A MAN'S WORLD: THE ILLUSION OF CHANGE IN THE ART INDUSTRY: OPINION PIECE

@ Keila Hotzel

Written by Kelly Bryan for The Rising Womxn Zine

 

In recent years we seem to have entered a world which asserts its inclusivity, acceptance and diversity. Although the art industry has been dominated by males since it was established, many museums and art foundations seem to emulate this pretence of equality, somewhat flaunting their new and accommodating attitude to the general public. You may have noticed their claims to be ‘actively striving towards’ gender equilibrium; representing female and male artists equally. They suggest, in fact, that we are on the brink of gender parity within the art world.  

 

You are forgiven for internalising these claims, presuming them to be true. Many of us wish that gender equality in the art world was a reality, therefore, when we notice persuasive articles suggesting this to be the case, why would we question them? In fact, I have fallen subject to their lies on multiple occasions, celebrating their vigorous and successful work towards abolishing gender imbalance within the art industry. However, in reality, little practical or effective action has been taken within the majority of institutions. The art system is still fundamentally a man’s world. 

 

The National Museum of Women in the Arts reported that in the modern day, 51% of visual artists are female. However, this optimistic statistic simply exposes how the representation of art made by women is drastically disproportionate. Of all the galleries in London, 78% represent more men than women, they simply fail to adequately acknowledge and celebrate the talents of female artists. These institutes not only neglect the representation of these females, they also severely undervalue them compared to their male counterparts. Artnet News states that between January 2008 and 2019, art auctions around the world made a total of $196.6 billion in sales. A mere 2%, equating to just $4 billion, was made from the sale of artwork created by women. Not only is the female art market much smaller, it is also highly concentrated on just a few artists. Worryingly, just five women made up $1.6 billion of the $4 billion total sales over almost twelve years.

 

As you can see, the statistics point to a reality far from the utopian world proposed by the art industry. Why? you may ask, well, there are a variety of complex reasonings. Many of these are based upon the patriarchal and intolerant societies which excluded women from professions and education inside the art industry until the 1870s. For the purpose of this article, I will briefly list a few causes of gender imbalance in art, although it should be noted that each explanation warrants its own article entirely;

 

-       Throughout history, women have been defined as the subject of art, rather than its creator. According to a 1989 report by Guerrilla Girls – an anonymous feminist group composed of female artists – the Modern Art Section of the Met.Museum showcases less than 5% of female artists, and yet 85% of their nude artwork represent female bodies.

 

-       There remains the incorrect belief that art institutions are selling to a uniform audience, made up entirely of white, middle-aged men. Consequently, the industry sees it fit to predominately sell work created by white males for their perceived white, male audience.

 

-       Art history has been persistently uninterested in the art produced by women. The oppression faced by females throughout history constitutes an underrepresentation of females in the industry with fewer records relating to female artists in comparison to males. Consequently, female artwork is rarely conserved, collected or tracked. 

 

The key point here is society’s perception of gender inclusivity in the art world and the actuality that there is a disconcerting lack of progression in this area. The stories we are told about positive movements in the art world should not be taken at face value; we must investigate, ask questions and hold accountable those who simply make bold and false narratives.

 

The understanding that marginalised artists have been given unbiased representation within art organisations is simply a myth; a poignant reality to accept. However, it also acts as an awakening; the first step to tackling this issue is recognising it. We must look at which point art institutions sit in terms of gender parity, rather than where we perceive them to be. This will pave the way for effective and sustainable change. 

 

“What can be done to enhance gender inclusivity in the art world?” I hear you ask, well, my friend there is an effective starting point all art organisations could and should implement into their systems. A Spotlight Series would highlight and celebrate the achievements and talents of female artists, exposing their excellence for all to see and appreciate. It is important to note that this process does not provide female artists with a voice, as I see so many institutions suggesting. These women already had a voice, it was just being ignored, lost in a sea of male hierarchy and ignorance. The Spotlight series would provide a platform to be heard, to advocate female art so these talented, ambitious and driven women can finally be celebrated.  

