N A K E D VOLUME ONE
and dignified
BY: RACHAEL DIER
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A N O T E. the inspriation. the purpose. On November 21, 2018, Ariana Grande fought against a prominent figure spreading hateful mysogny online with tweets - tweets that resonated with over 500,000 people. On that day, the phrase “naked and dignified” resonated deeply with me, stirred a feeling I hadn’t felt before. The phrase inspired me, and in that moment I knew I wanted to create something. But what? The following summer, I began experimenting with my photography and started a new adventure: boudoir. It was so daunting, but after my first session I knew I found a new calling. The intamcy, vulnerability, and authenticity that enveloped each shoot was a feeling I wanted everyone to feel. Everyone, from all walks from life, with different bodies and energies and essences, to have the chance to feel accepted, loved, cherished, sexy, beautiful, real and raw -naked and dignified. In the Summer of 2019, this project was born. And it’s taken over a year to put it together, but it’s here. I couldn’t be more proud of how it’s taken shape nor more honored to have the opportunity to work with each of these women. Those experiences, taking their photos, talking about the intimate experiences and innermost thoughts that mean the most to them, transformed me in ways I never could have imagined. I am forever thankful. Thank you to everyone who helped this proejct to take shape, whether you stood brave and true in front of my lens, have supported the project online, or anywhere in between. It’s because of you that I can stand “naked and dignified” in my own way, sharing all my work, displaying my growth as a creator for any and all to see. You all give me the courage to do so. Thank you. x
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AN N AL I E S E.
May I write words more naked than flesh, stronger than bone, more resilient than sinew, sensitive than nerve. – Sappho ( c. 630 – c. 570 BC)
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Being naked and dignified to me equates to vulnerability.
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EXCERPT BY: ANNALIESEE
Being naked and dignified to me equates to vulnerability. You can feel naked in any situation, not just from being actually unclothed, but from being alone in your opinion, your feelings or your actions. The dignified part means that you are confident in where and what you stand for. Being a woman in today's society is difficult. I feel life conservative values are still present and
expected
in
many circumstances,
however there have been many liberties given to women as well. Not only are they expected to still fill the old fashioned role of taking care of people and being more mature in general, they also now have pressure to perform better than male counterparts to prove themselves. There is also a more pressing issue, for me at least, on how women have to present to society to be deemed attractive and worthy so to speak. This includes things like fashion, hair, makeup, speech, etc. Specifically body hair is an issue that I am battling. I honestly feel
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more feminie and myself when I do not shave, however societies standards are for women to shave almost their whole body. This has made me reevaluate
"We can only define
what is important to me, and by being
femininity and masculinity
a political stance on the overarching
myself and not shaving, I am also making
to ourselves and should
issue of what really is femininity and
not let others tell us who
define femininity and masculinity to
we are meant to be."
who is able to define that. We can only ourselves and should not let others tell us who we are meant to be. Women are never portrayed as aging gracefully, as many men are. They're called sluts if they show too much
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and prudes if not enough, yet when a man sleeps with a lot of women he is congratulated for it most of the time. Even breastfeeding has been hyper sexualized by many people, most of whom are conservative, when it is literally a lady trying to feed her child. These
"We are not weaker, less smart than, or anything less than a man."
arguments disgust me because I don't see what the big deal is in women using and portraying their body in which they feel most confident and comfortable. For me personally, I have changed a lot since 2018. I have become more confident in myself mostly. When we did the photo shoot I was honestly uncomfortable in my day to day because of my decision to not shave and didn't want people to know. Now I literally do not care! It has been almost a year since I last shaved and although some people judge me, probably without even telling me, the people that matter in my life don't care and want me to be happy for and within my body.
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M AYA.
"The worst thing we can do as women is not stand up for each other, And this is something that we can practise everyday, no matter where we are or what we do – because if we are united, there is no limit to what we can do." ― Amal Clooney
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EXCERPT BY: MAYA
Rachael: What does being "naked and dignified" mean to you? I believe that being “naked and dignified” means to be openly vulnerable while still receiving the utmost respect. I struggle feeling naked and dignified because of my own limitations to be vulnerable. I keep my guard up to avoid the scrutiny of my “naked” self. For me, it makes things easier because if people have something to say, I can brush it off without taking it personally. Society is harsh. I hope one day that societal acceptance becomes the norm. Rachael: How do you feel, in this moment in time, about being a Lebanese woman in society? My Lebanese identity empowers me to reach my fullest potential. As I watch my country struggle politically, economically, and socially, I feel the weight of my privilege entrenched with survivor’s guilt, especially with the most recent explosion in Beirut.
