Send in your stories to: SlaenderBeauty@gmail.com
Dear Readers,
The members of SlanderSlender do NOT condemn slender beauty. In fact, we know of countless
stunning, gorgeous people who are fit, skinny, and even BONY, as long as their bodies are healthy
and naturally angular. Yes, you can be naturally stick-like. The term you're looking for is "lanky."
We read all your stories, and take the greatest care to preserve your privacy and endorse
your opinions. As long as you approve of a healthy body image, we're on your side!
Disclaimer: Some of these stories will contain errors, because we do not edit before we publish.
The following messages are real stories from real people (we hope). To include your opinions,
ideas, thoughts, rants, whatever, please feel free to email us at the above address.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Love,
the SlanderSlender admin peoples
I wrote a paper in class that I think pertains to your cause. Although it's on the
gender studies and feminist side, I'd like to show you some excerpts...
"Because of the regulation of sexuality, people feel uncomfortable and more likely to conform to
gender stereotyped roles. In Why Sex Matters by Rebecca Plante, she discusses how sexuality in America
has been liberated, yet there remain many contradictions and restrictions on people's expressions of
their sexuality.
"She addresses that opinions towards sexuality have become increasingly liberal and relaxed
in America, yet there are still very confusing and diverse beliefs towards social issues. Our society
implements many restrictions on a woman's sexuality, yet the media portrays sex as accessible and
influences women to feel that casual hookups are fine. "There are numerous reports on pharmacists
and other medical professionals interfering with women's sexual and reproductive freedom on the grounds
of religion" (Plante, 21). Plante talks about how in Spain, a country deeply rooted in catholicism,
religion has no influence over their citizen's sexuality. There is a double standard because men have
more sexual liberties than women, yet women who engage in casual sex are condoned while men are seen
as embodying masculinity. Plante This sends out mixed message to women, it also influences them to
follow what the media tells them to do.
"There is more pressure to conform to gendered identities in America. This pressure has limited
people's unique sexual identities because they are forced to stay strictly within the norm. Woman and
men are forced to live up to high expectations and idolize images in the media. This creates a lot of
insecurity in young women because they feel like to be fully desired, they have to live up to hyper-sexualized
images of models in magazines. Until religion is separated from people's sexuality, women in our
country will never completely feel sexually liberated enough to have casual hookups with out consequences.
We also need to change the way language is used to influence people's perceptions of gender. As Plante
argues, the way we use language to talk about sexuality has harmful effects. To call a man a "pussy,"
because he is considered "weak," reinforces the idea of a woman and her body always being inferior to
men. Language has a huge influence over people, and it is necessary to communicate to the younger
generations that this is an issue. Many woman within the US are not allowed to talk about their sexuality
because it is considered risky, while men are influenced to be very open about their sexual experiences
and hookups. Until our society can stop seeking to control both women and men's sexuality in pursuit
of following gender roles, we will never be sexually liberated."
Signed, Anonymous
Dear Julia,
I would like to tell you about my experience with unhealthy-looking women overseas.
When I visited Milan, Italy in 2000, I could tell I was in the capital of the fashion world. As
something of a tomboy and clueless about the differences between Gucci and Prada, I was a fish out
of its bowl. I stood out from all the other tourists because of how far my eyes popped out as I
gaped, and how awkwardly I stumbled as I walked without looking at my two left feet.
But I digress. As tall and graceful these women were in their high heels and oddly-shaped
outfits, their beauty was at a huge cost. The summer heat seemed to melt not only the makeup on their
faces, but the meat off their bones. On espeically hot days, an ambulence seemed to be around every
corner, caring for yet another twiggy who had fainted during their spring photoshoot lunchbreak.
I hope whoever reads this does not misunderstand: I do NOT believe that "skinny is ugly" or
"fat is the new beautiful," but I am shocked to see how often I see when beauty is BEYOND slender.
As someone who happens to have a small frame and build, I realize and acknowledge models who are
naturally thin, but believe that people come in all sorts of frames and builds.
I truly believe that conforming to one look is unnatural, unhealthy, and impractical,
especially after what I saw that summer in 2000.
Thanks for reading, and keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
A Fellow "Skinny"
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