 

DON'T BLAME HER, EDUCATE THEM: OPINION PIECE

@Markus Spiske

Written by Rachel Langan (she/her) for The Rising Womxn Zine

Sometimes sexism parades itself as almost inconspicuous, something that seems like it isn’t really there, lurking in your inner consciousness, and if you dare to mention it out loud, you’re seemingly being ‘dramatic’ or you ‘can’t take a joke.’ Sexual harassment is often reduced to merely an unremarkable part of daily life that you simply ‘have to get on with.’ The ‘innocent’ act of someone getting that bit too close to you on a packed bus and ‘accidentally’ touching your bottom by pressing themselves up against you from behind, is often results in you being told you’re overreacting and if anything, you were at fault. Other times, it’s blatant and painfully apparent. So much so that it calls you to question whether we really do live in a so-called modern and evolving society, or whether we’ll forever be in a Neanderthal state of thinking that wolf whistling at a woman in the street, or openly discussing a woman’s breasts in front of her, whilst in a group of people, is totally acceptable behaviour. ­

Sexism and resulting sexual harassment are still pretty commonplace today in all its forms, and this is something that Laura Bates (she/her), activist and writer wanted to voice. She founded the Everyday Sexism Project online, allowing for women all across the globe to share their stories of sexual harassment. The stories they received were heart wrenching, from girls as young as 13 to women in their 80s, all sharing the same commonality; they had been demeaned and degraded to merely an object, left dehumanised and sadly, ashamed. The vast majority of stories were related to the workplace, which in itself is a shocking finding. Yet, some progress has been made by introducing the Workplace Sexual Harassment Law in 2010, as part of the Equality Act which protects workers and employees from sexual harassment in the workplace. This is significant progress, and alongside the seismic #MeToo movement led by Tarana Burke which came to light in 2015, more and more people are becoming aware of how crucial it is to stand up and recognise that every day sexism and sexual harassment should not be happening. 

But, it’s often the seemingly ‘well-intentioned’ gestures and ‘harmless’ words that sadly seem so ordinary, that are the ones that require most attention, and are the ones that call you to ask yourself ‘should I say something? Or am I overreacting’ By no means am I attempting to suggest that flippant throwaway comments from men in the street have more of a direct impact on women than those women who have been sexually harassed and abused, but this is where it stems from. This idea was brilliantly summarised by a police officer interviewed by Libby Brooks, for her article on sexual harassment in The Guardian, back in 2018. The officer stated clearly that “today’s flasher is tomorrow’s rapist.” Without calling out this behaviour, educating people on the repercussions of their actions and thus stamping out this treatment towards women, there will always be a need for Laura Bate’s Everyday Sexism project. There will always be significant amounts of women responding to sexual harassment claims they’ve heard or seen online, stating ‘that happened to me, too’. There will always be the urge for women to feel they need to alter their appearance and who they are as a person, if it means they won’t be sexually harassed the next time they step outside their door. Despite how sickening this is, being angry about it is important, but it won’t bring about real change. Action is imperative and must be the overriding movement that we make.

How? Start small. Laura Bates included a sensational array of women’s and some men’s responses to being harassed or seeing other women being harassed in the street and they are so empowering. When one woman was yelled the customary line of ‘get your tits out!’, she decided instead of walking away with her head down, to look down at her breasts like she’d never noticed them before, and scream at the top of her lungs in fright. Safe to say, it shut up her harassers. Also, a man stated that when he saw another man being harassing a young woman in the street, he chased after him and asked him why he said what he did. The man in question had no answer, because he did not know why he had said the sexist comments in the first place. These seemingly small acts of resistance are so powerful. More often than not, the person issuing their crude remarks or making an unwelcomed move on you in a bar aren’t expecting you to turn round and ask them why they’re doing it or further still, to stop them in their tracks. By removing the power imbalance and taking it back for yourself, or by standing up for someone else who isn’t able to, it leaves the perpetrator confused and makes them feel small. Just like how their actions make women feel. This, is how we can make a change. It may only seem to be a small drop in the ocean, and for some who have experienced much worse or more serious crimes, it may seem too little too late. But, by starting now, you could help prevent that flasher turning into something worse, and much more serious. The more we pull together and educate others on how their actions affect women, the more this will trickle down into the next generation and the generation after that, into a society where sexual harassment is no longer a regular occurrence. If not now, then when? 

