Why LYB Day is so important to me

This is what inspired me to celebrate Love Your Body Day each year.  Jean Kilbourne is amazing.  I will say that this material is not rated G.  It is, however, nothing that isn't seen in any magazine you pick up in a grocery store. 

What are  your thoughts?

Love Your Body Day 2011

Supporting what you believe in is important, otherwise you're just a spectator rooting for the good team.  Why not join the team?  Since last year's Dating Violence Seminar, I have decided that at least once a year I will do some sort of feminist activism.  This year my activism was to throw a party for Love Your Body Day. 

Awesome Publix cake, as promised

The party began with food and good company.  In the invitation I definitely promised cake and door prizes.  I ordered the cake from Publix and ask that the words "Love Your Body Day" be iced on the cake.  My request was met with a hushed tone and the reply, "I'm sorry-  we can't do that."  Confused, I assumed it was because they did not have a stencil for it.  But, non, entertainingly enough, putting the word "Body" on a cake is a no-no.  It was explained to me that "body" on the cake could insinuate perverse ideas.  I had to laugh to myself a bit on that one.  After a long think about what could convey the message of the day and not include the word "body," I called back the Publix bakery and had them put "Celebrate You" on the cake, with which they were much more comfortable.  The cake was delicious.

Packets full of recipes

Next, there was a station for nutritious eating that was based upon health rather than skinny figures.  There were packets of recipes given out as well discussing antioxidants and omega fatty acids.  This was something I was excited to have because rarely in the media do we hear about diets for health.  Often we here about our "girlish figures," "Bikini bodies," and becoming "high school skinny."  The entire focus for the eating presentation was on health rather than calories.  Included in this display was a storyboard that showed beautiful women of all different shapes and sizes. 



Beautiful bodied women



I especially love Dove's campaign for real beauty.  This set up worked really well next to a slideshow made by NOW for Love Your Body day that discusses women presented in advertising.  To view that presentation, please visit NOW's Sex Stereotypes Beauty Page. 

Lastly, I prepared a craft (because who doesn't love a craft?!).  On one side of a small bag I painted a hear or a star and LYB.  The other side was to be decorated with things we love about our body or things we love doing with our bodies. 

Front of the bags

Decorated back of the bags

I would definitely say the night was a success.  As my activism for the year I hope I was able to help put a better perspective on female bodies and how to both appreciate them and not take cues from the media on what they should be. 

Happy Love Your Body Day!

Love Your Body Day

It is October 10th, which means it is Love Your Body Day! Today is the day to respect our bodies and treat them well. Our bodies are beautiful.

I have struggled for years and years, and actually most of my life, to make myself skinny. I have gone without meals, I have done juice fasts for weeks, and I have exercised to the brink of exhaustion. No more. The happiest I have ever been was when I was what the media would consider 50 lbs over weight because no one dared tell me that I needed to remember my "girlish figure." And what the heck kind of statement is that anyway? My "girlish figure?" I am a woman, a grown woman. I am meant to have curves. I am meant to have hips and a butt. I am through with criticizing my beautiful body and comparing it to a media-contrived idea of beauty: a model size that only 5% of the population can even attain.

Yes, I love my 5'3 body; It makes my bone less fragile. I love my soft stomach; it makes it inviting for my husband to lay his head on. I love my crooked nose; it reminds me of taking a baseball to the nose like a champ!

Heavenly Father gave me this body to have, use, respect, and love. The Scriptures tell me that my body is a temple, and temples are largely important to Mormons. We go to extensive lengths to care for our temples, preparing from when we are very young, so that must mean my body is more important than the credit I am giving. I only get one body, and I figure I had better get around to appreciating it, and what better day than today? I want to use it and appreciate it in everyway I can. I will dance. I will run. I will swim. I will help people. I will create. I will eat. I will play. From today on, I will love my body.

Mine truly,
MoFe