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Being over 6000 miles away, I felt useless. My people needed me. One of my biggest struggles during this time is transferring this energy into something positive. I am looking forward to the day that I can give actively back to my country. I want to be a part of Lebanese empowerment and unity. Rachael: What are your thoughts on interactions online discussing your identity? I am weary of discussing my identity online because I fear that some statements may be taken out of context. Tone and attitude does not travel well through text. However, when these discussions are done in-person, I am able to guide the conversation positively. Rachael: Have things changed for women since you've been a young adult in your perspective? How have you changed? As a young adult, I recognize the obstacles before me in my field. I used to have an optimistic outlook and believe that nothing could stop me. However, misogyny is still prominent in today’s society. I find myself looking up to the successful women in my field as mentors. I recognize the obstacles that lie ahead, but I will never succumb to these obstacles. I will overcome.
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C O U R T N E Y. “We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. We say to girls, “you can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful. Otherwise you will threaten the man... We raise girls to see each other as competitors- not for jobs or for accomplishments, which I think can be a good thing, but for the attention of men. We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings in the way that boys are. Feminist: the person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.” -Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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Being a black woman in America has always and will always be an empowering and powerful part of my identity. We are the back bone within our communities and at the forefront of cultural shifts and challenging the systems used to strip us of our humanity. With a legacy like that trailing behind you, you have no choice but to be empowered.
WWW.BROKEINBALMAIN.COM
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EXCERPT BY: COURTNEY
I think most people would take the word naked
where I started to notice and take note.
in its most literal form, but for me naked just
Seeing women whether celebrities, or just
means being in your most vulnerable state.
women from the internet standing up for
Whether that literally means the absence of
themselves, standing true in their sexuality
clothes or expressing yourself emotionally,
and not allowing themselves to be slut-
or even doing something that may make
shamed, women taking over their industries
you feel uncomfortable or nervous! And
and demanding respect from their male
dignified for me is representing your true
counterparts, etc. has truly changed my
self and being true to who you are no matter
outlook on myself. It’s helped me to be
the situation. So being “naked and dignified”
more confident, and recognize my role in my
is being empowered even in the scary
community and the power that hold. It’s been
things and representing yourself and being
an amazing and still evolving experience for
confident in yourself even in your most
sure.
vulnerable state. With the rise of “Instagram baddies” I feel like People's thoughts on women’s bodies and
there’s been a lot of slut shaming towards
the way they choose to express themselves
women who show more of their bodies than
has always been comical to me. Like, you
socially acceptable. I’ve never understood
really woke up this morning and thought that
this, because like most things, men do the
you were the sole authority over women...
same thing and get praised for it.
our thoughts, our actions, our decisions. It’s truly absurd, but the norm in American
Nudity isn’t something that should be
culture. The re-rise of feminism (and I don’t
frowned upon. I think it shows a persons
mean Taylor Swift’s feminism) but TRUE
confidence and comfortability in their body
feminism... womanism has been a great tool
and who they are, and that is something
for all women to be able to take back their
that should be praised. Especially during a
identity. We see it in so many forms and it’s
time where so many women feel like they
truly amazing to see!
have to get plastic surgery to be viewed as “beautiful.” I could honestly go on and on
I think things started to shift a lot in my
regarding this topic.
young adult years, or at least to a point
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S E V DA.
Women are the victims of this patriarchal culture, but they are also its carriers. Let us keep in mind that every oppressive man was raised in the confines of his mother's home. – Shirin Ebadi
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EXCERPT BY: SEVDA
To be respected in your presentation of
I see a lot more sisterhood, and women
yourself. To not have others define you for
standing up for all women and other
existing in your own skin.
marginalized identities. But there’s still a long way to go.
People who put other people down are insecure in themselves. The world won’t
For me, it’s been a process of learning to love
change by you hiding and conforming to
myself and my body. I think what has helped
what other people want you to be, it has
me the most is really examining how I look
to change by you shoving who you are in
at other people and the judgements I impart.
peoples’ faces. It has to become normal
The more I find the beauty in other people,
to be unapologetically who you are. And
the easier it is to find the beauty in myself.
that’s why I think what you’re doing is really important.
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PAT T Y.
You are cold doll of social lie, / and I, a virile flash of human truth. / You, honey of courtesan hypocrisy; I do not; / that in all my poems I bare my heart. / You are like your world, selfish; / I do not; that in everything I play to be what I am. / You are only the grave senorona lady; I do not, / I am the life, the force, the woman. ― Julia de Burgos, “To Julia de Burgos”
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“You can be a thousand different women. It’s your choice which one you want to be." —Salma Hayek, Actress and Activist
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... I think something has changed in the younger generation, an ember has been stoked to a flame. We are at the precipice of change, and we have the chance to make a profound impact on our future as women.