CATCALLS AREN'T COMPLIMENTS: OPINION PIECE

@The Rising Woman

Written by Georgia Stainforth (she/her) for The Rising Womxn Zine

Something I've experienced fairly regularly. Something that makes me feel uncomfortable and unsafe. Something that highlights how misogynistic society is. Street harassment. A form of harassment that consists of unwanted comments, gestures, honking, wolf-whistling, catcalling, persistent sexual advances etc. by strangers in public areas. I wanted to talk about it to highlight how widely experienced it is by women. This experience is not limited to women, however, this article focuses on the impact street harassment has on women specifically. I am not writing this blog post to talk about just my experience. This post is built up of multiple women's experiences of street harassment, their opinions on it and how it makes them feel. The first experience is from myself, all those that follow are from women who have chosen to contribute, some have chosen to remain anonymous.

"Once I got off the bus from campus to walk back home. I was wearing trackie bottoms and a baggy jumper, with a lot of makeup on as I'd just done a photoshoot. I walked passed two young boys, who looked about 15. I can't remember what they said, but there were a lot of demeaning and sexual comments. I told them to leave me alone but they carried on and started following me. I turned round and told them to f*** off and at that point they got defensive, claiming it was a compliment. Thankfully my friend lived nearby so I went to their house so I could get away. It's happened on multiple other occasions and mostly I've tried to ignore it. My most hated comment is "smile, you'd look even better if you smiled", I find that so patronising. My natural expression just happens to be naturally not smiley. Some men and boys have often been very persistent. It's made me feel unsafe in a place that I call home. It's like men think that's how you should treat a woman, but really it's just a normalised form of harassment." - Georgia, 22

"Walking to work I'd get whistled at and shouted at a lot. It made me angry more than anything, men just disrespecting me and looking at me like a piece of meat with no regards for my feelings or knowing nothing about me. I think it's disgusting, whether it's a joke or not, it's definitely a sexist thing. I've never once in my life seen a female whistle or shout at a guy or anyone. I think it definitely makes other girls feel very uncomfortable." - Jess, 22

"There's no real punishment for men making us feel like pieces of meat. Men should be taught about all of this from a much younger age." - Amber, 24

"A few years ago I was walking to the local shop in shorts and a shirt, it was the middle of summer. A group of 5 shirtless lads began catcalling me saying "show us your arse darling, come over here and let me feel your tit". I made a face at them, too intimidated to say anything. I carried on walking and they followed me in and then out the shop, they began backing me into a wall and saying like "you're a f****** slag, you want it cos your arse is out." They only backed off when another customer left the shop, I quickly began walking home, however, they followed me and hurled abuse till I reached my front door. I do not understand how men feel entitled and justified to treat a human like that. What do they think will be the consequence? They treated me like a piece of meat so I'll be grateful and sleep with them. It makes me feel dehumanised and guilty, like I've done something bad and that my body is shameful even though I'm just walking, minding my own business. Plus the irony was they had less clothes on than me because they were topless." - Dasha, 22

"My biggest experience is usually walking the dog because I tend to do it in leggings and walk down a busy road which is frequently used by lads from the army base. I hate it so much I now wear a jumper tied round my waist when walking that way because that tends to lower the chances of it happening. It only ever happens to me when I'm dressed a certain way. If I am in town I always tend to get less catcalled the more goth I look." - Ellie, 22

