Ragen Chastain 5’4 284 pounds. Chilling at the Barre, photo by Stephanie Diani.
Ok, I know I’m late to the party on the Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle song (also known as “Sexy and I Know It” by LMFAO.) I was told by a friend in fat acceptance a couple of days ago that I HAD to see the video. I checked it out. The song it not without its problems but there are people with a variety of body types shown in various states of undress, all being super confident about their bodies which is awesome.
With the way that a single stereotype of beauty is shoved down our throat 24/7, I think it’s so important to put other bodies out there. I think a really important part of my own journey of Size Acceptance has been actively seeking out positive representations of fat bodies. I won’t speak for anyone else but no matter how clearly I understand that bodies of all sizes are amazing and worthy and, in my opinion, beautiful, being constantly barraged with a single image of what is beautiful, wears on me.
Early in my journey I heard somewhere that you should look at yourself naked in a full length mirror at least 5 minutes per day and look for positive things you could stay about your body . Cheesy though it may sound I did it. And it really did help. But it’s hard to overcome the all the images of women who look like me shown without heads spilling over the edges of a chair that is too small for them. Rising above this kind of stereotyping when it occurs constantly everywhere you look can be really difficult (and, as an aside, I strongly believe that it is damaging to public health.)
Finding places where I could look at positive images of bodies that looked like mine – even just bodies that look like mine that have heads, really helped me, and continues to help me. One of my proudest moments as a Size Acceptance Activist was when I got to be part of the Adipositivity Project and that is because, for me, one of the most revolutionary things that I can do is put my body out there without shame, and as a way to “pay it forward” for all the beautiful fat bodies who helped me along the way. It’s also why having a photo and video gallery were so important to Jeanette and I when we created the fit fatties forum. So here are some examples of sites that I look at to this day to see positive representations of bodies of all sizes. If you know of others I hope you’ll add them to the comments, though I would ask the you avoid anything that includes thin shaming/suggesting that fat bodies are better than thin bodies etc. (For the record, I don’t get payment of any kind from any of these, I just think they are awesome!.)
The Adipositivity Project (possibly NSFW) by Substantia Jones (I’ve been an Adiposer a couple of times!) She even has an awesome Calendar (I’m Miss May!)
The Fit Fatties Forum has photo and video galleries
More of Me to Love has cool things in their fun stuff section (and they do a monthly deal for my members)
VoluptuArt has amazing pieces to look at and buy.
Jodee Rose’s artwork (NSFW) is phenomenal (and she has a regular deal for my members) Her pinup work and Her portrait work are both amazing and she did the logo for More Cabaret!
Uppity Fatty on Tumblr (NSFW)
Pink by Aerosmith is a really cool video of lots of different bodies and ages. Possibly NSFW.
We’re over 1,400 signatures and picking up steam, please consider signing the petition to keep kids off The Biggest Loser and re-posting it.
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