True Bravery is taking a stand against this nonsense....

I have to admit that I was disappointed in "Brave" as a whole, after seeing it in the theater last summer. That said, I was not disappointed one bit in the lessons it had to offer young girls and their families. One thing I don't remember thinking even once was that Merida was not "attractive enough" to be a princess.  I find it absurd that I'm even typing those words, but it is apparently that very idea that has sparked Disney to do something absolutely disgusting and deeply saddening in my eyes. The image you see above is the "new and improved" Merida who supposedly looks more like a princess now. I know that the sexualization of fantasy characters is nothing new, and I know that it seems to have gotten a lot worse in the comic/sci-fi/fantasy realm as geekdom has suddenly turned to "chicdom". But this is Disney. This is a movie with a lesson for young girls, only now that lesson will include that to be that brave and "unique", one also has to show some skin, have a perfect figure, and have the face of a supermodel. I find it highly ironic that by making these changes to Merida, they have taken away everything that made her look unique; everything outwardly that made her an individual and made that individuality beautiful. Based on the number of signatures, I'm relieved to see that there are still people out there who have not given into the societal monster of unattainable physical perfection and ultra-sexualization. I can only hope and pray that these same people will be able to put their signatures into practice in real life.

Below is the link to the petition. I hope that you will sign it. I also have a link to a little article from an Orlando newspaper noting that Merida's creator is appalled at these changes and is in fact, among those who signed the petition. Props to her from me. She is fighting to keep true beauty alive.


https://www.change.org/petitions/disney-say-no-to-the-merida-makeover-keep-our-hero-brave



http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/blogs/beth-kassab/os-brave-creator-joins-petition-against-disneys-merida-make-over-20130513,0,1342190.post

Newsworthy Part One....

I'm sure most of you have read about or seen television reports regarding these notable body image themed headlines by now, but just in case you haven't, I really, REALLY think they both have a lot to say. The first is regarding a young ballet dancer from Maine who managed to get Seventeen magazine to agree to keep from altering body shapes when using Photoshop via an online petition through Change.org. What I found most interesting is that I was sent two different articles about this triumph, and while both positive, one had a much more idealistic view of the "body peace treaty", and the other was anything but shy about continuing to put Seventeen and other similar magazines in the hot seat for failing to admit that they have, in fact, manipulated many images that have contributed to countless young women's obsessions with perfection, and by simply acknowledging that this "Photoshop Lite" approach, while very significant, is also quite small when looking honestly at how much needs to change about our culture's views on appearance and beauty. I've chosen to post a link to latter of the two articles because...well, I'm as willful as they come and I applaud these girls and women who refuse to stop until we all find a way to be at peace with our bodies. "Thank you" seems like an understatement.



http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Family/2012/0709/Seventeen-magazine-promises-to-stop-manipulating-photos-of-models


P.S. A very special thank you to Maile for passing these along to me and continuing to keep me hopeful and inspired. Stay tuned for Part Two....

BEAUTIFUL?

New York is an amazing city. The lights,the culture,the buildings,the city that never sleeps. Over 8 million people speaking nearly 170 languages, all living together on one little island and its surrounding boroughs. And of course,many of the most beautiful people in the world. "The most beautiful people in the world"...that's quite a bold statement. But if you've ever visited New York,odds are you've heard that phrase uttered more than once. If the basis for this conclusion is the current standard of beauty set by our society, I don't have much of an argument. A thirty minute commute on the subway is all you need to back up this claim. Legs that go on for miles on your left side, and the six-pack abs and perfect biceps of the gentleman to your right. The most flawless complexions this side of air brushing,perfect smiles,the shiniest hair you've ever seen,sparkling eyes, all outfitted with the finest clothing and accessories that money can buy. Yes,we've certainly got that covered here in the Big Apple. But where does that leave the rest of us? Unfortunately,whether talking to your close friends or perusing the latest eating disorder and body image statistics,the general consensus is that it leaves us feeling disgusting,repulsive,and worthless. Some examples....

- 67% of women withdraw from life-engaging activities like giving
an opinion, going to school, or going to the doctor because they
feel bad about their looks.

- According to ANAD, an estimated 1 million American men suffer
from an eating disorder.

- 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of becoming fat.

- Officials in Fiji reported a sudden increase in anorexia & bulimia
with the arrival of televisions in their communities.

I would be lying if I refused to acknowledge the validity of this idealized perception of beauty.These people are striking. Physically ideal. They are pleasing to the senses in many ways...but when I look at the remainder of the definition of "beauty", letting it settle in my mind for a bit,I realize that,for me, this is not necessarily the beauty that exalts my mind and spirit. I am exalted by the love in the eyes of a mother as she cares for her child,despite having less than two hours of sleep. My spirit soars when I receive a hug from someone who means it. I see immense beauty in someone whose laugh is genuine.... in a man with an honest opinion....in the young woman who has endured more than any human being should ever have to suffer,but still--imperfections,battle scars,bad hair day and all--wakes up each day and lives her life to the fullest,enjoying each moment as it comes,knowing that she is special and worth something. There is so much beauty surrounding us each and every day,but many of us are so blinded by that elusive image of perfection that we fail to notice it,time and time again.

Everyone is different,and everyone is entitled to their opinion. My intention is not to disregard anyone's personal idea of beauty. I simply wish to open up discussions about beauty that will (hopefully!) help open some eyes to just how skewed our current ideals have become. This blog is a work in progress. Right now, I'm choosing to focus on beauty ideals in general,as opposed to those specific to eating disorders,but that could change based on feedback I receive or how the creative spirit decides to move me next. My belief is that the battle against eating disorders needs a project all its own. One that will be worthy of the severity of such illnesses and that will be able to effectively address all the issues surrounding such a devastating epidemic. I assure you that I'm working on it,but in the meantime, why not start talking to people about why it is that so many of us judge ourselves based on the unattainable standards of perfection?

I'm hoping to get some candid opinions from a few different people each month,gathering as diverse a group as possible. Many men are in the same self-loathing boat as we women too, so I'm hoping to include some male voices as well. As I said before,this may change, but I feel confident in using this as a starting point. Feedback,comments,questions-whether public or private-are welcome and encouraged. I simply ask that comments are relevant to each individual's answers to the questions,as opposed to comments or critiques pertaining to the people themselves. I will do my best to make this a positive journey for all of us and refrain from posting anything that might be a trigger for someone in the depths of an eating disorder,but I will not censor simply because ideas or beliefs differ from my own. I'm truly excited to begin to share something so important to me with all of you. If even one person is able to come closer to realizing their true beauty by something that is brought to light through this blog, it will be more than worth it.


"Everything has beauty,but not everyone sees it." -Confucius

May you see it!