I'm late to commenting, but I'm so grateful for this. A couple of newsletters ago I asked how we can hold the competing standards we're given (aka: uphold beauty norms; kill yourself trying) and you gave a thoughtful reply. BUT I felt what I wanted most was a community... we can't change the beauty industrial complex alone. We need other people to hold the proverbial mirror for a more idealized way of aging/ being in our bodies. I'm excited to participate in that community.
ALSO: I am a mom of 3 and in their elementary school there's a push called "Wait until eighth" to keep parents from getting cell phones. Because once one kid goes, the others go, too. Reminds me a lot of beauty culture! I wonder if there might be an appetite for committing to holding off on certain procedures. "No to the Bo" "Nix the Injex" whatever. Something we can agree to together then push out on social media so others can see it's a viable choice. It's a lot easier to uphold a personal standard when you have a community behind you. I've shared your work with several other friends and the line: "Botox decreases anxiety in the individual while increasing it in the collective" really resonates. Most of us don't want to be part of the problem! Thanks to your work at least four women in my immediate circle (late thirties to mid-forties) are holding off. All to say--what if we made A NEW COLLECTIVE? With different agreements?
Anyway, I'll take all of my enthusiasm over to the r/unpublishable. Thanks to ALL OF YOU.
Thank you for this amazing introduction, Jessica! We are so excited to amplify the incredible movement you have started.
This is absolutely incredible. It instantly reminded me of the gurl.com forums I used to participate in as a pre-teen.
YESSSS so excited for this
I'm late to commenting, but I'm so grateful for this. A couple of newsletters ago I asked how we can hold the competing standards we're given (aka: uphold beauty norms; kill yourself trying) and you gave a thoughtful reply. BUT I felt what I wanted most was a community... we can't change the beauty industrial complex alone. We need other people to hold the proverbial mirror for a more idealized way of aging/ being in our bodies. I'm excited to participate in that community.
ALSO: I am a mom of 3 and in their elementary school there's a push called "Wait until eighth" to keep parents from getting cell phones. Because once one kid goes, the others go, too. Reminds me a lot of beauty culture! I wonder if there might be an appetite for committing to holding off on certain procedures. "No to the Bo" "Nix the Injex" whatever. Something we can agree to together then push out on social media so others can see it's a viable choice. It's a lot easier to uphold a personal standard when you have a community behind you. I've shared your work with several other friends and the line: "Botox decreases anxiety in the individual while increasing it in the collective" really resonates. Most of us don't want to be part of the problem! Thanks to your work at least four women in my immediate circle (late thirties to mid-forties) are holding off. All to say--what if we made A NEW COLLECTIVE? With different agreements?
Anyway, I'll take all of my enthusiasm over to the r/unpublishable. Thanks to ALL OF YOU.