Body of Knowledge
The mirror can betray us. Expecting Jennifer Lopez or Ben Affleck, we are disappointed to see our imperfections magnified in the reflection instead.
Although the Internet can feed some unhealthy body-related obsessions, it can assist in correcting some distorted self-images.
A good first stop is https://www.about-face.org. About-Face aims to instill positive body-esteem in all women. The site delves into the impact mass media have on physical, mental and emotional well-being. Be sure to check out its Top 10 list of offensive sites. Topping the list recently was a Dolce & Gabbana ad showing a stick-thin woman in her skivvies cutting up tomatoes.
For those of us who are large and in charge, https://www.bodypositive.com, an online magazine, offers tools for altering thinking about plus-size bodies, affirming the notion that we can feel comfortable in the bodies we have. It has a number of useful links and lots of advice.
There’s also https://www.sizewise.com, which provides resources to make your life more comfortable, more enjoyable and more healthful. Among other things, it includes a “size-positive” search index of more than 1,500 links, including some for tall people. The site includes media-related snippets that focus on big stars.
Although being bombarded with the constraints of living in a small world can be frustrating and demoralizing, there are size-friendly services and products.
You can check out https://www.plussizeyellowpages.com for listings covering everything from bridal needs to legal issues to wholesale. And there are tons of e-tail sites focusing on plus sizes, and a number of dating sites too.
Similarly, https://www.everythingbbw.com is a portal for larger women. Note: There are listings for adult material under a number of unexpected topics. Also, https://www.casagordita.com/fatacc.htm is a site created by a self-proclaimed veteran of the war on fat and fat people. It provides lots of links to information on size acceptance.
On the other side of the body-image coin is the opposite of size pride. In the U.S., it’s estimated that 8 million people suffer from an eating disorder. Although women tend to be the focus of eating-disorder-related information, experts say men make up about 10% of people with eating disorders. It’s often up to friends and loved ones to identify the signs of this illness.
Among the useful sites is https://www.mirror-mirror.org/college.htm. The site provides information explaining eating disorders, who gets them and how to identify and treat them. It provides links to national organizations and treatment centers, as well as related online resources.
Also, https://www.sfwed.org is replete with resources. It includes chat groups, listings for support and treatment and lots of interesting articles and links. The Web site’s creator includes her recovery story.
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Michelle Maltais is a broadcast producer and copy editor at The Times.