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"The world demands so much of you and yet you are never enough in the eyes of the beholder."
Being a woman in our society is an incredibly
the way I am shaped, if I cover up then I'm
challenging task for a plethora of reasons,
boring, not pretty, nobody wants to look at
and in the last few years my eyes have
that - if I wear something cute though it's
opened to realize that women are in such a
slutty, it's scandalous, I ought to be ashamed
unique position that at times it feels like you
for the way I was made shouldn't I? You talk
can never "win" in this lifetime in the body
too much, you really ought to speak up more.
of a woman.
You're such a know it all, you know you're smart - for a girl I guess.
The world demands so much of you and yet you are never enough in the eyes of the
You are powerful, you make your own
beholder. From the way you dress, the way
destiny, you should follow your dreams;
you talk, your body's shape and size, your
you are so manipulative, so calculating, you
thoughts and opinions, your emotions; every
must have slept with someone to make it
single thing you do is scrutinized by those
this far. You're so emotional, always crying
with no merits to warrant the judgment, and
and talking about your feelings; you have
yet they go right ahead. You are too tall, too
no soul, you are a cold-hearted bitch. So
short. Too fat, too thin. Too muscular, not
many expectations, how exactly do we as
atheltic at all. You eat too much, you don't
women meet them all? What should I do to
eat enough. You did not eat the right thing
be enough for you?
that a lady ought to eat, you only ate a salad how boring, what a pig to be wolfing that
I am troubled each day by being a woman in
burger down. You wear that dress you love,
society, and the concerns run like water, but
it's too short, you are a slut, it is late at night -
the greatest concern to address in my opinion
you were asking for it. You wear sweatpants,
would be violence against women. Did you
a big hoodie, all bulky to hide any figure, that
know that, on average, twenty-four people
isn't feminine, you will never get someone if
per minute are victims of rape, physical
you don't show a little skin and show yourself
violence or stalking by an intimate partner
off - you are not trying hard enough. On my
in the United States? That is over twelve
body, a tank top makes me a slut because of
million people over the course of a year,
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A S H L E Y.
And one day she discovered that she was fierce, and strong, and full of fire, and that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears. – Mark Anthony
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Phenomenal Woman Maya Angelou
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size But when I start to tell them, They think I’m telling lies. I say, It’s in the reach of my arms, The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me. I walk into a room Just as cool as you please, And to a man, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees. Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees. I say, It’s the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.
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Men themselves have wondered What they see in me. They try so much But they can’t touch My inner mystery. When I try to show them, They say they still can’t see. I say, It’s in the arch of my back, The sun of my smile, The ride of my breasts, The grace of my style. I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me. Now you understand Just why my head’s not bowed. I don’t shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing, It ought to make you proud. I say, It’s in the click of my heels, The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, The need for my care. ’Cause I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.
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I D O N O T. B E L O N G. T O AN YO N E. B U T M Y S E L F. AN D N E I T H E R D O YO U — Ariana Grande
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B I AN C A.
“This society hasn’t changed one bit. People who don’t fit into the village are expelled: men who don’t hunt, women who don’t give birth to children. For all we talk about modern society and individualism, anyone who doesn’t try to fit in can expect to be meddled with, coerced, and ultimately banished from the village. – Sayaka Murata
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I H AV E B E E N W O R K I N G TO INFUSE MY R E L AT I O N S H I P S A N D T H E W O R K I C R E AT E W I T H V U L N E R A B I L I T Y— THE COURAGE TO SHOW UP AND LET MYSELF BE S E E N.
I am so tired of letting fear of failure and criticism guide my decisions, behaviors, and interactions with others. Now I am learning to detach my self-worth from what people think. Even if I feel shame or disappointment when I let myself be seen, my self-worth remains intact because the value that drives me is courage, not approval or recognition. Brene Brown’s book Daring Greatly taught me this lesson. Being naked and dignified means I express my thoughts and feelings with mindfulness and courage, and regardless of the outcome or the intense fear that comes with being vulnerable, I feel okay because I acted in alignment with my value of courage. And each moment I do this, I become closer to who I want to be..
