Hi Kelly and Ivy,
This is such a great topic because it is so relevant in today’s society. The image of beauty, as you mentioned, is being tall and skinny. This specific body type is deemed desirable and attractive, and appears most frequently in media such as magazines, television, movies, social media,etc. I agree with you that these media outlets are responsible for the negative impact they have on their audience because they are reproducing the same damaging societal expectation that there is only one right body type. Media needs to incorporate more body representation and more Nonwhite models/actresses to better represent their diverse audience. I think it is a great idea to write to these corporations and agencies demanding more body positivity, more ethnically diverse models, and less editing. In Europe it is now legally required to say under the photo that the image has been photoshopped, and I think this is such an important law that should be required in the United States as well to bring more awareness and understanding that people do not naturally look that way, and what they are looking at is not realistic. This piece is brilliantly thought-out and well-written.

Dear Kelly and Ivy,

I really enjoyed your post, “Fighting Body Standards.” I actually have done a paper recently discussing the effects of social media and how it can cause adolescents, specifically females, to feel like their body is not good enough which causes insecurity. It certainly correlates to your post. I feel like this has been a reoccurring issue and typically targets young women. One sentence you wrote that stands out for me is “True beauty and perfection can only be achieved when one is skinny, and when one has a clear complexion with no imperfections.” It seems like in today’s world, thinner women are idolized. This is why a lot of people feel the need to compare themselves, it’s because they’re in front of a magazine or they’re the Victoria’s Secret angels. True beauty should not have a specific shape or form. It’s really sad that these are the expectations of society. Most of the time, we see these images on Instagram, for instance, and it just really looks unrealistic. Another sentence that stood out to me is, “These actions are not limited to just plus size people, but also to petite, skinny, darker complexion/people of color, or people with physical disadvantages, we want this movement to go big, and be open to everyone who gets oppressed because of their body image.” It’s great to see that you guys are taking action and constantly reminding women that they are beautiful no matter what color, shape, or size they are. I certainly have learned more about movements and ways to help out regarding this topic. It’s important because feeling insecure about your body can lead to harmful and depressive behaviors which is not something I would want to see in these beautiful women.

Dear Kelly and Ivy,

I really enjoyed your topic and reading about all of your ideas and I think that a topic such as body image and body positivity is so important especially at this time in society where issues with body image are so prevalent. because of the huge increase in social media use and the many platforms that the youth have to compare themselves with images of others that just aren’t realistic such as models and celebrities, I think that bringing awareness to this topic could help the younger audience understand that not everything they see in magazines or on social media is realistic to every day people and that it is okay to look exactly the way you are and that they should feel accepted by society in their own skin. I really liked the point you made where you stated “This is why you need to promote a more diverse range of models that people can relate to. People’s overall confidence can increase when they are being celebrated”. I really like this point because when all that young people have to look at on their social media sites or in magazines is unrealistic body types and nothing that they can truly relate to, then they begin to ask themselves “why don’t I look like that”? or “am I suppose to look like that”? which are two very dangerous questions because that is social comparison and that can ultimately lead to negative rumination of ones own body. If the media and society learns to celebrate all body types as equal and beautiful then the idea of the “perfect” body type because extinct and everyone can then learn to love themselves just as they are. I think that your proposal of the instagram page to support all body types and self-love is such a great way to start a movement towards positive body image and getting the youth to see that there are people out there who look just like them and that they can be celebrated or be models and be themselves at the same time. I am curious as to your idea of reaching out to the magazine companies and modeling agencies and what they may reply to you, and what you could do with those responses afterwards. I admire your persistence and I hope that your instagram page brings you both success in following through with this proposal! Your post was very well-written and thoughtful, I think your ideas and words will help to bring awareness to this issue and shed light on its importance for the youth.

Kelly and Ivy

Thank you for your advocacy and action to fight body image bias. The media and popular culture in general contributes a lot to this scourge to society.

I appreciate that you forcibly call out Monique Pillard and Ivan Bart. As leaders and executives that play a role in promoting body image bias. I even appreciate more that you are developing a @b0dyimage social media response to promote diverse positive body images. You should check out the poem “Fat Girl” (https://www.youthvoices.live/2019/04/17/fat-girl/ ) one of my students composed to address the exact issue you are tackling.

Did you consider using your @b0dyimage social media campaign to get consumer to boycott magazines and media executives who promotes body image bias? Hitting dispassionate executives like Monique Pillard and Ivan Bart in their wallets could be more effective than them calling out.

Dear Kelly and Ivy,
I am very excited to share with you guys that I absolutely loved the post. There were many valid points that were addressed in which companies and high-end corporations unfortunately oversee now and are less concerned of the detrimental effects that it has on every single individual. I actually commend both of you for the amount of courage and dignity that you guys have to stand up against these modeling companies because I know it is not an easy thing to do. Sticking by your truth about how these beauty standards come in all shapes, all sizes, through all types of imperfections, and regardless of skin color and etc., it will definitely reach all ears of the community who needs to hear and receive the positive message that true beauty starts within themselves. If one is not confident with himself or herself, one will never be satisfied with the effort he or she puts in except when they feel the need to gain social acceptance and validation through others.