Adios Barbie

Editor's letter My body image is something I’ve struggled with my whole entire life. I’ve always been told that I need to lose weight by family and others.

Although, I know I’m not ugly, it made me feel like I was the ugliest by hearing negative remarks about my weight.

Adios Barbie is full of useful information to those of you who have experienced issues relatable to myself and millions of other women struggling with their health, body, etc. across the world.

In this culture, women are forced to believe that they’re only beautiful if they’re stick-thin and model-like. The perspective on beauty has changed so much throughout the years.

Media has had a great impact on us women. Beautiful models, actors, celebrities, etc. are found all over ads and such we see on a regular basis. We don’t realize that these women are touched up through computer softwares to

look the way they look. We allow seeing images of other women looking so beautiful effect our body image.

Adios Barbie will help you realize that what’s most important is that you’re healthy. The design and look of the magazine is really chic and full of bright colors, because our target is to aim towards making women feel happiness and freedom. There will be several feautures and articles included, promising you’ll learn something new every time. Also, we will have several tips included in this magazine to help you make small changes that can be life changing. I’ve included many ways you can improve your health and many ways to prevent you from looking at yourself as imperfect.

Learning this kind of information has helped me throughout the years. I’ve improved my health, and although I haven’t reached the weight loss goal I want to achieve, I feel beautiful for trying. I hope this magazine makes a great impact on your life as well, helping you achieve the health goals you’ve always wished to achieve.

Sincerley,

Lesha Patel Lesha Patel Chief editor

December

2011 02

EDITOR’S LETTER

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IMPROVING BODY IMAGE

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SELF-ESTEEM

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HEALTH: EXCERCISES

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DYING TO FIT IN

16 “ YOU LOOK SO MUCH DIFFERENT ON FACEBOOK” 18

RECIPES: EASY TO PREPARE MEALS

20 USE COSMETIC SURGERY TO STOP BULLYING 22

BATTLING OUR BODIES

24

REMEMBERING RUBY

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FILLING OUT FASHION: THE EXPANDING PLUS-SIZE INDUSTRY

Adios Barbie | December 2011

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By: Judy Lightstone Body image involves our perception, imagination, emotions, and physical sensations of and about our bodies. It’s not static- but ever changing; sensitive to changes in mood, environment, and physical experience.

It is not based on fact. It is psychological in nature, and much more influenced by self-esteem than by actual physical attractiveness as judged by others. It is not inborn, but learned. This learning occurs in the family and among peers, but these only reinforce what is learned and expected culturally.

In this culture, we women are starving ourselves, starving our children and loved ones, gorging ourselves, gorging our children and loved ones, alternating between starving and gorging, purging, obsessing, and all the while hating, pounding and wanting to remove that which makes us female: our bodies, our curves, our pear-shaped selves.

The work of feminist object relations theorists such as Susie Orbach (author of Fat is a Feminist Issue, and Hunger Strike: Anorexia as a Metaphor for Our Age) and those at The Women’s Therapy Centre Institute (authors of Eating Problems: a Feminist Psychoanalytic Treatment Model) has demonstrated a relationship between the development of personal boundaries and body image.

Personal boundaries are the physical and emotional borders around us.. A concrete example of a physical boundary is our skin. It distinguishes between that which is inside you and that which is outside you. On a psychological level, a person with strong boundaries might be able to help out well in disasters- feeling concerned for others, but able to keep a clear sense of who they are. Someone with weak boundaries might have sex with inappropriate people, forgetting where they end and where others begin. Such a person way not feel “whole” when alone.

Our psychological boundaries develop early in life, based on how we are held and touched (or not held and touched).

A person who is deprived of touch as an infant or young child, for example, may not have the sensory information s/he needs to distinguish between what is inside and what is outside her/himself. As a result, boundaries may be unclear or unformed. This could cause the person to have difficulty getting an accurate sense of his/her body shape 4

and size. This person might also have difficulty eating, because they might have trouble sensing the physical boundaries of hunger and fullness or satiation. On the other extreme, a child who is sexually or physically abused may feel terrible pain and shame or loathing associated to his/her body. Such a person might use food or starvation to continue the physical punishments they grew familiar with in childhood.

Healthy body weight is the size a person naturally returns to after a long period of both non-compulsive eating* and consistent exercise commensurate with the person’ s physical health and condition. We must learn to advocate for ourselves and our children to aspire to a naturally determined size, even though that will often mean confronting misinformed family, friends, and media advertising again and again. *Simply stated, non-compulsive eating means eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are satisfied. This involves being able to distinguish emotional hunger from physical hunger, and satiation from over fullness.

“

If we place pornography and the tyranny of slenderness alongside one another, we have the two most significant obsessions of our culture, and both of them focused upon a woman’s body.

”

— Kim Chernin Adios Barbie | December 2011

Adios Barbie | December 2011

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Guidelines that can help you work toward a positive body image: 1. Listen to your body. Eat when you are hungry.

2. Be realistic about the size you are likely to be based on your genetic and environmental history.

3. Exercise regularly in an enjoyable way, regardless of body size.

Think of it as the three A’s

4. Expect normal weekly and monthly changes in weight and shape.

5. Work towards self acceptance and self forgiveness- be gentle with yourself.

Attention – Refers to listening for and responding to internal cues (i.e., hunger, satiety, fatigue).

6. Ask for support and encouragement from friends and family when life is stressful.

Acceptance – Refers to accepting what is – instead of longing for what is not.

Appreciation – Refers to appreciating the pleasures your body can provide.

7. Decide how you wish to spend your energy – pursuing the “perfect body image” or enjoying family, friends, school and, most importantly, life.

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Adios Barbie | December 2011

MIRROR, MIRROR

Girls are overly concerned about weight and body shape. They strive for the “perfect” body and judge themselves by their looks, appearance, and above all thinness. But boys don’t escape either. They are concerned with the size and strength of their body. There has been a shift in the male body image. Boys live in a culture that showcases males as glamorous “macho” figures who have to be “tough”, build muscles and sculpt their bodies - if they want to fit in. They think they have to be a “real” man, but many admit being confused as to what that means or what’s expected of them.

This confusion can make it harder than ever to feel good about themselves.