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People who don't fit into the village are expelled: men who don't hunt, women who don't give birth to children. For all we talk about modern society and individualism, anyone who doesn't try to fit in can expect to be meddled with, coerced, and ultimately banished from the village.� S AYA K A M U R ATA, T H E C O N V E N I E N C E S T O R E W O M AN: A N O V E L
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L A U R A.
“When you see me passing, It ought to make you proud. I say, It’s in the click of my heels, The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, The need for my care. ’Cause I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.” – Maya Angelou, Phenomenal Woman
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Being a woman is hard. Women should be allowed to have the same freedom as men do. EXCERPT BY: LAURA
[To
be
naked
and
because we still live in
dignified] means being
a man’s world. It’s being
confident
knowing
told your voice matters
your body is beautiful
until you speak up about
despite all the flaws we
things that men don’t
see and point out and
want to hear. I spoke
worry about when we
up with other female co
look in the mirror. It’s
workers
being empowered and
within our work place
not
and there’s now palpable
in
allowing
definition
of
society’s beauty
tension
about
and
issues
nothing
to take away that self-
is more disheartening
confidence.
than hearing men not believe you after it took
Being
in
so long for you have the
society is hard and sadly
courage to stand up and
Knowing your body is beautiful
it’s
speak your truth. Being a
despite all the flaws we see...
have had it in society
being empowered and not
yet. Being a woman is
allowing society's definition of
being told you’re a prude
Women can’t win. Prude,
beauty to take away that self-
if you cover up and a
slut, not sexy, too sexy-
confidence.
slut if you show skin.
we’re supposed to be all
It’s fighting an uphill
these things but also not
battle and never winning
be them? It’s ridiculous.
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the
a
woman
best women
woman is hard.
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I changed, because I finally spoke up about the issues in the workplace...
freedom has men do. It’s a body, can’t tell you why everyone makes such a big deal about it. Confidence should be celebrated all around ( we love equality!).
Have things changed for women since you've been a young adult in your perspective? How have you changed? I wish I could say they’ve changed. I’d say maybe a couple more women have come forward but honestly the reactions they get usually shuts them down from speaking up in the future. I changed because I finally spoke up about issues in the workplace. But the atmosphere has gotten so bad at work I regret speaking up. And that’s terrible. But the culture that’s been created is toxic and damaging and has caused me to feel this way. Women should be allowed to have the same
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You're not a victim for sharing your story. You are a survivor setting the world on fire with your truth. And you never know who needs your light, your warmth, and raging courage. – Alex Elle
If you are facing sexual harrasment, discrimination, and/or violence in the workplace, you are not alone. Visit www.equalrights.org to learn about your rights as an employee in the United States and what options are available to you.
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H A L L A.
You can't be a feminist in the United States and stand up for the rights of the American woman and then say that you don't want to stand up for the rights of Palestinian women in Palestine. It's all connected. – Linda Sarsour
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EXCERPT BY: HALLA
I think as a woman in today’s society there’s
both immigrated here from Palestine many
huge pressure on how to carry ourselves. If
years ago. They came here for a better life,
we lash out then we’re moody and hormonal.
better opportunities. This is understandable
If we’re assertive then we’re too bold and
given our country has been the target of
have an attitude. Essentially anything that
occupation, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing
would be acceptable for a man is often
since 1948.
looked down on if it was done by a woman. So this makes it really difficult to be “naked”
I’ve visited Palestine almost every summer
and “dignified” because we feel as though
of my life, and through those visits I got a
we have to censor everything we do, which
taste of what my life would have been like
means we censor who we are as individuals.
had my parents chosen to stay. I saw how my extended family lives, being dehumanized
Personally I’m known to be bold and to have
in ways you don’t even think about. These
strong opinions. This hasn’t always been
experiences lit a fire inside of me. As an
easy because often times people perceive
individual, I can’t free my country. As an
this in a negative light. Regardless, I feel
individual, I can’t bring about huge change.
most “naked” and “dignified” when I’m being
The liberation of Palestine is going to need
my true self despite what others may think
enormous
of that. Having a voice is so important,
there are ways for me to make a change on
especially for minority women. If that voice
a smaller scale.
systemic
changes.
However,
is silenced, we don’t get any closer to living in a society that’s accepting of all people
I discovered that the best way for me to
from all walks of life. Societal pressures that
do so is by simply raising awareness. As a
lead to women censoring their authentic
Palestinian woman in society today, the first
selves leads to silencing these women and
thing I share about myself is where I come
this perpetuates the many issues we have in
from. This often leads to sharing the history
today’s world.
of my country and the struggles of my people. By just doing that, I have been able to
Although I was born and raised in the US, I
educate so many people on the Palestinian
grew up with a strong sense of pride towards
struggle for liberation. With more awareness
my culture and background. My parents
comes more pressure for systems to change.