"I remember in first year of uni I was catcalled/stopped by a group of like 5 boys after polo. I was filthy and sweaty and just looked gross, they walked by me, whistled and said something, I can't remember what. I kept walking and they kept shouting after me and I turned around and was like "I'm literally covered in horse shit, just f*** off" and then they shut up and went on their way. But it really surprised me because they got close to me like it wasn't from a car or across the road, they literally walked right past me." - Izzie, 22

"I think every woman hears it, I used to work in a supermarket on a Saturday and a Sunday. On a Sunday I would wear make-up and on a Saturday I didn't. I walked into work one Sunday and my boss catcalled me, saying "you look better this morning". He did not last long there. These men seem to think we exist for their enjoyment." - Jess, 23

"Unfortunately, there are many times I have been catcalled or someone has wolf whistled at me. but as something so common, you tend to forget the majority of them. There is however, one that happened a few years ago that I always use as reference. I would've been in my third year of uni and I was walking to the gym. It was autumn so I was wearing leggings and a jacket, I feel I have to mention this as so many women get the "well you shouldn't be wearing that skimpy outfit then" excuse. I walked through the gym car park and a young man was standing by his car, no one else was around. He looked me up and down as I walked past him and said "Oi, I'd f*** you". I'm pretty sure I just ignored him. But it just makes me wonder, who benefited from that experience? He wasn't showing off to his friends, it was just me and him. Was he expecting me to turn around and go "oi, go on then, on the backseat of the car". To be honest, I'll never know what makes people objectify others in that way." - Mel, 24

"I had an experience the other day, me and my friend were both in shorts. We had to go down this little dirt track to access the field and there were 2/3 boys there. I instantly felt uncomfortable with the way they were looking at us and then they started whistling and making comments so we picked up the pace as it was unnerving and made us self-conscious." - Anonymous

"It’s got to the point where I won’t leave the house without headphones, because it’s the easiest way to zone out catcalling. It’s rarely just one person in the car/van, usually 3 or 4, which adds to the intimidation. I was getting harassed so often on the tube that I started having panic attacks. I’ve had men follow me off the tube after telling them I wasn’t interested (which I tested by getting off the tube and then back on the same one). I was also told that I should be flattered they’re interested in me. I’ve been walking home and received so much unwanted attention from builders that a security guard offered to walk with me the rest of the way past them so I wasn’t dealing with it by myself. During lockdown I’ve been running outside instead of in the gym, but I stopped because of the catcalling. The majority of it was men beeping or making gestures, but there was one occasion where a car of teenagers pulled up and asked me to “give him a blozza behind the skip”. Some of the other things that have been shouted at me: “alright darlin'"; “nice legs, what time do they open?”; “fancy a shag”; “look at the rack on that one”; “show some more skin”. If I ignore them I get called either a stuck up/frigid/rich bitch, and then start getting a different type of attention from them. Until I get away from them I’m then harassed being asked why I think I’m too good for them, and that I should take this as a compliment. During university when I would go on nights out, I started wearing a band on my ring finger as a sign that they shouldn’t even bother, but instead I was told on multiple occasions that “your husband doesn’t need to know.” - Caitlin, 26

"The experience that really sticks out when I was on year 10 work experience week. I had to walk there on a really hot day. I was wearing a maxi skirt and a top, and in the half hour there and back I was beeped at, whistled at, etc. about 20 times. It was quite scary as I was walking by myself, and think I was only about 14/15 at the time, so found it very bizarre. I just don't see the point, it makes everyone feel uncomfortable and it's not like the person who does it gets anything out of it." - Katie, 22

"I'm not sure I have anything to add that'll be different to anyone else's experiences but I suppose that in itself says quite a lot. There's an absolute abundance of incidents I could recount but they all merge into one general experience of 'normal female life'." - Vicki, 21