Some sports can contribute to a negative body image. The need to make weight for a sport like wrestling or boxing can cause disordered eating.

But other boys says sports make them feel better about themselves. Jon, a 15-year-old, states, “Guys are in competition, especially in the weight room. They say, ‘I can bench 215 lbs.’ and the other guy says, ‘Well I can bench 230 lbs.’ If you’re stronger, you’re better.” Daniel, age 16, shares, “Guys are into having the perfect body.

But if you feel good about your body, you automatically feel good about yourself.”

Most of our cues about what we should look like come from the media, our parents, and our peers. This constant obsession with weight, the size of our bodies and longing for a different shape or size can be painful.

Where do these negative perceptions come from? Here are just a few of the factors contributing to negative perceptions and obsessions about our body.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: The media plays a big part. Surrounded by thin models and TV stars, teenage girls are taught to achieve an impossible goal. As a result, many teenage girls intensely dislike their bodies and can tell you down to the minutest detail what’s wrong with it.

Most teens watch an average of 22 hours of TV a week and are deluged with images of fat-free bodies in the pages of health, fashion and teen magazines.

The “standard” is impossible to achieve. A female should look like, and have the same dimensions as a Barbie doll, and a male should look similar to Arnold

Schwarzenegger.

Buff Baywatch lifeguards, the well-toned abs of any cast member of Melrose Place or Friends, and music-video queens don’t help.

Take a look at the 10 most popular magazines on the newspaper racks.

The women and men on the covers represent about .03 percent of the population. The other 99.97% don’t have a chance to compete, much less measure up. Don’t forget it’s a career with these people. They’re pros. Many have had major body make-overs and have a full-time personal trainer. Most ads are reproduced, airbrushed or changed by computer. Body parts can be changed at will.

The images of men and women in ads today do not promote self esteem or positive self image. They’re intended to sell products. In the U.S. billions of dollars are spent by consumers who pursue the perfect body. The message “thin is in” is sold thousands of times a day through TV, movies, magazines, billboards, newspapers and songs.

Advertising conveys the message “You’re not O.K. Here’s what you need to do to fix what’s wrong.” Girls and boys believe it and react to it.

CONT ON PG 8

BODY IMAGE QUESTIONNAIRE - HOW DO YOU MEASURE UP?

When you look in the mirror what do you see? When you walk past a shop window and catch a glimpse of your body, what do you notice first? Are you proud of what you see, or do you think, “I’m too short, I’m too fat, if only I were thinner or more muscular?” Take the following quiz and see how your Body Image I.Q. measures up.

1. Have you avoided sports or working out because you didn’t want to be seen in gym clothes?

2. Does eating even a small amount of food make you feel fat?

3. Do you worry or obsess about your body not being small, thin or good enough?

4. Are you concerned your body is not muscular or strong enough?

5. Do you avoid wearing certain clothes because they make you feel fat?

6. Do you feel badly about yourself because you don’t like your body?

7. Have you ever disliked your body?

8. Do you want to change something about your body?

9. Do you compare yourself to others and “come up short?”

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES YES YES

NO NO NO

YES YES

NO NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

If you answered “Yes” to 3 or more questions, you may have a negative body image. See guidelines under “Tips” for help in changing your perception.

Adios Barbie | December 2011

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In a 1997 Body Image Survey, both girls and boys reported that “very thin or muscular models” made them feel insecure about themselves.

Western society places a high value upon appearance. Self-worth is enhanced for those who are judged attractive. Those who are deemed unattractive can feel at a disadvantage.

The message from the media, fashion and our peers can create a longing- a longing to win the approval of our culture and fit in at any cost. And that can be disastrous to our self esteem.

Parents can give mixed messages too.

Especially if they’re constantly dieting or have body or food issues of their own. How we perceive and internalize these childhood messages about our bodies determines our ability to build self-esteem and confidence in our appearance.

The diet/fitness craze is mind boggling.

It’s not just dieting, it’s diet foods, and often seen crazy diet commercials.

Everybody’s counting fat grams. Listen to the conversation in the lunch room, locker room or on the bus to school.

The talk centers around dieting, fat thighs or tight “abs” and how many pounds can be lost with the latest diet.

This kind of intense focus on food and fat can lead to abnormal eating habits or – disordered eating – a precursor to eating disorders, which is taking it to the extreme.

Awareness of eating disorders got a big boost in 1995 when Princess Di began talking openly about her struggles with bulimia. Actress Tracy Gold, still struggling with her eating disorder, continues to help others by discussing her eating disorder with the media. Recently many organizations have initiated an effort to expand awareness of eating disorders and promote a positive body image and self esteem.

BODY IMAGE, BODY LOVE: Why is a positive body image so important?

Psychologists and counselors agree that a negative body image is directly related to self esteem.

The more negative the perception of our bodies, the more negative we feel.

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Being a teenager is a time of major change. Besides the obvious changes in size and shape, teens are faced with how they feel about themselves. Body image and self esteem are two important ways to help promote a positive image.

When most people think about body image they think about aspects of physical appearance, attractiveness, and beauty. But body image is much more. It is the mental picture a person has of his/her body as well as their thoughts, feelings, judgments, sensations, awareness and behavior.

Body image is developed through interactions with people and the social world. It’s our mental picture of ourselves; it’s what allows us to become ourselves.

Body image influences behavior, self esteem, and our psyche. When we feel bad about our body, our satisfaction and mood plummets. If we are constantly trying to push, reshape or remake our bodies, our sense of self becomes unhealthy. We lose confidence in our abilities. It’s not uncommon for people who think poorly of their bodies to have problems in other areas of their lives, including sexuality, careers and relationships.

A healthy body image occurs when a person’s feelings about his/her body is positive, confident and self caring.

This image is necessary to care for the body, find outlets for self-expression, develop confidence in one’s physical abilities and feel comfortable with who you are.

How you see yourself affects every part of your life. High self esteem makes for a happier life. It allows you to be your own person and not have others define you.

Self esteem, self confidence and self respect are all related. Self esteem is also defined as the judgments a person makes about themselves and is affected by self confidence and respect. Self confidence is believing in our ability to take action and meet our goals. Self respect is the degree to which we believe we deserve to be happy, have rewarding relationships

and stand up for our rights and values.