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"Having a voice is so important, especially for minority women. If that voice is silenced, we don’t get any closer to living in a society that’s accepting of all people from all walks of life." I can’t change the system but I can raise
you to feel bad about your own self and
awareness. My existence as a Palestinian
this continues the cycle of not accurately
woman is a political statement. This should
discussing/portraying your identity.
not be the case because Palestinian human rights should not be a political issue, but that’s the reality of the situation. I don’t have the privilege to ignore the news and
(Context: Rachael asked "Have things changed for women since you've been a young adult in your perspective? How have you changed?")
ignore politics and go about my day. I don’t have this privilege because some people’s
This is tough to answer because honestly I
opinions about my country and my people
didn’t really think about these things when I
threatens my very existence.
was younger so I’m not sure I can compare. I can say though that I think we still live
The internet often times is a very fake place.
in an extremely misogynistic society and
Social media does an excellent job at allowing
there’s still a long way to go. The majority
people to create this image that usually just
means the group in power and the majority
isn’t reality. There are certain standards that
in this country today is still the white male.
have been set by media and entertainment
These are the individuals that have set the
and by society as a whole. Let’s say your
tone for how our society functions, whether
identity doesn’t fit these standards, doesn’t
that’s the gender pay gap or deciding what a
fit this mold, you find yourself editing it in
woman can and can’t do with her own body.
a way to do just that. Editing could mean
Obviously strides have been made but being
literally editing the way you look or simply
complacent with those strides isn’t going to
just editing out the bad parts of your life/
get us anywhere.
identity and just showing the good. As an individual I’ve more or less finally Social media is a double edged sword;
found my voice. I know what I believe in and
it connects you with friends and family,
I strongly stand up for what I believe in. I
allowing you to feel closer to them when
think it’s important to always challenge the
you’re miles apart but often times you’re
status quo and not let my status as a woman
not seeing their real identity/real lives. You
hinder what I want to achieve in this world.
get this image that’s deceiving, it can lead
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L I LY. My body will not allow me / To mingle with the men / But my heart is far braver / Than that of a man. – Qiu Jin
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O L I V I A.
If you're anything like me / You've grown to hate your pride / To love your thighs / And no amount of friends at 25 / Will fill the empty seats / At the lunch tables of your past / The teams that picked you last... / But Darling, you keep trying. – Taylor Swift, If You’re Anything Like Me
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EXCERPT BY: OLIVIA
The moment the world hears the word
I digress. Those definitions, common as they
naked, man or woman, an image of nudity
are, are not necessarily what being "naked
presents itself in your mind. As a society we
and dignified" mean to me. For myself, to
often define being naked, normally, as one
be "naked and dignified", creates an ultimate
without clothing, and often we find the word
moment of vulnerability where one holds
to lead us towards a conversation of a sexual
their head high by baring everything and
nature as our society is commonly sexually
being proud of what the world views upon
charged in all facets.
doing so.
Being naked is almost always represented
To be naked by letting the world see your
with the image of someone shedding their
smile, your sensitivity, your laughter, your
clothing, even though there are many other
genuine happiness, makes you so vulnerable
ways for one to bare everything. Now, to
because if you share that joy with the world
be diginfied our culture tells us means to be
it can give the world the power to take that
worthy of respect, the word I have always
happiness from you in a moment. Beyond
taken issue with in that definition is worthy.
that, being proud of your happiness, fighting
What makes a person worthy? What makes
through the tough times that you thought
one person more deserving of respect than
may never end, overcoming obstacles thrown
the person sitting next to them?
in your path, living with internal struggles that only you can see, and not allowing the world
We live in a society that is always pitting
we live in to strip you of that joy you feel in
us against one another, pushing us to be
your bones, allowing your emotions to be a
"better", but rather than pushing us as
strength rather than a weakness and proudly
individuals to better ourselves, we just need
letting those emotions flow free.. what a
to be better than the person sitting next to
beautiful true moment of being "naked and
us in school, better than the person in the
dignified" that is to me. So content with who
cubicle across from us at work, better than
you are, comfortable, proud of every aspect
the people we see on social media as that is
that makes you "you", inside and out, that no
how our society in many ways defines what
outside influence can tell you that your pride
makes a person worthy.
in your vulnerability should be viewed with any sort of negative connotation.
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"The world demands so much of you and yet you are never enough in the eyes of the beholder."
