I'm going to be thinking about this quote all day: "It is idealizing the point in a woman's life when she is less experienced, less wise, less competent, less powerful."
P.S. Would anyone be interested in starting an Unpublishable book club in January? 👀
Shametenanace and make up. That’s a very interesting thing to ponder. How much of my make up is for me, fun, self expression vs shame and compliance? Bright unnatural red lips? Fun. Tinted moisturizer to cover discoloration? Def shame. Eye brow pencil. Shame. My lips but better lipsticks? Shame.
I love Clare Chambers book and would be interested in the book club idea. She is a brilliant thinker around this stuff (as are you, Jessica!). First time I heard body shame and self-hatred being called a public health problem. I love... "When everybody feels bad about their bodies, it's not the bodies that are the problem. It's something else.” BTW-- I'm in the older demographic (56) and would love more on anti-aging bullshit, if you choose to write on that sometimes, Jessica.
“We're talking about a set of commercial and social norms with entrenched power structures that have been socialized into us for generations.”
Yes! The generational component of this feels bone deep as I struggle with why I have participated in many of these body modifications. Thank you for such brilliant work Jessica, and for introducing us to new authors, books, concepts and ways of thinking. This is truly life-changing ❤️
"The fact that we want to have a body that is a certain way, and the fact that we associate a body that doesn't fit into that model as being something shameful, and the fact that there exists a procedure available to change the body — those are all socially created facts. They don't come from our own internal autonomy. ... This is to say, Why do they become procedures we want to choose? And none of that is down to individual autonomy." YES EXACTLY
I love everything about this article (as usual as I a love everything in Unpublishable). I am particularly intrigued by the idea of creating a consciousness raising groups. Any thoughts on how to start one of those?
Great article and much to ponder. However, I did and still do see some relief from the pressure to look out together as an outgrowth of the pandemic. I see more people--including women--out and about in comfortable clothes and far less fussy hairdos than, say, 5 years ago.
My teenage daughters both routinely go to school this way. They don’t spend half the time or money on hair or makeup that I did in the 80s (a way high maintenance decade).
Many caveats here about my/their privilege, which surely plays a huge role.
And I’m not denying that colonial capitalist beauty ideals remain a powerful force. But it’s been nice to see and experience an easing, however slight.
hi jessica! you’re the first substack i’ve paid to subscribe to and I wanted to ask--is it okay to share a screenshot of a quote from one of your pieces that’s for subscribers only? I totally understand if not, just wanted to check. :)
I'm going to be thinking about this quote all day: "It is idealizing the point in a woman's life when she is less experienced, less wise, less competent, less powerful."
P.S. Would anyone be interested in starting an Unpublishable book club in January? 👀
"The value that we place on people according to their bodies is reflecting and reinforcing standards of inequality and discrimination." 👏👏
Shametenanace and make up. That’s a very interesting thing to ponder. How much of my make up is for me, fun, self expression vs shame and compliance? Bright unnatural red lips? Fun. Tinted moisturizer to cover discoloration? Def shame. Eye brow pencil. Shame. My lips but better lipsticks? Shame.
I love Clare Chambers book and would be interested in the book club idea. She is a brilliant thinker around this stuff (as are you, Jessica!). First time I heard body shame and self-hatred being called a public health problem. I love... "When everybody feels bad about their bodies, it's not the bodies that are the problem. It's something else.” BTW-- I'm in the older demographic (56) and would love more on anti-aging bullshit, if you choose to write on that sometimes, Jessica.
“We're talking about a set of commercial and social norms with entrenched power structures that have been socialized into us for generations.”
Yes! The generational component of this feels bone deep as I struggle with why I have participated in many of these body modifications. Thank you for such brilliant work Jessica, and for introducing us to new authors, books, concepts and ways of thinking. This is truly life-changing ❤️
"The fact that we want to have a body that is a certain way, and the fact that we associate a body that doesn't fit into that model as being something shameful, and the fact that there exists a procedure available to change the body — those are all socially created facts. They don't come from our own internal autonomy. ... This is to say, Why do they become procedures we want to choose? And none of that is down to individual autonomy." YES EXACTLY
A beautiful read. Body modification is not beauty.
I love everything about this article (as usual as I a love everything in Unpublishable). I am particularly intrigued by the idea of creating a consciousness raising groups. Any thoughts on how to start one of those?
Yes to the book club!
Great article and much to ponder. However, I did and still do see some relief from the pressure to look out together as an outgrowth of the pandemic. I see more people--including women--out and about in comfortable clothes and far less fussy hairdos than, say, 5 years ago.
My teenage daughters both routinely go to school this way. They don’t spend half the time or money on hair or makeup that I did in the 80s (a way high maintenance decade).
Many caveats here about my/their privilege, which surely plays a huge role.
And I’m not denying that colonial capitalist beauty ideals remain a powerful force. But it’s been nice to see and experience an easing, however slight.
hi jessica! you’re the first substack i’ve paid to subscribe to and I wanted to ask--is it okay to share a screenshot of a quote from one of your pieces that’s for subscribers only? I totally understand if not, just wanted to check. :)
This is such an exciting article, I ordered the book immediately!
https://youtu.be/F9K5IS-inHs
have you heard this Jax song Victoria Secret. It reminds me of this group.
Yes. Let's do it a book club!
Cant wait to read this!