"I've had the generic "hey babe, come home with me/nice ass" etc. I've found that it happens when guys are in their car as well so you can't really respond. I think it's something guys do just to show off and act "laddish" in front of their mates because they probably know it's not going to get them anywhere making sexual remarks from their cars. I guess it can kind of make you feel objectified and grossed out if they say explicit stuff. Also quite powerless if they're doing it from the safety of their car as you can't respond." - Anonymous

"I think my worst experience was when a guy told me to smile and don't look so grumpy when I was on the way to the nail salon, so I put my middle finger up at him. He proceeded to follow me in and started screaming about how I was a b****. Another time I was coming home from a night out and this guy was like "get home safe darling". So I thought wow, what a nice man. And then behind me I heard him say to his friend "she's asking for it looking like that, literally wearing nothing", or words to that effect." - Ciara, 22

"I actually can't recall a time when I've been out running and haven't had someone say something, especially during this heat as I'm usually in shorts and a sports bra. Usual things are beeping and shouting out the window. Latest ones have been "Cor look at your legs" and "would love to touch your arse". Recently, I passed a building site, I felt like someone was staring at me, I could feel their gaze, and then one guy shouted "hey love, can I get your number", I ignored and tried to walk on, then the man climbed down from the scaffolding and badgered me to talk to him. I made very clear I wasn't interested, but he kept saying things like "I would like to see what's under that dress". He wouldn't leave me alone as I tried to walk around him he kept stepping back into my way. I'm not good at confrontation at all so I didn't know how to react, it wasn't until lots of people started walking down the street that I just joined them and he couldn't stop me." - Maddie, 21

"Usually I'm with a group of people if it ever happens so I feel safe. I do remember one time last year I was walking back from the bus stop and on my road there are a couple of pubs that mainly the locals go to. It was a summery day so I was wearing leggings and a crop top. I passed one of the pubs where three middle-aged men were standing. The sidewalk is pretty narrow so it's hard to avoid them without crossing the road and as soon as I approached them I could feel their eyes on me. It's only once I passed that they made some comment about my body but loud enough so I heard them. That was the most uncomfortable I've felt walking home in the broad daylight even. There's something about a group of men making comments about a woman, clearly younger than them that's truly unsettling. I shouldn't have to prepare myself to run home because I feel unsafe around grown men." - Casey, 22

"One time I remember most is when I was running about 3 years ago. It was a group of young boys, could only have been 13/14. I knew it was going to happen because groups always do it, it's like they're trying to show off. Sure enough they started yelling, I just shouted f*** off. But it really sticks out because of how young they were. Another time, I was walking to a restaurant - about a 5 minute walk. A man started following me. I kept stopping in shops to try and shake him off but he followed me everywhere. When I got to the restaurant he walked past and gave me such a creepy look, it really freaked me out. Generally, most of my experiences have been "normal". It's happened countless times. I think catcalling comes from a place of power. They feel they're superior, therefore have the right to make us feel small. They know it's not a "compliment". If they intended it that way they would approach us differently and respectfully. They do it because they feel they can objectify us and it doesn't matter." - Anonymous

"There's a road in my town, which runs along the seafront. I've never walked down it and not been catcalled. It's an area with cinemas, schools and a McDonalds, so there are a lot of young people around. Boys/men in cars drive up and down and scream things at girls, in particular when you're on your own to try scare you. I've even been egged down there. They normally yell slag or sexual stuff, but its the fact you're on your own being screamed at by a bunch of older men. It's frustrating as well that you instinctively get scared and can't say anything back." - Anna, 20

"It happens so often, it's ridiculous. I'm not sure what they think they're going to achieve from it. I remember specifically when I moved to my current area and I was walking to the shop during the day, a guy started shouting as he drove past me on the other side of the road. I ignored him and kept walking, then he's turned around and on my side, he slowed down his car so it's right next to me and repeatedly trying to get my attention. I said I wasn't interested, then he tried to convince me to get in the car. I kept saying no and he followed me until I started running to the shop. I asked the shopkeeper to check where he had gone. I felt genuinely scared, when I first moved here I'd walk to the shops in the dark without a second thought but after that I was even worried in the day." - Charley, 22

