UNDER Renovating Our Bodies to Fit Societal Constructs
Gender, femininity, masculinity, and overall identity is a personal and simultaneously fluid choice. Yet, why is it consistently challenged by the little containers we are put in by others? As we fight to destigmatize fluidity and overall security of identity, we sometimes find ourselves being the ones holding the lids over these containers. Our bodies are constantly under construction. Whether this is more surface level in changing our overall style or changing due to deeper-rooted insecurities, renovations aren’t always a bad thing. Plastic surgery can completely change the way people carry themselves and function on a day to day basis. It is important to accept our bodies and natural flaws; however, improvements are not always negative or coming from a place of self-hatred. The changes we undergo fall on a spectrum of ones we choose and ones we have no control over. This considers a new stretch mark on your left thigh, your middle school puberty phase, or a nose job you saved up for. We must accept and become content with the idea that ours and others’ bodies change; whether we choose for them to or not. One thing that has been an uphill battle is the fight towards destigmatizing sex reassignment operations and the overall campaign for “Trans Rights are Human Rights.” As more stories of gender identity and the hardships of these sex reassignment surgeries are shared on more accessible platforms, the awareness and education of these identities increase. The fact of the matter is, this is a strong community going through internal and external conflicts when making the personal decision to put their bodies under construction. After the physical trauma they go for to fight to feel comfortable in their skin, they then often have to face these even more emotionally taxing externalities. Some of these include adequate healthcare, familial acceptance, and inclusion in educational and work
environments. In this sense, sex reassignment surgeries take a toll on the body physically and emotionally. However, the fight for tranquility in identity is worthwhile. If our body is our home, no one else has a say in what makes us feel most comfortable when we are alone. With that said, the other end of the spectrum includes these reconstructions we fall victim to. Like the interior design of a home, we feel obligated to reconstruct our bodies to feel an internal gratification from “fitting in.” Trends have their upsides: they can make us feel part of a group and overall included in our generational movements or statements. However, certain trends we blindly follow leave us empty and apart of superficial groups and identities that make us feel alienated and not at home, as our bodies are supposed to be. Nowadays, ads seem to be shoving tools to reconstruct ourselves down our throats. Log on to any social media platform, and not only will you fall down a rabbit hole of Instagram models and dieting TikToks, but you will also probably see ads perfectly tailored to your insecurities. Logging onto Facebook or Instagram, I am often floored at the number of ads tailored to physical appearances I had mentioned through text or over the phone. Ads for CVS Beauty, Biore blackhead strips, and Billie razors litter my feed. These often serve as a constant reminder of the little ways in which we dedicate time to renovate our appearances every day. The pressure for perfect skin, hair, nails, and bodies seems to follow us. As if these thoughts don’t often weigh heavily on our minds, they even follow us into the free time we spend on the apps on our phones. Not only do we have a say in reconstructing our physical appearances, but we can also find ourselves consumed in constructing a perfect digital aesthetic. Just as physical reconstructions should not always be looked down upon, building our digital personas should be viewed in the same light. These days, our online presence can be responsible for our livelihood. Countless Instagram personalities make money off of sponsorships and ads. Additionally, as we saw with the renowned Brittany Tomlison, aka “Kombucha Girl” in 2019, even being candid and allowing our quirks and personalities to rule our online presence can open doors for our careers. Overall, putting ourselves under construction can be used to our advantage in finding and seeking comfort in our own identities. Our bodies are our homes, and feeling uncomfortable in them will spread like a virus to every aspect of our lives. Feeling the discrepancy between what we are and want to be can be suffocating, and making these changes to feel more one with ourselves will ultimately make or break us. It is important not to change our unique compositions. Authenticity and listening to how we feel about ourselves is key to feeling the most optimal comfort in your own home.
CONSTRUCTION: by alyson brinkley
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