This is a cute parody of “Most Beautiful Girl in the Room” by Flight of the Conchords. On one hand the clever lyrics make me laugh, but it’s also worth pointing out that the video isn’t really much of an exaggeration of the work environment for many.
In and out of academia, women (and occasionally men) often receive unwanted attention just getting through the course of a day, which can be uncomfortable and challenging. Since we’ve been discussing the XX drop off on the way to tenured faculty, you bet this is part of the equation…
A few weeks back I posted a piece on gorgeous Lizzie Miller, beauty standards, and the way Glamour magazine should be applauded for featuring a photo that captures the spirit of a woman who looks healthy and happy in her own skin. Now the fashion mag–which has included many ‘plus-sized’ models over the years–features seven women (including Lizzie) in an article about beauty in all shapes and sizes. They take the dialog one step further asking:
OK, let’s envision a world where women of more body types do get glamorous work in magazines and ad campaigns. Would female readers, viewers and buyers want it?
Glamour goes into detail about what it would take and of course, the answer is ultimately, us. But the reason this matters so much is bigger than determining which fashion models get work. It’s a topic taken on in recent years by Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty and others, but a message that needs to be repeated. Women and girls across the country–and beyond–face tremendous pressure to conform to an unrealistic, frequently unhealthy vision of what’s ‘socially acceptable’, how we should look, and what we should weigh. Put simply, it’s pure nonsense. And yet, we perpetuate the myth by celebrating these ideals in media and popular culture. So solving the problem begins with changing ourselves.
I have observed firsthand too many college-aged women and high school girls suffering from bulimia and anorexia in a losing battle to achieve what only airbrush can. My close relationships with women seem to inevitably drift into discussions of weight, calories, and body image, while with men, these subjects come up in the broader context of health and fitness. I have listened to my friends–beautiful new mothers–tell me how much they hate their new bodies for the very shape they took to bring forth life.
Glamour’s article brought me encouragement. There is reason for hope, at least if we can stop obsessing over nonsense. In the end, overcoming the crisis is up to us.
When Glamour magazine featured this un-airbrushed photo of 20-year-old model Lizzie Miller in a piece about body confidence, letters and comments poured in from readers glad to see this picture of a ‘normal women.’
Every now and then I compose a post about beauty. We humans have a habit of taking what’s most beautiful about ourselves–the very quirks and idiosyncrasies that make us unique–and believing they somehow instead make us inadequate or unacceptable. In the public arena, women are all too often criticized for their physique over their ideas. Meanwhile, runways frequently celebrate a very unhealthy image of the body.
And now we have Lizzie looking absolutely stunning celebrated in a top fashion magazine! I’m posting her photo here because it’s such a gorgeous image and really captures the spirit of a beautiful woman who seems comfortable and happy in her own skin. Well done Glamour.
A couple weeks back, I composed a post entitled ‘Science Reveals How To Lose Weight And Keep It Off‘. The results weren’t surprising… research out of Harvard found that calories are the most significant part of the equation. However, what really resonated with a number of readers turned out to be a different topic related to this point:
Weightwise, my take is that we humans have an interesting habit of coming in all shapes and sizes and the most beautiful tend not to fit a particular mold. That said, being healthy–inside and out–is everything.
I received several emails in agreement, and especially enjoyed hearing some of your own stories and challenges. A young woman named Marguerie requested that I post this video to support her ‘commitment to improving the self-esteem of girls everywhere.’ Sure sounds good to me! So without further ado, from Dove’s fantastic Campaign For Real Beauty:
Well, it was a long time coming. Between the myriad of diet plans on television, magazines, online, and everywhere, someone was bound to finally come up with conclusive evidence on what works and how to make sense of all the (excuse the term) dietary diarrhea. No doubt, you’ve also noticed that low-fat, high fiber, extra protein, pills, germs, and steel floods every sensory organ we have on a hourly basis.
Personally, I’ve never been all that interested in skinny, but healthy suits me just fine. I’m not one for regiments or counting calories, but do give thought to what I consume and prefer to walk or bike when possible–it benefits the heart, wallet, and environment. Weightwise, my take is that we humans have an interesting habit of coming in all shapes and sizes and the most beautiful tend not to fit a particular mold. That said, being healthy–inside and out–is everything. (After the past couple weeks, I can assure you of that).
But I digress… back to the original topic: science and weight loss
The latest edition of the New England Journal of Medicine features research out of the Harvard School of Public Health and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Scientists monitored individuals for two years on one of four popular diets: low fat, high carb, high fat, and high protein. The results (drumroll please…..)