All these factors affect whether or not we will have a healthy body image.

To begin to achieve healthy images of ourselves and our bodies is a challenge. Here are some things you can do to start feeling better about your body and yourself: MAKING PEACE WITH YOUR BODY AND SELF: When you look in the mirror, make yourself find at least one good point for every demerit you give. Become aware of your positives.

Decide which of the cultural pressures - glamour, fitness, thinness, media, peer group - prevent you from feeling good about yourself. How about not buying fashion magazines which promote unrealistic body images?

Exercise gets high marks when it comes to breeding positive body feelings. It makes us feel better about our appearance, and improves our health and mood.

Emphasize your assets. You’ve got lots. Give yourself credit for positive qualities. If there are some things you want to change, remember selfdiscovery is a lifelong process.

Make friends with the person you see in the mirror. Say, “I like what I see. I like me.” Do it until you believe it.

Question ads. Instead of saying, “What’s wrong with me,” say, “What’s wrong with this ad?” Write the company. Set your own standards instead of letting the media set them for you.

Ditch dieting and bail on the scale.

These are two great ways to develop a healthy relationship with your body and weight.

Challenge size-bigotry and fight size discrimination whenever you can.

Don’t speak of yourself or others with phrases like “fat slob,” “pig out,” or “thunder thighs.” Be an example to others by taking people seriously for what they say, feel, and do rather than how they look.

Adios Barbie | December 2011

“

Good for the body is the work of the body, Good for the soul the work of the soul, and good for either the work of the other.

“

— Henry Thoreau Adios Barbie | December 2011

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SelfEsteem “I’m fat. I’m too skinny. I’d be happy if I were taller, shorter, had curly hair, straight hair, a smaller nose, bigger muscles.” Do any of these statements sound familiar? Are you used to putting yourself down? If so, you’re not alone. As a teen, you’re going through a ton of changes and lots of people have trouble adjusting, and this can affect their self-esteem.

Why Are Self-Esteem and Body Image Important?

Self-esteem is all about how much people value themselves, the pride they feel in themselves, and how worthwhile they feel. Self-esteem is important because feeling good about yourself can affect how you act. A person who has high self-esteem will make friends easily, is more in control of his or her behavior, and will enjoy life more.

Body image is how someone feels about his or her own physical appearance.

For many people, especially those in their early teens, body image can be closely linked to self-esteem. That’s because as kids develop into teens, they care more about how others see them.

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What Influences a Person’s Self-Esteem?

Puberty: Some teens struggle with their self-esteem when they begin puberty because the body goes through many changes. These changes, combined with a natural desire to feel accepted, mean it can be tempting for people to compare themselves with others. They may compare themselves with the people around them or with actors and celebs they see on TV, in movies, or in magazines.

But it’s impossible to measure ourselves against others because the changes that come with puberty are different for everyone. Some people start developing early; others are late bloomers. Some get a temporary layer of fat to prepare for a growth spurt, others fill out permanently, and others feel like they stay skinny no matter how much they

Adios Barbie | December 2011

eat. It all depends on how our genes have programmed our bodies to act.

The changes that come with puberty can affect how both girls and guys feel about themselves. Some girls may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed about their maturing bodies. Others may wish that they were developing faster.

Girls may feel pressure to be thin but guys may feel like they don’t look big or muscular enough.

Outside Influences: It’s not just development that affects self-esteem, though.

Many other factors (like media images of skinny girls and bulked-up guys) can affect a person’s body image too.

Family life can sometimes influence self-esteem. Some parents spend more time criticizing their kids and the way they look than praising them, which can reduce kids’ ability to develop good self-esteem.

People also may experience negative comments and hurtful teasing about the way they look from classmates and peers. Sometimes racial and ethnic prejudice is the source of such comments. Although these often come from ignorance, sometimes they can affect someone’s body image and self-esteem.

WHAT IS SELF ESTEEM? Self esteem is a personal evaluation of one’s worth as a person. It measures how much you respect yourself.

Physically: (how happy you are with the way you look) Intellectually: (how well you feel you can accomplish your goals) Emotionally: (how much you feel loved) Morally: (how you think of yourself as a person) Adios Barbie | December 2011

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HEALTH

10 easy “noworkout” workouts

SUPER-SNEAKY AB WORKOUT When you’re in class (or at a movie or even a football game), and not taking notes, work on your abs. Sit up straight and squeeze your abs tight. Nobody will even know you’re doing it!

Extra How-To Details: Start off by holding the contraction for 30 seconds. That’s one set. Now repeat four times, with a minute between sets. As you get stronger, increase the number of sets you do during one class.

How Often Should You Do It: Three times a week.

The Payoff: Get a little bit closer to that dream six-pack.

Plus, the stronger your abs are, they better your posture is—which means you look taller and your butt looks a little bit perkier, even when you’re just standing around.

Just Remember: You want to squeeze hard, but don’t overdo it. And remember to breathe!

PARK FAR AWAY Next time you hit the mall, try parking in the back. Not only will you save yourself the time you normally spend circling for a great spot, but you’ll also burn some extra calories walking to your favorite stores.

How Often Should You Do It: Whenever you have time to spare and are making a trip to the mall (or anywhere with a parking lot).

The Payoff: Burn extra calories!

Just Remember: Keep your pace at a brisk walk. And make sure you’re wearing sneakers or flats, not heels!

COMMERCIAL BREAK MINI-WORKOUT Next time the ads start during Glee, instead of fastforwarding the DVR, get off the couch and try a Star Pass.

Start in a standing position with your arms over your head, holding the remote control in between both hands. Bend to your right, lifting your left leg off the ground so that your body looks like a star. Then repeat to the left.

Extra How-To Details: Hold the position on each side for three to five seconds and keep switching back and forth until the commercial break ends!

How Often Should You Do It: Try doing it during at least half of the commercials that come on during every hour-long TV show you watch!

The Payoff: This is a total body workout and great for toning up your legs and abs!

Just Remember: Keep your core tight the whole time you’re moving from side to side, to work your abs as much as possible!

