Love Your Body Day Celebration at Occidental College
Brittney Cambridge
Issue date: 11/2/09 Section: On Campus
"Damn--I look good."
We've all probably thought this at one time or another. It can happen in the shower, in front of the mirror in our favorite jeans, or when we're feeling particularly strong after a great workout. These little moments of loving our bodies feel great when they occur, so why not focus on making them more frequent?
On October 20, 2009, people across the country did just that with the official celebration of Love Your Body Day. This event, started by the National Organization for Women Foundation (NOW), has been taking place for over 10 years across the United States. The purpose is to fight the stereotypes and negative body images of women displayed in the media by advertisement and model agencies.
This year many popular magazines and organizations took part in the event, and DITZ caught some of the action at Occidental College. Oxy's Center for Gender Equality (CGE) spent months planning the event and couched it within a special Women's Week. DITZ Intern, Brittney Cambridge, sat down and spoke with two of the event planners and CGE leaders, Laura Frankel and Chandrika Francis, to get the scoop on the event and what it means for Oxy to partake in this nationally celebrated day.
Tell me about Love Your Body Day at Oxy.
Chandrika: It's been established here every year now. We continue it because it advocates for the empowerment of gender and for an active stand against the body-hate and eating disorders prevalent in [college-aged] women. You have these negative images pushed on women and we need at least one day where the push back is positive.
Laura: We also wanted Oxy to view it not only as an event for white women, but for women of color, too. Beauty is [often] portrayed as an image for white women, but at the CGE we feel like we're responsible for exposing inherent racism.
What activities did the GCE put on for the event?
Laura: We had everything in the Cooler [an on-campus cafe at Oxy]. We had yoga and a film by professor Caroline Heldman, and a one-week exhibit with student art work to juxtapose their perceived image of beauty with the narrow image of beauty shown in the media.
Chandrika: We also set up mirrors for people to write on and used them as a tool to look at yourself and have positive thoughts. We also had a beauty debate on the walls with "perfect" images [of women's bodies]-a thin, white, helpless wall versus a wall of what women's bodies are really "supposed" to be, which was a submission of art from different groups of people. And we also had t-shirts with positive images written on them.
How has the project personally affected you?
Laura: It was really different to escape the narrow image of beauty. I personally had to struggle with eating disorders. I encourage both men and women just to stop and think about how amazing their bodies work. Stop working on your body as a project and be grateful for what your body can really do.
Chandrika: It makes me more aware of body issues and has sharpened my perception of what women think about themselves.
Who do you feel is the best representation of the "real women" not normally portrayed in mainstream media?
Laura: Two people come to mind: Kate Winslet and Katie Couric. Everyone in the industry is pushing to keep off their weight, but after making Titanic she [Winslet] just said, "this is who I am," and she gained her weight back. Katie Couric did a photo shoot, but one of the images was Photoshopped. She showed both [images] on TV, which brought tension to unattained images in the media.
Chandrika: Also, Queen Latifah plays bigger women, but sexy women. Her acting roles showcase positive, full-figured women in the media. And India Arie's songs give room for empowerment in a music industry that often degrades women.
How do you think we can help young woman who are trying to achieve the "perfect" body image?
Laura: It is hard since most of us don't have power in the media, but we can be influential and vocal in the lives of the young women we know. [We can show them] there are many forms of beauty, and they come from us respecting one another.
Chandrika: Always learn from the generation above you, and if you have a [negative] thought, counter it. Change the way you think and talk about it to younger women.
What other activities does the CGE put on throughout the year on Occidental's campus?
Chandrika: We have a feminist talk series where a speaker comes in once a month, and there is "Survivors Circle" for sexual assault survivors to dialogue. The space that the CGE provides is for different groups to meet for face-to-face support about gender or sex issues. Other campus groups, such as Women! and QSA (Queer Straight Alliance) meet here.
Laura: We also had Masculinities week in October (an event that brought prominent feminist thinkers to campus to discuss masculinity) and next semester, we have "Take Back the Night," where there will be a discussion on sexual assault, speakers, movies, and the rally for taking back your rights.
How can students at Oxy or in the greater community get involved with the CGE?
Laura: Every year two new program assistants are hired. Not all of them are seniors, some are first-years. Anyone interested is encouraged to apply. They should e-mail us and get involved!
Chandrika: We have a CGE Executive Board of 10 students who are annually involved and more can apply each year. [Students can also] recognize sexual and homophobic comments and say something to people about those negative comments. There is power in recognizing these comments and commenting about them.
***
For more information on Love Your Body Day and to make every day a celebration of your body, visit NOW Foundation to get involved.
We've all probably thought this at one time or another. It can happen in the shower, in front of the mirror in our favorite jeans, or when we're feeling particularly strong after a great workout. These little moments of loving our bodies feel great when they occur, so why not focus on making them more frequent?
