulsion to undermine the dominant narrative meant they couldn’t stand it there so they went independent. They would have started a movement, but they keep arguing with potential followers so they’re on their own because they can never keep them.

Seriously. There are SO MANY THINGS you can do with the Brujah even if you stick to the “activist” stereotype! Don’t make your Brujah your stereotypical “I’m antifascist and I hate the Camarilla and I have absolutely no nuance or depth”!

[haes-revisionist]

Ok let's talk about diet culture.

I know that's a really loaded term for a lot of people, and a lot of anti-haes people instantly stop listening at the mere mention, but this is something we should acknowledge and talk about.

Diet culture essentially is companies exploiting "imperfections" in people, almost always in regards to body weight, for profit. They give false hopes and promises of "achieving the perfect body by purchasing our product(s)".

Some examples: fad diets, cleanses, skinny teas, diet pills, and exercise routines such as "abs in 30 days"

These things are obviously terrible for multiple reasons:

1) They don't take into account basic science. Most of the time, they don't even work short-term for most people

2) they are not sustainable. Some people might get results. However, since the product/diet/routine is often extreme most people cannot continue for very long and go back to old habits. This is where the "most diets fail" and "most people who lose weight regain it back" ideas/stats come from.

3) they are not sustainable because they are not healthy. Cutting out an entire food group, eating only once a day, only drinking your food, etc. are all unhealthy not only on a nutritional scale but on often on a psychological scale as well as they promote unhealthy relationships with food and disordered eating behaviors (which may lead to an eating disorder for some people).

4) They promote unrealistic body expectations and enforce rigid beauty standards. Most people seem to assume that aside from height and muscle mass, we will all look similar thinner. In reality, we will all still look different. We will have different bone structures, body compositions, body fat distributions, etc. Hell there are people out there who will never have flat stomachs even if they are underweight. We will all look different, very different. Most people, no matter how hard they try, can never look like the models on magazines (most of the time the models themselves can't. Most are photoshopped).

So what is the difference between diet culture and healthful weightloss? According to modern haes, the difference is that healthy weightloss does not exist. However, this is wrong.

The difference between diet culture and healthful weightloss is simple: diet culture focuses on beauty and disregards health while healthful weightloss focuses on health and disregards beauty.

Healthful weightloss is gradually losing weight over a long period of time. This involves a modest calorie deficit and often regular exercise.

People who go down this path often reduce the amount of highly processed foods and beverages they eat/drink and increase the amount of healthy foods in their diets.

Some may chose to completely avoid certain foods as they may make the person sick, fatigued, or could be potentially triggering.

By adopting these habits, adjusting when necessary, those who lose weight will keep it off and live more healthy lives.

There is a stark difference.

Wanting to lose weight, losing weight, adopting different diets, cutting out certain foods, etc. Are not diet culture and are not inherently caused by diet culture. It all comes down to the reason behind it. For example:

"I only eat low-fat dairy products because fat is bad and makes you gain weight". Diet culture

"I only eat low-fat dairy products because I want to limit saturated fats in my diet". Not diet culture.

By all means, call out diet culture when you see it, but not everything is diet culture, caused by diet culture, or is in some way related to diet culture.

In the end of the day, love your body. Love it enough to take proper care of it. Love it enough to accept it even if it isn't "beach ready" and never will be. You should not be ashamed of the size and shape you are. Nor should anyone be shamed for the size and shape they were or are changing to. If you don't want to lose weight, that's fine. If you do want to lose weight, that's fine too. All that matters is that you are treating your body well (eating a healthy diet, getting exercise, getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, taking medication, etc.)