This is a Woman

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“That women are joining in the ongoing disassembling of my appearance is salient. Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a system in which both women and men participate. It privileges, inter alia, the interests of boys and men over the bodily integrity, autonomy, and dignity of girls and women. It is subtle, insidious, and never more dangerous than when women passionately deny that they themselves are engaging in it. This abnormal obsession with women’s faces and bodies has become so normal that we (I include myself at times—I absolutely fall for it still) have internalized patriarchy almost seamlessly. We are unable at times to identify ourselves as our own denigrating abusers, or as abusing other girls and women.” – Ashley Judd.

~If you read nothing else here today, go read every word of Ashley’s article. Not only is it intelligent and vitally important for all women to know in their minds and hearts, but it’s coming from a celebrity. Somehow that makes it that much stronger of a message. From someone who’s career is based (sadly) partially in looks, who is in these trenches and must deal with this daily, from someone that we, as non-famous people, often forget has the same body image issues we do. Read this.
~Here’s another article about Ashley’s post. I like this quote specifically: “In my experience, even women who would probably never go on about how actresses are too fat think far less of saying they’re too thin…” YES. We need to stand together as women of all sizes. Not just the rounder ones. Not just the thinner ones. ALL of us.

~OK, I lied. This is also required reading (um. and watching) this week. What a beautiful organization. I hope you take some time to watch the video and pass it on, and, if you have the resources, maybe help them out a little so these kids can have another amazing summer.

I have lots more awesome stuff this week, but these two are so important that I think I’ll wait to share the rest. Have an awesome week!