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Adios Barbie | December 2011

Adios Barbie | December 2011

24 hour Co-ed Facility | AnytimeFitness.com

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Dying to fit-in In the United States approximately 10% of girls and women (numbering up to 10 million) are suffering from diagnosed eating disorders. Of these at least 50,000 will die as a direct result!

Today in America you can be whatever you want to be - any dream can be accomplished as long as you pursue it. We have economic security and we live in a peaceful and prosperous nation! We live in the land of opportunity, rich with culture and diversity, the land of the free! The question I pose is - "is America the land of the free, especially for women?" With all the freedom and prosperity we enjoy women still remain prisoners. "Prisoners", you ask, what do you mean? Women are enslaved to a beauty myth, chained to the false belief that our value is based on our appearance alone. In the United States approximately 10% of girls and women (numbering up to 10 million) are suffering from diagnosed eating disorders. Of these at least 50,000 will die as a direct result! Recent data reported by the American Psychiatric Association suggests that of all psychiatric disorders, the greatest excess of patient mortality due to natural and unnatural causes is associated with eating disorders and substance abuse. How did this problem reach such epidemic proportions? Why are we dieting ourselves to death, literally dying to fit in? When did we become so ashamed of our bodies, when did we learn to hate them so much? While eating disorders claim lives and significantly impact the health and well being of sufferers, as we investigate further an even more disturbing picture emerges.

An amazing 80% of women are dissatisfied with their appearance. These numbers are staggering! Surely they cannot be correct! How and why could we have learned such contempt for our bodies and ourselves? Eating disorders are complex and understanding their etiology requires complex interventions by professionals. In this article I want to examine eating disorders in the context of the questions I posed above. Why are women attacking their bodies? Where did we learn that our self worth is 14

measured by external factors - by numbers on a scale? The answer lies in constant, subtle attacks on our bodies. These attacks wear us down, shake our confidence and esteem.

We loose our sense of self, individuality and fall victim to narrow definitions of beauty defined by the media. The media acts as a propaganda machine determined to shake our confidence, remind us we aren't good enough, we haven't made it, that we just simply do not measure up. In a recent poll by People magazine 80% of women reported that the images of women of TV and in movies, fashion magazines ad advertising make them feel insecure about their looks. In addition, the poll indicated that women are made to feel so insecure that they are willing to try diets that pose health risks (34%), go "under the knife" (34%) and 93% indicated they had made various and repeated attempts to lose weight to measure up to the images. Why is the media bent on making us feel so down about ourselves? Why do they go to such lengths to make us feel "less than?" The answer is quite simple - pure economics.

The media machine is economically driven as billions are spent on items such as cosmetics, new diets and clothes.

This "beautifying" empire is dependent on our disempowerment. They count on us buying into their myths and misrepresentations: "we will never fit it, we can never be happy, thus we can never end the pursuit." Alas, the pursuit is endless, the products are endless, the damage to our self-esteem is endless, and the body hatred created is devastating. The assault is unrelenting! The images everywhere. How could it all happen, right under our noses?

It is a subtle, continuous bombardment of images of beauty, images defined by profiteers, images that are not real, not authentic, and not attainable. The impact that these images have on women is profound. The financial, social and psychological and physical damages of a woman's lifetime pursuit of thinness are impossible to measure. Depression, Adios Barbie | December 2011

despair, depletion of self-esteem, the withering and wasting away of physical, psychological and financial resources are unbelievable. How can we begin to make changes? How can we assess our damage report? We must all take a personal inventory of how our lives have been impacted by these images and how we have fallen victim to these lies and misrepresentations of beauty. By examining how these images have impacted your life you are better equip to avoid falling victim to these myths. You will learn to measure yourself by intrinsic qualities that are of far greater value and are far more beautiful than any image manufactured on a movie screen. I was a victim of these attacks on esteem, on women's power, on our self-worth. I was a prisoner and almost a casualty of this war. If I did not wake-up and take a personal inventory and examine my value system I could have easily sunken into the prison of repeat diets, repeat failure and lifelong contempt for my body. As a prisoner I had to ask myself some tough questions: when did I start to hate my body so much? When did I begin to measure my self-worth by numbers on a scale? When did I fall prey to the idea that beauty is external and success is measured by factors that have little to do with personal strength and spirit? We must be aware of the images presented to us and unmask these images for what they truly are - destructive, superficial and unattainable images. These images do not value our uniqueness, they do not honor our wisdom and our spirit, and they do not measure us. We must reclaim and redefine our bodies as ours. They are miraculous, we all know this!

Our bodies perform wonderful feats every day. We are physiological and biological masterpieces. Our bodies are not our enemies - they put us in motion, they create and sustain life. The functions our bodies perform for us are too numerous and varied to list. Vow that you will not longer fall victim to these images and help those around you to the Adios Barbie | December 2011

road of self-love and acceptance. Advocate for freedom from body hatred and fight the billion dollar advertising, cosmetic, diet, entertainment and fashion industries - let's stand up for ourselves, our values, our bodies, our lives. We must challenge ourselves, our culture and our children. The stakes are too high to back down. Lives are lost each year as beautiful, healthy young women starve themselves to death. Millions of us are suffering from depression and anxiety as we are bombarded with images of our "faults." It is time to change, change begins from within and radiates out- let's begin.

The consequences of body hatred and the serious issue of eating disorders are far to significant and far reaching to be addressed simply by pointing the finger at the media machine. Eating disorders are complex and involved complex interactions of psychological, biological, sociological, and interpersonal factors and do require professional assistance. Further, eating disorders and body hatred impact the lives of millions of men and women. It is not only women that buy into these myths and it is not only women that suffer with these illnesses. Eating disorders are gripping and life-threatening. If you or someone you love is suffering from an eating disorder please seek information and assistance. For more information on the treatment and prevention of eating disorders please visit the Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center at www.

EDReferral.com.

The Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. We provide information and treatment resources for all forms of eating disorders. Referrals to eating disorder specialists are offered at no charge as a community service.

Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center International Eating Disorder Referral Center, 15

You look so much different on

By: Sheena Vasani I admit it: I’ve Photoshopped myself. Some of my Facebook photos have had their contrast and lighting settings tweaked and four them have been properly Photoshopped, either professionally or by myself. Sometimes, I took photos of myself in mirrors at such bizarre angles that I’m still not sure how I managed to pull off without breaking my arm. At 15, I thought it was “artistic,” and more importantly it made my self-proclaimed “flaws” less noticeable. In desperate moments after seeing a recently uploaded picture of another girl’s equally oddly-angled, retouched photo, my jealousy would lead me to dress up just to take a few–okay, fine, maybe about 30–photos of myself to post on MySpace to try and feel less inferior.

Growing up I was no self-absorbed, vapid young girl; I hated reality TV with a passion, was heavily involved in community service and social justice groups in school, and even led and created a few. I barely ever touched magazines because I preferred books; my heroine was not Paris Hilton but passionate women who made a difference in the world through either their hearts or intellect. My favorite place was the local bookstore, not the nearby mall. Yet with the sudden popularity of MySpace back in 2005, I almost felt like I became a different person. I still did well in school, but time I once spent buried in a book in my free time was now spent staring transfixed at my friends’ photos on MySpace.

I envied how photogenic they were, so completely oblivious 16

to the fact these pictures were digitally altered.

Now, the purpose of revealing all of this isn’t to simply embarrass myself in public, but because I believe there should be greater transparency concerning Photoshopped images not just in the media, but also in our personal lives.

Recently, I’ve been feeling like a hypocrite. As friends know, I can go off about the media’s negative influence on our self-image and spout out the most obscure statistics about it. Yet I feel like I’ve failed to take personal responsibility by posting digitally altered photos (or even pictures that don’t truly capture how I really look) on my social networking sites. Nowadays, I do it far less than I did when I was 15, but I still find myself sometimes uneasy about the pictures I post.

I’m not going to put myself down too much, though, and I don’t want our readers to be hard on themselves either.

Self-compassion is far more empowering and effective than harsh self-criticism. I know the real reason I Photoshopped my photos because I, like most teens and young women, struggle with self-image issues from time to time. We live in a world that glorifies appearances so much so that it’s become okay to surgically and digitally change how you look. For goodness’ sake, it’s even “okay” nowadays to Photoshop photos of toddlers. There’s an underlying societal belief that it’s better to appear “beautiful” than to, quite frankly, be yourself.

Adios Barbie | December 2011

Yet wanting to look good in itself is not a problem, and in fact, it’s wonderful. The problem comes when we pretend to look a certain way without making it clear the image is contrived. As a result, we perpetuate the problem. Like the fashion industry and the media, we encourage people to try to achieve an unattainable look. Our attempt to achieve a certain image can lead us to post pictures that are truly just products of our great retouching skills, which can influence others to do so as well. It’s a vicious cycle. It is one I’m trying to stop.

STATE OF BODY / STATE OF MIND IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING

People need to realize that many pictures you see on sites like Facebook aren’t totally reflective of reality. Judging by the many websites and YouTube videos that teach even the least computer-savvy people how to alter their pictures, I’m guessing even more people are doing so at increasingly younger ages nowadays. I hope by sharing my own experiences, I might inspire people to not compare themselves to these false images, as I frequently have done and sometimes still do. Men see these photos unaware they have been manipulated and think “this is what a real woman looks like.” Consequently, a real woman never measures up. We need to be conscious of the effect our own photos have; it’s not just the magazines anymore. With the popularity of social media and how easily accessible it is to anybody, we are also responsible.

Earlier I mentioned how at 15 years old, I’d spend hours browsing through random girls’ MySpace or Facebook photos, unaware of the “wonders” of airbrushing and Photoshop. As a result, I sought to unsuccessfully achieve a look that could never be imitated, and kept it to myself. I am open about this now because I believe I am not alone, and I want this to be the first step toward increased transparency. I read an article that the American Psychiatric Association now requires physicians to ask girls if they use Facebook when evaluating them for depression and body image issues. That speaks volumes about the power of social media on our mental health; it’s more than just a fun diversion to pass the time. It’s now become a means of helping young people establish or ferment an identity that can often have harmful effects if used inappropriately.

I’m going to guess that you or someone you know has probably had my experience. And, to be even more frank, if you digitally manipulate your photos to look like the false “beauties” you once felt inferior to without making it clear you have, you’re unintentionally helping contribute other girls’ and women’s insecurities. I’m not saying *we’re* the problem. It’s far more complicated than that. But let’s try not to contribute to the problem by being a little more transparent. At the very least, we could write captions under our photos if they have been altered. We may not have a lot of control over how the fashion industry has chosen to represent females, but we do have control over how we choose to portray ourselves. Let’s try to be the change we wish to see in this world.

Adios Barbie | December 2011

ADIDAS.COM/CLIMACOOL

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LowCalorie 20minuteDinners 18

Adios Barbie | December 2011

RECIPES

Speedy Paella

Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Prep: 9 mins Cook: 20 mins Makes: 8 servings

Prep: 18 mins Bake: 10 mins 400째F Makes: 6 servings View Nutrition Facts

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil 1 yellow onion, diced 1 tablespoon salt 4 garlic cloves, minced 2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 pinches saffron 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 cup cremini or white button mushrooms, stems removed, caps roughly chopped 1 14 ounce artichoke hearts, drained, rinsed and roughly chopped 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed 1 pound scallops 2 chicken sausage links, sliced into rounds 2 cups quick-cooking brown rice 1 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 1 tablespoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

2 tablespoons butter 1 yellow onion, diced 2 tablespoons flour 2 celery stalks, diced 3 carrots, peeled and diced 1 cup frozen peas, thawed 2 cups chicken broth 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon dried basil plus additional to taste 5 sheets phyllo dough, thawed 1 egg yolk, whisked

DIRECTIONS 1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Reduce heat to medium low and add the onion and salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden brown, about 8 minutes. Mix in the garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste and saffron and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add the white wine, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, shrimp, scallops and sausage; stir. Mix in the rice and chicken broth; cover and cook until liquid has dissolved, approximately 10 minutes.

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and saute 3 minutes. Sprinkle onion with the flour and cook 2 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, peas and chicken broth. Turn heat to medium high; cook 2 to 3 minutes, until sauce thickens. Add the chicken, salt and basil to taste; mix.