On October 20, 2009, people across the country did just that with the official celebration of Love Your Body Day. This event, started by the National Organization for Women Foundation (NOW), has been taking place for over 10 years across the United States. The purpose is to fight the stereotypes and negative body images of women displayed in the media by advertisement and model agencies.
This year many popular magazines and organizations took part in the event, and DITZ caught some of the action at Occidental College. Oxy's Center for Gender Equality (CGE) spent months planning the event and couched it within a special Women's Week. DITZ Intern, Brittney Cambridge, sat down and spoke with two of the event planners and CGE leaders, Laura Frankel and Chandrika Francis, to get the scoop on the event and what it means for Oxy to partake in this nationally celebrated day.
Tell me about Love Your Body Day at Oxy.
Chandrika: It's been established here every year now. We continue it because it advocates for the empowerment of gender and for an active stand against the body-hate and eating disorders prevalent in [college-aged] women. You have these negative images pushed on women and we need at least one day where the push back is positive.
Laura: We also wanted Oxy to view it not only as an event for white women, but for women of color, too. Beauty is [often] portrayed as an image for white women, but at the CGE we feel like we're responsible for exposing inherent racism.
What activities did the GCE put on for the event?
Laura: We had everything in the Cooler [an on-campus cafe at Oxy]. We had yoga and a film by professor Caroline Heldman, and a one-week exhibit with student art work to juxtapose their perceived image of beauty with the narrow image of beauty shown in the media.
 Media Credit: Emma Ceddia Art Displayed During Women's Week |
Chandrika: We also set up mirrors for people to write on and used them as a tool to look at yourself and have positive thoughts. We also had a beauty debate on the walls with "perfect" images [of women's bodies]-a thin, white, helpless wall versus a wall of what women's bodies are really "supposed" to be, which was a submission of art from different groups of people. And we also had t-shirts with positive images written on them.
How has the project personally affected you?
Laura: It was really different to escape the narrow image of beauty. I personally had to struggle with eating disorders. I encourage both men and women just to stop and think about how amazing their bodies work. Stop working on your body as a project and be grateful for what your body can really do.
Chandrika: It makes me more aware of body issues and has sharpened my perception of what women think about themselves.
Who do you feel is the best representation of the "real women" not normally portrayed in mainstream media?
Laura: Two people come to mind: Kate Winslet and Katie Couric. Everyone in the industry is pushing to keep off their weight, but after making Titanic she [Winslet] just said, "this is who I am," and she gained her weight back. Katie Couric did a photo shoot, but one of the images was Photoshopped. She showed both [images] on TV, which brought tension to unattained images in the media.
Chandrika: Also, Queen Latifah plays bigger women, but sexy women. Her acting roles showcase positive, full-figured women in the media. And India Arie's songs give room for empowerment in a music industry that often degrades women.
 Media Credit: Emma Ceddia Collage of Body Images |
How do you think we can help young woman who are trying to achieve the "perfect" body image?
Laura: It is hard since most of us don't have power in the media, but we can be influential and vocal in the lives of the young women we know. [We can show them] there are many forms of beauty, and they come from us respecting one another.
Chandrika: Always learn from the generation above you, and if you have a [negative] thought, counter it. Change the way you think and talk about it to younger women.
What other activities does the CGE put on throughout the year on Occidental's campus?
Chandrika: We have a feminist talk series where a speaker comes in once a month, and there is "Survivors Circle" for sexual assault survivors to dialogue. The space that the CGE provides is for different groups to meet for face-to-face support about gender or sex issues. Other campus groups, such as Women! and QSA (Queer Straight Alliance) meet here.
Laura: We also had Masculinities week in October (an event that brought prominent feminist thinkers to campus to discuss masculinity) and next semester, we have "Take Back the Night," where there will be a discussion on sexual assault, speakers, movies, and the rally for taking back your rights.
How can students at Oxy or in the greater community get involved with the CGE?
Laura: Every year two new program assistants are hired. Not all of them are seniors, some are first-years. Anyone interested is encouraged to apply. They should e-mail us and get involved!
Chandrika: We have a CGE Executive Board of 10 students who are annually involved and more can apply each year. [Students can also] recognize sexual and homophobic comments and say something to people about those negative comments. There is power in recognizing these comments and commenting about them.
***
For more information on Love Your Body Day and to make every day a celebration of your body, visit NOW Foundation to get involved.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Alyssa
posted 11/04/09 @ 8:24 PM PST
I appreciate this article being written. This is a day that gives the body a voice. Providing students an outlet for media creativity is crucial in maintaining emotional and mental health, especially in college students. (Continued…)
Ricky D. Cambridge
posted 11/14/09 @ 7:11 PM PST
The Love Your Body Day Celebration at Occidental College article in the Ditz magazine was awesome. Glad to see that the young women are taking pride in their inner beauty as well as their outer. (Continued…)
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