Being a woman in our society is an incredibly
the way I am shaped, if I cover up then I'm
challenging task for a plethora of reasons,
boring, not pretty, nobody wants to look at
and in the last few years my eyes have
that - if I wear something cute though it's
opened to realize that women are in such a
slutty, it's scandalous, I ought to be ashamed
unique position that at times it feels like you
for the way I was made shouldn't I? You talk
can never "win" in this lifetime in the body
too much, you really ought to speak up more.
of a woman.
You're such a know it all, you know you're smart - for a girl I guess.
The world demands so much of you and yet you are never enough in the eyes of the
You are powerful, you make your own
beholder. From the way you dress, the way
destiny, you should follow your dreams;
you talk, your body's shape and size, your
you are so manipulative, so calculating, you
thoughts and opinions, your emotions; every
must have slept with someone to make it
single thing you do is scrutinized by those
this far. You're so emotional, always crying
with no merits to warrant the judgment, and
and talking about your feelings; you have
yet they go right ahead. You are too tall, too
no soul, you are a cold-hearted bitch. So
short. Too fat, too thin. Too muscular, not
many expectations, how exactly do we as
atheltic at all. You eat too much, you don't
women meet them all? What should I do to
eat enough. You did not eat the right thing
be enough for you?
that a lady ought to eat, you only ate a salad how boring, what a pig to be wolfing that
I am troubled each day by being a woman in
burger down. You wear that dress you love,
society, and the concerns run like water, but
it's too short, you are a slut, it is late at night -
the greatest concern to address in my opinion
you were asking for it. You wear sweatpants,
would be violence against women. Did you
a big hoodie, all bulky to hide any figure, that
know that, on average, twenty-four people
isn't feminine, you will never get someone if
per minute are victims of rape, physical
you don't show a little skin and show yourself
violence or stalking by an intimate partner
off - you are not trying hard enough. On my
in the United States? That is over twelve
body, a tank top makes me a slut because of
million people over the course of a year,
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and one in three women have experienced
not how we should be responding to these
rape, physical violence and/or stalking by
situations, allowing survivors to have the
an intimate partner in their lifetime. One in
guilt that they must have done something
three.. I have a mother, and a sister, meaning
for this to happen to them, or worse, that
out of us three one will experience some
they in some way deserved what they went
form of violence throughout our lifetime,
through.
and the more terrifying thing is that we may never know what the person sitting next to
We are powerful, we as women need to
us has been through, even more terrifying
help one another, to fight for awareness,
many would turn to that person and not
make sure that we hear more stories where
believe the words flowing from their lips.
the victim is believed rather than the more prominent ones where the victim is blamed
WHY DON'T YOU JUST LEAVE? HOW COULD YOU LET HIM TREAT YOU LIKE THAT? I WOULD NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN TO ME. HE SEEMS SO NICE THOUGH, HE IS ALWAYS SO KIND TO ME. YOU MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO MAKE HIM DO THAT. IT IS YOUR FAULT!
and the abuser goes back out into the world leaving at least one woman alone and fearful for what her future holds. I am concerned that a woman can walk up to a police officer battered and bruised and be told that it was her fault. I am concerned that woman can painfully recount every moment of her assault and be told that she ought to have fought harder, that she should not have been out so late, that she should have worn something less... risque. Change is a constant that we can always count on, and when it comes to issues such as domestic violence and sexual
It is your fault... that is the unfortunate message that we send to survivors around the world in these situations, that they must have done something wrong, that they must have caused this, that they let this happen
assault there is a path to creating a better tomorrow, encouraging greater awareness, and continuing to fight for the rights of survivors; this is a constant change that I welcome in my life.
or forced the situation somehow. That is
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"In this moment, I am "naked and diginifed" in a beautifully broken way."
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seen as "cool" to fight when you are younger, but doing what is "cool" often looks different than what is right, a difference I noted early on in my life. The fascinating answer to how have I changed is that I do not believe that I have ever stopped changing, nor have things for women, since I turned the tassels on my high school graduation cap. At fifteen my heart was filled with an unpenetrable love and belief that there is good and bad in the world, but that it is all very black and white. At twentythree that heart is capable of unpenetrable love, but no longer sees the world in stripes of black and white, rather realizing how many shades of grey fall in-between and that there are few situations in this world that are as If you know anything about me, people
simple as a pre-teen girl had once seen. For
have called me sunshine for my optimistic
me, it was all in those moments, big and small,
demeanour since I was young. My glass was
that slowly shaped the person in the mirror
not fogged, my world was not unencumbered,
today. The first time, as a young woman,
quite frankly the amount of darkness I
that you walk home late at night from an
witnessed in such a short time could fill several
event or from studying at the library and you
lifetimes of others, and yet I've continued to
pray your mother picks up your call because
choose to see the glass as half full, only more
walking home alone at night is dangerous,
aware of the liquids the glass contains.