These are all real experiences from women I know and have reached out to to contribute. All of them have experienced catcalling and street harassment in some shape or form. Whether they've touched on personal experiences or simply talked about how it's made them feel - these are real. I think this just goes to show how common an experience catcalling is. The fact that a few have referred to the experience as "normal" for women. It shouldn't be normal, but they're completely right because it is. Sadly, it is something I and a lot of women have become accustomed to. The preparation when approaching a group of men or boys to accept it will happen or turn the opposite way to avoid it. Not every man and every boy we walk by will catcall us, the majority are respectful men, it is however built on a threat from the minority of men that do. It brings us to question our own safety in the places that we live and should feel safe in.

It's enlightening how so many of the women I spoke to felt the need to highlight what they were wearing or if they had make-up on. It just goes to show how ingrained victim blaming culture is, she was wearing X piece of clothing out so she must have been asking for it. NO! She had her legs out because it's sunny and she wants to be cool. She has her legs out because she's dressed up for a night out. She has leggings on because they're comfy. She has a sports bra on to run comfortably for her physical and mental health. She has makeup on because she chooses to wear makeup. Nothing about the way a woman chooses to dress is "asking for it". No one ever said that because a woman has a bit of flesh showing you have to follow her down the street and sexualise every part of her body. Or whistle and beep from your car. Or shout obscenities from across the road. If you are looking to charm or flatter a woman, this is far from the way to do it.

Catcalling and street harassment go hand-in-hand with a rape culture. Rape culture is an environment in which rape is pervasive and normalised due to societal attitudes towards gender and sexuality. It is a culture that demands sexual submission. As such, public comments like "smile hun, you have a lovely smile" or "look at the arse on her" become flattering and acceptable. When people respond to say that they're not interested or simply tell the harasser to leave them alone, they are mostly met with angered, defensive responses and often even more harassment as they haven't been subservient to the sexual proposition.

This is undoubtedly tied to matters of consent. My clothes, my make-up, my hair, my face, and my body do not determine my consent. Let women walk safely down the street; stop sexualising their appearance and how they dress; learn about consent. If I ask you to leave me alone, then I expect you to do just that. If I carry on walking, then shut up, I am choosing not to hear you. If I have my legs out, then I have chosen to wear that for myself. If I do not have a smile on my face, then maybe I do not want to smile. If I am just walking down the street, leave me to do just that.

You can find more from Georgia here: https://georgiasdiary.wixsite.com/blog

BODIES HAVE FLAWS? SURELY NOT: OPINION PIECE

@feminist on Instagram

 

Written by Georgia Stainforth (she/her) for The Rising Womxn Zine

Whilst the media promotes unrealistic body standards; so-called influencers promote fast-track slimming solutions; and celebrities wear corsets to cinch in their waist just to have the perfect red-carpet look. Where do normal folk like you and I begin to look for some body positivity? As shows like Love Island and Ex on the Beach become ever more popular, people are watching men and women with their bodies out on TV every night. These shows are known for the lack of diversity they show, in particular their lack of body diversity. Super skinny and beautiful women with their makeup done to the nines, bikinis on and heels all day. Tall and toned men with rippling six packs, heads full of hair and skin bare, waxed chests. It makes me wonder where the curves are, the dad bods, the body hair, the petite men as well as petite women, you know the representation of everybody, not a reinforcement of stereotypes on what is supposedly "attractive" and makes for "good TV".