2. Spoon the mixture into six oven-safe ramekins, filling each to the top.

3. Unfold the sheets of phyllo dough, keeping them stacked. Use a paring knife to cut the dough into six circles that are 1 1/2 inches bigger in diameter than the ramekins. Place one stack on each ramekin; brush with some of the egg yolk. Top with the 1/4 teaspoon of basil and coat again with egg yolk.

4. Cook on the top rack of oven 10 minutes. Serve. .

2. Top paella with the smoked paprika and parsley and serve.

Adios Barbie | December 2011

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UsingCosmetic surgeryto stopbullying 20

Adios Barbie | December 2011

A few weeks ago, ABCNews.com reported an article “When Is Cosmetic Surgery the Answer to Bullyling?” (Um, never?)

We particularly liked this smart response by blogger SharkFu of Angry Black Bitch, who allowed us to reprint this with her permission.

When I was a wee bitch I was bullied mercilessly for all things related to my blackness. When they made fun of my hair, I cut it off in an attempt to make it look more like the bob that was the trend at the time. When they made fun of my ashy knees, I meticulously rubbed lotion into my skin before school. When they made fun of my lips I tried to fold them inward…that didn’t last long.

Ultimately my bullies focused on my blackness as a whole – I was different and I could not change, so I thought that the best I could hope for was to conform as much as possible and get rewarded for not being as black as some of the other students who came to school through the desegregation program. Country black trumped city black, but black was still worthy of bullying.

By the time I hit Junior High I realized that I had accepted the unacceptable – that these assholes set the agenda and had the rest of us scrambling to meet their standards so we could make the constant taunts, physical abuse, and harassment stop. I decided that was bullshit and stopped trying, but I lost a lot to those years of bullying.

Here’s the thing – the same young people who are having surgery to make their ears stick out less will likely be the same young people who will find out that their hair isn’t just so, their clothes aren’t up to par, or their [insert anything here] offends the same horrible little shit who used to make fun of their ears.

Here’s another thing – bullying hurts more than just the person being bullied. Bullying distracts from class work… it creates a climate of fear and intimidation…and, if left unchecked, it creates grown ass people who bully because they were young people who bullied.

surgery isn’t the solution to bullying. Cosmetic surgery is a solution for some people who have ears that stick out and want to change that.

We need to shift our thinking on this shit. We need to focus on the bully and ask ourselves why they aren’t being asked to change. And we need to deal with the fact that bullies will bully until bullies are taught not to bully. Eventually the bully will move on to something that isn’t changeable…to something that isn’t fixable through an expensive surgery and painful recovery.

Because bullies bully until bullies are taught not to bully.

When we start down the road of changing ourselves to appease bullies we begin a journey that will never end and that puts the responsibility for being harassed on the survivor rather than on the person who desperately needs some home training and likely needs therapy.

This is the “solution” that has people blaming the gay kid for acting too gay…the black kid for not acting too black… the fat kid for not losing weight…the woman for dressing in a provocative manner…the deaf kid for not dedicating her life to making hearing people more comfortable…and so forth and so on until finally the bullies of the world are satisfied. But the bullies of the world will never be satisfied.

Bullies bully until whatever the fuck kind of insecurity and/ or self-hate they are avoiding dealing with is dealt with.

Pause…sip coffee…continue.

Surgery will be a solution for bullying when doctors discover the Bully Tumor and create a surgery to remove that rancid shit.

Until then…well, now that those ears have been “fixed” I’ve noticed how large the nose is and you could lose some weight and your hair is too short and you “act gay” and why are your feet so big and…

And…

I understand the attraction of cosmetic surgery as a solution to your child getting teased about their ears. It’s gotta be hard to see your child miserable because of something like how their ears are positioned on their head. But cosmetic

Adios Barbie | December 2011

And. Blink.

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Battling our bodies The majority of American women and girls are dissatisfied with their bodies, and many take extreme measures in an attempt to change their bodies. One study found that 63% of female participants identified weight as the key factor in determining how they felt about themselves -- more important than family, school, or career.

1. Fight “Fatism”: Work on acceptingpeople of all sizes and shapes. This will help you appreciate your own body. It may be useful to create a list of people who you admire that do not have “perfect” bodies, does their appearance affect how you feel about them? It is also important to remember that society’s standards have changed significantly over the last 50 years. The women that were considered the “ideal beauties” in the 1940’s and 1950’s like Marilyn Monroe (size 14) and Mae West were full-bodied and truly beautiful women, but they would be considered “overweight” by today’s standards.

2. Fight the Diet Downfall: Ninety percent of all women have dieted at some point in their life, and at any one 22

point in time, 50% of women are dieting. Women are two times more likely to diet than men. To dieters’ dismay, 98% of all dieters gain the weight back in five years. Studies also show that 20-25% of dieters progress to a partial or full-blown eating disorder. Women are foolish if they believe that dieting will make them feel better about themselves.

Dieting only helps you lose your selfesteem and energy. Dieting also creates mood swings and feelings of hopelessness. If you feel pressure to lose weight, talk to a friend or loved one or seek professional help.

3. Accept Genetics: It is critical to remember that many aspects of your body cannot be changed. Genetics does play a role in your body and at

least 25% to 70% of your body is determined by your genes. While there are many aspects of our bodies we cannot change, you can change or modify your beliefs and attitudes which influence the way you feel about yourself. Change starts with you, it is internal and it starts with self-respect and a positive attitude. It is import to focus on health and not size.

4. Understand that Emotions are Skin Deep: It is important to discover the emotions and feelings that underlie your negative body image. The statement “I feel fat” is never really about fat, even if you are overweight.

Each time a women looks at herself in the mirror and says “Gross, I’m fat and disgusting,” she is really saying “There is something wrong with me or with Adios Barbie | December 2011

what I’m feeling.” When we do not know how to deal with our feelings we turn to our bodies and blame our bodies for our feelings. Every time you say “I’m fat” you are betraying your body, and you are betraying and ignoring your underlying feelings.

Remember that “fat” is never a feeling, it’s avoidance of feelings. Learn to discover your emotions and feelings and realize that focusing on your body is only distracting you from what is “really” bothering you.