you never know what could happen to you. It's the moment your parents get in the car
Prior to turning eighteen I lost several people
and wave their final goodbye as they leave
close to me to suicide, held the hand of a best
you at a new place that is meant to be called
friend battling with her mental health, a battle
your home for the next four years, and there
I watched her body and mind win and lose
is a little tickle in your throat realizing that all
time and time again, and fought bullying - an
the nagging you protested for years is really
epidemic that still is not seen as one and is not
gone. Those nights that turn into days with
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strangers that turn into friends, only for
the cracks until it overflows. After all of that,
many to become strangers again. Unable to
can you really say that nothing has changed?
forget the jarring moment you realize how
Seeing so much darkness in so much light
truly cruel the world around you can be as
changed me, but upon stepping back it made
you see the cold truth in front of you, staring
me realize that every moment we are shaped
at the battered, bruised, and broken by
by the world around us, what we see, what
those that were supposed to care, watching
we endure, and so we change, but we also
the world demonize them for the pain they
get the power to choose how the world
endured.
changes us and what the aftershock of these waves of change look like in the person that
Watching money slide from abuse to
we become. Today, as a young adult, as a
power, only to realize corruption is the
young woman, the words to describe myself
norm rather than the exception in society.
echo out as fierce, resilient, thoughtful,
Tearfully staring at the glazed eyes of a
genuine, caring, intelligent, and fearless. In
soul wondering how it was their fault if at
allowing myself to stand before the world,
the end of the night they themselves were
walls down on all sides, I find myself held to
unconscious and could barely remember the
a higher standard of being true to who I am
events of the night before... only left with
and more vulnerable in knowing who that
the remnants of a body torn from the inside
person is. In this moment, I am "naked and
out to awaken to as the light shined through
diginifed" in a beautifully broken way.
their window, only the light seemed a bit darker than before. Fighting a battle inside of you that nobody can see, screams echoing in the emptiness of a body nobody can hear - it's the unwinnable fights of a stigma created by those we are so desperate to please. Someone like me had the chance to see that a world that screamed at me that nothing I did would ever be enough, that the way I did something would never be right, craving the unattainable only to find misery, and the flooding judgement that overpowers our lives and seeps through
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J I L L I AN.
Today is a day where I publicly twerk on things because I’m black, and mad, and I want to. ― Britteney Black Rose Kapri
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EXCERPT BY: JILLIAN
Naked and dignified to me just means that women are allowed to express themselves and show off their bodies if they want to, and they should not be judged or criticized for it. Being a woman in this society is like walking on a tightrope, and trying balance between the different double standards that exist for women. Being a pushover vs. being called a bitch, being called a prude vs. being called a slut, etc. Life as a woman is constantly trying to find a balance while also dealing with the other injustices that women face. Now for me, as a queer black woman, life is like walking that same tightrope while being shackled and holding 40lb weights in each hand. The same walk is far more difficult because I have to deal with forms of oppression in multiple ways. But right now, I feel empowered by my ancestors, and the strong women in my life, to continue pushing forward through life!
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I mean, as a women myself, it hurts to see people say such things and it shows how much farther things have to go for women to be able to live peacefully and equally to their counterparts. But it also makes me want to go that much further to support the women who are being shamed. Ask me how many times I’ve listened to WAP lol. PI think like with a lot of things, some things have changed for the better, and other things have stayed the same. I think we’re gradually moving towards progress for women, such as the #MeToo movement, and the Women’s March. I’m happy to see more women in political seats now than probably a decade or too ago, and I’m happy that people are starting to talk more now about rape and especially rape on college campus, because those conversations are super important. However, again, there’s def more work to be done, and more change to be made.
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E M M A.
You painted a naked woman because you enjoyed looking at her, put a mirror in her hand and you called the painting “Vanity,” thus morally condemning the woman whose nakedness you had depicted for you own pleasure. ― John Berger, Ways of Seeing
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Self-Portrait in the Nude Allison Funk To understand what it would be like to remove my clothes as painters do in portraits of themselves I imagine I’m the woman who knows her body no longer belongs to the young artist who painted herself before she had children, before her topography was changed by forces erosive as water and wind, and yet she goes on painting it, the girdle of her earth that is now an etched terrain crossed with silver rivulets. And hills, I want to say to her. Valleys. Then hummocks, hot springs, hoodoo. What is art about if not depression? Uplift? Depression again? At which she straightens the flesh of her shoulders and neck to face me before I disappear into landscape, my favorite state of undress.
