Dublin University Gender Equality Society

NOURISHES FemSoc Nourishes is an initiative of FemSoc (DU Gender Equality Society), that acts as a support network for people of all genders in the Trinity College community who struggle with body image and related issues. This support network offers and encourages positive discourse on body image and a support space for those suffering from eating disorders.

We have all been affected by the perfectly polished pictures on social media, constantly wondering if we are ever going to look like the person in the picture and if we are ever going to feel like we are enough. If you finally want to end this cycle, Nourishes is the right place for you! We love to rant about the roles sexism and toxic masculinity play in today’s unobtainable beauty standards, rage-inducing clothing sizes, diet culture, and, most importantly, we love to remind each other that all our bodies are valid. Join us to convince yourself that there is so much more to you than your appearance!

In the meantime, here are some Instagram accounts for a quick reality check: @_nelly_london, she struggled in the past with an eating disorder and now dedicates her time to showing the world that, no matter what society decides you should like, you can wear anything that makes you feel beautiful! @saggysara, she too struggled with eating disorders and is now on Instagram to show how most of the "perfect bodies" we see online are just poses, edits, lighting and angles. She's also working to normalise body hair and skin texture! @yourbodyisworthy, an account whose goal is to show as many different people, sizes, shapes as possible to make us all realise we are worthy no matter what we look like.

Finally, some food for thought: do you believe the body positivity movement itself can be toxic, at times? Should we rather focus on body neutrality and accepting that our body has specific functions that it fulfils regardless of what it looks like? Would you rather love or accept your body no matter what? For more lovely discussions of this kind, make sure to not miss our events, we would love to hear your experiences and your perspectives!

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