5. Question Messages Portrayed in the Media: The media sends powerful messages to girls and women about the acceptability (or unacceptability) of their bodies. Young girls are thought to compare themselves to women portrayed as successful in the media, assessing how closely they match up to the “ideal” body form. Unfortunately, the majority of girls and women (96%) do not match up to the models and actresses presented in the media. The average model is 5’10” and weighs 110 pounds, whereas the average women is 5’4” and weighs 142 pounds.

This is the largest discrepancy that has ever existed between women and the cultural ideal. This discrepancy leads many women and girls to feel inadequate and negative about their bodies. It is important to realize that only 4% of women genetically have the “ideal” body currently presented in the media, the other 96% of women feel they must go to extreme measures to attempt to reach this unobtainable image. Many of the images presented in the media have been computer enhanced and airbrushed. The models’ hips and waists have often been slimmed and their breasts enlarged through computer photo manipulation.

Many of the women presented in the media suffer from an eating disorder or have adopted disordered eating behaviors to maintain such low body weights. It is important to start to question images in the media and question why women should feel compelled to “live up” to these unrealistic standards of beauty and thinness.

6. Recognize the Influence of Body Misperception: Women are prone to Adios Barbie | December 2011

more negative feelings about their bodies than men. In general, women are more psychologically invested in their physical appearance. Your body image is central to how you feel about yourself. Research reveals that as much as 1/4 of your selfesteem is the result of how positive or negative your body image is.

Unfortunately, many women with eating disorders have a larger percentage of their esteem invested in their bodies. Women with eating disorders often exhibit unequivocal body image misperception, in which they misperceive the size of part, or the entire body. Hence they are “blind” to their own figures. This distortion is real and it is not due to “fat,” but to the eating disorder illness. It is important to recognize this misperception and attribute it to the eating disorder. When you feel fat, remind yourself that you misperceive your shape. Judge your size according the opinions of

trusted others until you can trust your new and more accurate selfperceptions.

7. Befriend Your Body: It is important to combat negative body image because it can lead to depression, shyness, social anxiety and selfconsciousness in intimate relationships. Negative body image can also lead to an eating disorder. It is time that women stop judging their bodies harshly and learn to appreciate their inner being, soul, and spirit. A women’s body is a biological masterpiece; women can menstruate, ovulate and create life. Start to recognize you do not have to compare yourself to other women or women in the media. Begin to challenge images presented in the media and realize that your worth does not depend on how closely you fit these unrealistic images.

In Margo Maine’s book “Body Wars,” she teaches women to reclaim their bodies and offers ways to help women love their bodies. Here are examples of 10 ways you can love your body:

1. Affirm that your body is perfect just the way it is.

2. Think of your body as a tool. Create an inventory of all the things you can do with it.

3. Walk with your head high with pride and confidence in yourself as a person, not a size.

4. Create a list of people you admire who have contributed to your life, your community, or the world. Was their appearance important to their success and accomplishments?

5. Don’t let your size keep you from doing things you enjoy.

6. Replace the time you spend criticizing your appearance with more positive, satisfying pursuits.

7. Let your inner beauty and individuality shine.

8. Think back to a time in your life when you liked and enjoyed your body. Get in touch with those feelings now.

9. Be your body’s ally and advocate, not its enemy.

10. Beauty is not just skin-deep. It is a reflection of your whole self. Love and enjoy the person inside.

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Re mem bering Ruby By: Sharon Haywood

“

Ruby was making Barbie look bad, presumably by mocking the plastic twig-like bestseller … Mattel thought that Ruby was insulting to Barbie.

”

Fifty-something-old Barbie[1] might be middle-aged but she sure doesn’t show it. When she was in her 30s, her manufacturer Mattel sent her for plastic surgery, not to maintain her youthful appearance, but rather in response to market demands to morph her into a more realisticlooking doll. In 1992, Barbie’s waistline slightly expanded.

Then in 1998, Mattel altered one version of the doll—Really Rad Barbie—giving her a decreased cup size and slimmer hips. Currently, her estimated measurements—38-18-34— contrast greatly with the American woman’s average of 4134-43[2]. Barbie’s curves fall several inches short of what typical women possess today.

Considering that the average woman in the U.S. is a size 12/14, a doll that wears a double-digit dress size would be a much more accurate reflection of American women. The late Anita Roddick (1942-2007), the founder of The Body Shop, thought the same. In 1997, the socially-conscious international cosmetics franchise and Host Universal created Ruby: a chubby-cheeked, chestnut-haired, computer-generated figurine. Ruby was the brainchild of The Body Shop’s self-esteem campaign, “Love Your Body.”

Her size 16 image was accompanied by the caption, “There are 3 billion women who don’t look like supermodels and only 8 who do.” She sent the message that you should love what you’ve got, not loathe it.

If you’re familiar with Ruby, you know that she’s not easy to locate. So, where’s this confident and curvaceous

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Adios Barbie | December 2011

character been hiding? You can find her here, alongside other rejected and banned ads.[3] We can thank Mattel for Ruby’s label of “Banned.” The U.S. toy manufacturer thwarted the innovative campaign in its early days by serving The Body Shop with a cease-and-desist order; all posters had to be removed from American shops.

Why? In Roddick’s own words: “Ruby was making Barbie look bad, presumably by mocking the plastic twig-like bestseller … Mattel thought that Ruby was insulting to Barbie.” Outside of Roddick’s explanation on her website, no other information regarding Mattel’s specific legal grounds can be found online. We can surmise that Ruby’s rolls and less-thanperky breasts were the offending culprits.

This year Ruby would have turned 14. But imagine if she had grown from being a self-esteem campaigner into a three-dimensional doll in direct competition with Barbie. Do you think that when she would have reached her 30s, she would have gone under the knife, too?

Would the folks at The Body Shop have decided she needed a tummy tuck, a breast lift, and some lipo to give her a competitive edge? The Body Shop’s global communications head told the New York Times that Ruby represented “a reality check” in contrast to the “stereotypical notions of unattainable ideals.” Odds would tell us that the Rubenesque beauty wouldn’t have any part of her body nipped or tucked; in fact, like many women approaching middle-age, she might even have gained a couple of pounds. Regrettably, we’ll never know for sure.

