Body Image

Our relationships with our own bodies: how we see and feel about all or some of our parts, the good, the bad, and the work-in-progress.

Articles and Advice in this area:

Article
  • Chanté Thurmond

It’s Chanté, back with more sexuality (in color) and intersectionality. If you appreciated last week’s definitions but are still curious or you want to learn even more, you may also find this video from Taryn Crenshaw helpful. Today I’m eager to dive into something that is fresh in my mind: pleasure…

Article
  • Katie Klabusich

My adoptive mom’s hangups convinced me I was an ugly duckling. Turns out, it was about her, not me, and certainly not about my hair.

Article
  • Al Washburn

Have you ever thought about your body from the point of view of your skin?

Advice
  • Sam Wall

The crappy thing about ideal body types is that they are designed to be unreachable by 99.9% of the population: they’re unrealistic. They’re about satisfying one’s conception of what is perfect; that’s the very definition of ideal. Unfortunately, some ideals are also really common, especially once…

Advice
  • Sam Wall

You’re asking a common question Arty. I want to turn that question around a little. What difference would it make if this was baby fat? Your answer can tell you a lot about the messages about bodies, beauty, and worth you’ve internalized over the years. Everyone’s answer will be different, and I can…

Advice
  • Mo Ranyart

First things first - it sounds like your family needs to step back and let you make your own choices here, without adding their own commentary or judgment. They may be coming from a place of concern, but it’s misguided and hurtful, and whether they wind up being right about this or not, it’s still…

Advice
  • Sam Wall

soclara continues Because I lost all this weight without any form of exercise outside of basic walking when necessary or working, my body is legitimately disgusting. It’s flabby, loose, my breasts are like half empty sacks, my thighs are humongous blobs of fat and cellulite (not exaggerating, not…

Article
  • Erin McKelle

Some thoughts and tips on navigating sexuality as a fat teen, and dealing with sizeism and fatphobia.

Article
  • Cassandra Leveille

I hid my fears and insecurities by desexualizing myself. Now I’m on the path of uncovering ways to unlearn ugliness as an identity.

Article
  • Samantha Benac

Sexual shame hinders women in far too many ways. It’s a difficult beast to tackle, as it assumes so many nuanced, subtle forms in our daily lives.