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DAN I.
It's important to have strong images of women out there, women who aren't afraid of expressing themselves, women who aren't afraid of taking chances, women who aren't afraid of their own power. ― Gina Torres
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M A R N I.
I believe that owning our worthiness is the act of acknowledging that we are sacred. Perhaps embracing vulnerability and overcoming numbing is ultimately about the care and feeding of our spirits. ― BrenÊ Brown, The Power of Vulnerability
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For me, being naked and dignified means letting go of all control. For me, being naked and dignified means letting go of all control and decision making — letting someone else take the reins.
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EXCERPT BY: MARNI
For me, being naked and dignified means letting go of all control and decision making — letting someone else take the reins. Generally not having control in this particular situation, being photographed, is me being naked — me at my most vulnerable. The summer that these photos were taken was one of the times of my life where I felt the most self-conscious. I hated my body, my anxiety was at an all-time high, and overall I was not a happy person. When the opportunity arose to take part in this project, I decided to step out of my comfort zone. Beyond being photographed and not knowing what I looked like, I left all decision-making up to Rachael. From my outfit to my clothing, the locations, my poses… if you see it, she choreographed it. Between every shot I shared with Rachael just how uncomfortable I felt! I did not know how to pose, I did not feel like I looked good, and I did not want to be the one who ruined the project that she had been working so hard on. With Rachael’s positive energy, kindness, and patience, not only did she make me feel so much better about myself and the photography process,
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but I also liked the outcome when I saw the photos on my computer screen post-photo session! Rachael is the reason that I felt dignified in my version of “naked.” This just goes to show that as women, and as people in general, we have the opportunity to lift each other up and make each other feel good. Particularly when it comes to online interactions, I think that people need to remember that there are human beings behind the screens. We can sometimes have productive conversations online, but when it comes to shame, criticism, and scrutiny, we are so used to it that we often let it slide by without commentary or repercussions. We need to stand up for others — online and in-person. I think that women have become more inclined to stand up for other women in the last few years, but are in need of more outspoken young female voices doing the same. I think that I have changed in that I have learned to stand up for myself and my beliefs in conversation rather than in complaints to other people post-conversation. I am more direct and confident. I also now pride myself in my decision making when it comes to the people that I spend time with. I want to be with people that lift me up. Why spend time with people that make you feel badly about yourself?
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S H R E YA.
I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will. – Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
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"If somebody loves you when you feel naked just know and believe that it’s the easiest thing they’ve ever done."
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EXCERPT BY: SHREYA
Being naked and dignified to me means being comfortable. Whatever that looks like to me on that day, if it’s a tank top and shorts and I feel powerful in it it’s me showing my skin and being dignified, if it’s a heavy sweater and jeans and I feel comfortable and open minded that’s the naked I like being. Naked and dignified is being comfortable in my skin in my clothes and in my mind. I’m always weary of being a woman in today’s society as much as that pains me to say. Though I am strong and more than capable of success I also recognize that I deserve to be treated the way I feel. As a woman of color I long for recognition and representation and will fight and encourage my peers to do the same. Special shout-out to Rachael Dier for helping in this by creating the strongest platform to talk about issues such as this.
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Shaming comes from insecurity. It always boils down to that. Why do people get jealous? Why do people feel the need to let their unwelcome opinions known? They are insecure and believe they have a say in things that they cannot claim is theirs. It is a difficult battle to not only educate people that do this but also help them find their own sense of self worth. Being a keyboard sniper is one the easiest ways to hide behind a screen and words but those words have power. So it’s a good thing women are powerful as naked and dignified beings. My experiences as a young adult and as a woman have changed me. They continue to shape me and the relationships i choose to be in. Difficult times are easier to remember than
peachy
ones.
Anytime
someone
talked down to me I would believe them. But it also allowed me to experience the aftermath of that sadness and pain. And that is where I built myself a safe haven through relationships, passion, service and so much more I have had the pleasure to experience. I could not be more grateful for the things that have shaped me.
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THANK YOU.
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ANNALIESE ASHLEY BIANCA COURTNEY DANI EMMA HALLA JILLIAN LAURA L I LY MARNI MAYA OLIVIA PATTY SEVDA SHREYA NAKED AND DIGNIFIED: VOL 1
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N A K E D and dignified W W W . E Y E O F T H E D I E R . C O M