By Courtney Mata |Staff Writer|
Popular media and society place pressures on all of us to have the perfect body but the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) on campus takes a more accepting approach of society’s views and celebrates women in all shapes and sizes.
WRC held a week worth of activities designed to encourage women to love their bodies, despite society’s views.
The events ranged from discussions, group workouts and writing positive things about your body on their mirror display.
Angelica Davalos, student assistant for the center, held a discussion on women who struggle with body image. Davalos touched on many points explaining how society and peers can have a negative effect on women.
“I personally struggle with my body, but I have to remind myself, that I am happy and my close friends and family love me,” said Davalos.
She said that being healthy is good, but feeling forced into diets because of others is never a good thing.
Many women often feel obligated to fluctuate their diets because of societal pressures.
“Who cares about what everyone else says,” Davalos explained. “Are you happy? If yes then keep loving your body.”
Davalos made a point in her discussion that you cannot let others pressure you into thinking negatively.
Students like Chantelle Doss were able to open up about personal experiences with eating disorders and how to find hope.
“It’s not difficult to get an eating disorder. It’s really easy,” said Doss. “Whenever I start to think negatively, I force myself to look in the mirror and find something positive about myself.”
Hearing Doss touch on personal experiences with eating disorders emphasized how society can be really negative on women’s body and place high standards women must achieve in order to become beautiful.
“My best advice is to stare at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself, yes I am one sexy b***h!”
Media should focus on positive role models, like supermodel Tyra Banks, who publicly promotes positive body images for women.
Tyra’s infamous show “America’s Next Top Model,” featured a special edition in cycle ten where the models were all plus size.
Banks believes that women should not have to be “stick thin” to be happy and encourages women to be happy with their bodies no matter the size.
I believe beauty is found within, not on a scale.
The next time you flip through a magazine filled with skinny models, reflect on who you are as an individual and love yourself, just as the WRC emphasized to students last week.
Do not let society define you, define yourself.
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