Although Ruby’s existence was short-lived, her presence generated controversy. She caused Mattel to sit up and take notice. Along similar lines, consider that Barbie underwent cosmetic surgery to appease consumers’ demands. Although Mattel was conservative in its alterations of Barbie’s figure, the company did respond to the public. Furthermore, with sales of the blonde figurine consistently dropping,[4] the toy manufacturer has even more incentive to cater to the customer. If more and more women let corporate giants like Mattel know what they really want, who’s to say that Barbie’s waistline (and the rest of her) can’t fill out as she eases into her fifties? Something to ponder in memory of both Ruby and the visionary Roddick.

“

There are 3 billion women who don’t look like supermodels and only 8 who do.

Adios Barbie | December 2011

”

Naturally, ethically produced beauty products.

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Do clothes make the woman? These days, the catwalk has become a podium for size acceptance. But will big, beautiful women find real power there?

I’M CHILLING ON THE COUCH WITH A BAG OF CHEETOS, watching a beauty pageant on the tube.

Women parade across the stage, draped in gowns, afterfive wear, casual attire. A mustached emcee introduces contestants, pauses to belt out a patriotic hymn. The judges smile tightly. It’s your standard glamfest.

Only…it’s not. See, the contestants tonight aren’t the binge-and-purge Barbies of pageantry past. The average contender sports a size 20 dress. The smallest woman in the running is no less than a 14-16. And the emcee intersperses his show tunes with some eye-opening stats: Forty percent of women wear a size 14 or above…Sales of plus-size clothes in 1996 were more than $20 billion…In 1990, there were only 200 vendors in the plus-size market; now there are 2,000. Hold on a minute–what is this?

It’s the thirteenth annual Plus USA Woman beauty pageant and convention, that’s what. And I’m watching it on videotape, because network America ain’t ready to televise full-figured women feeling good about their bodies. When a young woman named Michele Drumm, who is indeed stunning, tearfully accepts the crown, I cheer. “About time us thick chicks got our proper respect!” I declare through a mouthful of Cheetos.

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Yet, the whole scene leaves me a little confused. I’ve spent half a decade recovering from warped body image, foisted on my ample-bootied consciousness by couturiers and media alike. I’ve depleted the ozone layer talking endlessly about an epiphany I had in the Contempo Casuals dressing room, circa ’92: There’s nothing wrong with me or my body because I can’t fit into these clothes– it’s the people who design for unrealistic bodies who have the problem.

And now, those same people want to sell me back my revolution at a 20 percent retail markup. It’s eerie, I tell you. Liz Claiborne has a plus line called Elisabeth, Anne Klein now offers Anne Klein II, and even Bloomingdales is touting an expanded twelve-and-up department. Lane Bryant, once on the “mall of shame” circuit, is now a modicum of coolness, replete with runway shows and funky ads. Instead of buying Vogue, I could read Mode, a slick fashion magazine for women sizes 12, 14 and 16. (Mode’s 1997 launch was so successful that its frequency jumped from quarterly to monthly a year ahead of schedule. It’s now out of print, but it made a lasting impression.)

Adios Barbie | December 2011

FillingOutFashion: TheExpandingPlusSizeIndustry Still, I can’t help but wonder: Are we catching whiff of a revolution or a scam? Are fashion designers trying to build up my self-esteem and change the culture, or to make a quick buck? It may be too soon to tell. My inner skeptic says, “C’mon, if the fashion models got any thinner than Kate Moss, they were gonna fall through the cracks in the runway! The only way to go was up.” The idealist says, “Right on! The designers finally heard what women have been saying since Twiggy — that beauty comes in all sizes, that full-figured women deserve the same rights as everyone else.”

But will we get them? Will equal access to haute couture lead to equal rights in the workplace, in health care and everywhere else size discrimination runs rampant?

“We all need to be clothed and we all want to have the options — including haute couture–that everyone else has,” says Ansfield. “More plus-size women [in the mainstream] means more women are accepting their bodies to a certain degree, and aren’t totally devastated by gaining five, ten or 20 pounds. I see fat women wearing swimsuits to the beach and pool, or wearing shorts, and not walking with their heads hanging down. But the deep cultural prejudice remains…It’s a push-pull; gain a few inches, go back a few feet.”

Fashion is hardly new material at Radiance, anyway. Since day one, the magazine promoted independent plus- and supersize designers and encouraged fat women to revel in their abundant flesh.

But Radiance is sort of like Mode turned inside out; it focuses on content more than image. The meat of Radiance confronts size discrimination head-on. It’s an empowering read–but, of course, Radiance is struggling to stay alive.

Mode, on the other hand, appeared to be on the road to profit from the get-go. Its design was more upscale than Radiance, and its publishers clearly had connections in the mainstream media (the founders formerly worked Adios Barbie | December 2011

at Glamour.) Fashion was the heart and soul of Mode’s mission. The beautiful outfits (I could actually wear them!) made me drool, but the bland and unchallenging articles left me wanting.

At first I was like, damn, doesn’t it figure? Women really value style over substance. A nice-looking magazine flies off the racks, but a well-written one sits on the shelf. What do we want here–a new society or a new wardrobe?

But then I remember a few of my friends from high school.

Big girls who entered the Gap or Express looking for cute outfits, only to be smacked with the absence of anything in their size. They internalized the shame of this exclusion, hid in shapeless tunics and baggy sweaters. Their posture and presentation drooped like the unflattering clothes, designed with the ridiculous goal of making big women inconspicuous.

Maybe fashion is the tip of a much larger iceberg. Plussize fashion might be a Band-Aid; it might be guerrilla activism. After all, how can women stop cringing at our own curves and rolls unless we see them presented as “normal” in the media?

Either way, body image is a huge predicament for women.

A visible plus-size fashion scene could make an important dent. If clothes and plus size swimwear can inspire women of all sizes to project confidence and demand to be treated with dignity, this could spiral into a much bigger coup.

Clearly, the market for plus-size fashion is growing. Can we seize control of its course and use it to our advantage?

Maybe. After all, look how the Spice Girls sparked a dormant dialogue about feminism and empowerment.

Sometimes the silliest things springboard us into change.

So let’s make sure that when we hang up those size 22 jackets in our closets, we clear out the skeletons, too.

After all, what’s the use of getting all dressed up, unless we have somewhere to go?

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