I always see this ideal of the summer ready body dotted all over my social media feed, which is inevitably promoted by these TV shows. The jokes about not being ready till next year, the jokes about spilling out over your swimwear, and currently, the jokes that we've all gained a bit of pandemic flab so it doesn't matter that our holidays are being cancelled. I get it, we all want to look ace in that bikini on the beach so we can post some gorgeous photos to make our followers jealous. We all want to feel confident in our skin to take that top off, wear a thong bikini and show a bit of cleavage. But that doesn't mean there is a right or wrong summer body, it's simply about embracing the body you're in. It is much easier said than done of course, but you cannot change your natural curves, natural stretch marks and natural scars. We all have them in different places and to different degrees, but at the end of the day we all have them - even those you see on TV. To me, whatever body I have come my holiday will be my summer ready body. I have scars, I have stretch marks and I have some rolls but each of them is a part of who I am, so I don't see the need to change them to fit with the trend.

@ladyist on Instagram

I am a reasonably body positive person; I have my dislikes but I am happy in my skin. I think for many however their lack of body positivity is exacerbated by the unrealistic images presented by the clothing industry and popular media. As a woman I tend to look to other women - mostly well-known women - for their body positivity. One of my favourites being The Good Place star, Jameela Jamil. Upon doing image research however, I noticed that when searching body positive or body image it was mostly women who came up. Women posing for body diverse photo shoots; women running Instagram accounts; women leading the discussion on body diversity. Finding body positive campaigning for men was a lot harder. If I searched specifically for body positive men for my images it would result in mostly men with six packs, lifting weights. I think this just goes to show the stereotypes that are still entwined in our society. The constrictions of masculinity that suggest men should not be emotional about certain issues like body size and that a real man needs to be visibly strong to prove his manliness. This is a different discussion altogether, but I think it is very much apparent in the discussion of body positivity and something that is so often missed.

@georginacoxpersonaltraining on Instagram

When I think back to my own childhood and the imagery that was presented to me at that time, I find it hard to pinpoint anything that showed me a body beyond being stick thin. From playing with Barbies and Bratz dolls, whose bodies if real would be completely out of proportion with the average human being. To watching Disney princesses who are always petite and wearing waist cinching dresses. Can a doll not have thick thighs? Can a Disney princess not, god forbid, have huge sagging tits? I think we grow up believing that being super skinny, long limbed, and having C cup perky boobs is the ideal body. When really, these images cause us to highlight any bodily differentiation we think we may have as an awful flaw that needs changing. Let’s not forget that it is known most eating disorders develop during adolescence, with the average age for anorexia nervosa being ages 16-17 and bulimia nervosa being 18-19. Improving how industries present bodies is not just necessary in the media, on social media, on TV and by celebrities, it is surely a necessity that this body positive discourse is presented to our children in the toys they play with and the idols that they may grow to have.

@bodyposipanda on Instagram

A big part of the lack of body positivity people have is enhanced by the clothing and beauty industry. I am a size 6/8 and, in some shops, I need a size 10 for my top half because of my boobs, I have been this size since I started wearing adult clothes and haven't really fluctuated. I love buying new clothes but what I have noticed in my many hours spent shopping is how diverse sizing is across different shops. How in one shop a size 8 fits perfectly, another shop it falls down and in another I can barely get it over my shoulders. Womens' bodies all have their own shapes, some have wide hips, some have huge boobs, some are flat chested, some have broad shoulders, some have thick thighs, and some are blessed with gorgeous peachy bums. So why are sizes not standardised across the clothing industry? I get this differs between styles of clothing but a size 8 pair of jeans in one shop should surely be the same as size 8 jeans in another. This is just one of many popular criticisms levelled at the clothing industry today.

@bodyposipanda on Instagram

The fact mannequins in most high street stores are also built to fit the smallest size that those stores stock. Never mind if you look closely many stores use clips and pins to make the clothing more fitted. If the clothes were meant to be fitted and the designer wanted them fitted, they would have been made that way, you know like body con clothing. At the end of the day a t-shirt dress should not fit to every curve of my body, it should simply hang as that's why I bought the t-shirt dress. This is not just an occurrence on mannequins either, numerous online clothing stores have been exposed for using clothing clips and pins on clothing that real models wear, which hadn't been edited out and were then spotted by eagle-eyed customers. Not only are the models already not diverse in body types for regular clothing lines but the stylists feel it necessary to fit the clothing even more to accentuate their skinny figure.

