I've been following the list for almost a year now. I know this is an
old post, but I couldn't help responding to it, now that I finally have
the time.
Body image is such a fragile thing -- here in the United States it's
been confirmed in various studies that most girls have gone on more than
one diet by the time they turn 10. Not only that, but when asked in a
recent survey, an alarming majority of girls said that they'd rather be
ugly or deformed rather than be overweight.
The idea that women must be as small as possible to be accepted is
ludicrous. Feminism has long since healed my mind, but I know I'm not
alone in saying that it hasn't been completely able to heal my heart:
there's a secret instinctual part of me that wants to be *thin*.
I think many of us -- even feminists -- are still trying to un-learn the
attitudes with which we have been so cleverly inundated. As feminists,
we're supposed to be strong and secure in our personal and political
beliefs, which is why it feels so compromising to have such mixed
feelings about my own body; I can't say my body and I are always happy
with one another. I am still struggling just to feel okay about my body
and not to beat myself up over everything I eat.
Part of the feminist revolution is to un-teach these unhealthy ideas for
young girls and even some grown women. It's a hard struggle and I'm
still in the middle of it myself.
Actually, I am the founder and Editor-in-Chief of a feminist zine here
in Illinois. It's called _Washer_ and we publish bi-monthly. I started
_Washer_ because (among many reasons) I was sick of reading those other
glossy-print magazines and feeling crappy about myself.
This next issue will be about the topic at hand: body image and
sexuality. I am very curious to see what you all have to say. If you
are interested in talking about it or if you would like to make a
contribution, please get in touch. We'll be accepting submissions until
mid-April. In addition, if you would like me to send along a copy of
our current issue, I'd be more than happy.
Paz,
Tasha Walston
Graduate Student, Illinois State U.
Editor-in-Chief, Washer Zine
http://www.soltec.net/~arbitrar/washer | [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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