@kenziebrenna on Instagram

I have nothing against models, they are always very attractive men and women. My problem is with how the industry itself promotes these figures and fails to present bodies in all their natural beauty. The thinning of limbs and waists; the editing out of natural rolls and skin folds; the blemish touch ups of moles and stretch marks to name a few. All of this takes away from what it is like to have a human body, we all have rolls, we all have stretch marks, we all have moles. I notice this most often when shopping for swimwear - women with super smooth and unblemished skin, and apparently non-existent crotches. When I shop for new bikinis, I often question how anyone can confidently fit in the size of crotch which is offered. If you're confident enough to wear this style then that's fantastic and good for you, but I cannot see how these styles can be seen as anything beyond a clit hammock for the average woman. I even own a bikini that is like this, I bought it because I absolutely love the pattern, but I always feel so fearful of wearing it because quite simply it is not made to fit me well.

@alexlight_ldn on Instagram

Of course, there are many shops, beauty stores, TV shows and celebrities who have joined the campaign for body positivity. But there is still so much that has been left unaddressed. Having one woman who is above a size 8 on Love Island every year is not aiding the discourse of body positivity in men and women, it is quite simply a performative action. Having a few beauty brands who do not allow their models blemishes to be edited out does not address the 100s of other brands who continue to remove these blemishes. Releasing a petite, tall and plus sized Barbie does not remove the many years of damage that have been caused from promoting unrealistic bodies in children. A few influential celebrities joining the conversation on body positivity does not rid the music and acting industry of the institutionalised discrimination that many plus-sized people face. When it comes to ensuring all body types are presented and celebrated the mark is still so often missed. It is not just about looking as though you're doing something, it's about taking genuine action to keep the discourse moving and addressing the real problems people with body image difficulties face.

We all have our scars, our blemishes and our rolls; we all have our dislikes about our bodies and our qualms about what we willingly put on show, some may call these flaws, but I think they're better seen as unique areas of beauty. There is nothing wrong with any of these areas so long as they pose no health risk, they are a part of you. Whilst people's body image will vary, some will be very body positive and some may have no confidence in their body at all. Popular industries are definitely somewhat to blame for this and whilst criticisms are consistently levelled at them, it does not force them to make revolutionary change. Loving yourself is the greatest revolution of all.

 

You can see more from Georgia via her website https://georgiasdiary.wixsite.com/blog  and on Instagram @georgiasdiary

THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS IN 2020: OPINION PIECE

@Canva

 

Written By September Sky (she/her) for The Rising Womxn Zine 

Over the past two years I had fallen into deep depression, I had a lot of anxious days, and took care of my partner who was also dealing with depression. It became very apparent that even the basic things were becoming difficult for me and I started to really let myself go, not only that but 2020 has been a strange year for us all and it was a challenge in of itself.

According to The World Health organisation more than 264 million people throughout the globe suffer from depression, and over half of these people identify as women. As one of them I would like to touch on my personal journey over this past year and how I overcame the hardest days.

It started small, I started letting my sleeping routine go, getting up late going to sleep in the early hours of the morning. After this I started to let my appearance go, I stopped wearing makeup, stopped doing my hair, Skipped the occasional shower, didn’t bother picking out an outfit, in fact most of the time I’d just stay in my pyjamas. During the darkest time I didn’t answer my phone and I didn’t call family and friends, I hid away and didn’t want anyone to know what kind of mental state I was in because I was ashamed, embarrassed and didn’t want anyone to worry.

@Canva

There came a point when I realised just how low I had gotten, that it was time to take control over myself and my life. First things first be aware that this was a journey of twelve months and so the most important step is to have patience with yourself. I did not beat myself up if habits did not stick the first time.  

The first habit in my happiness journey was picking up a journal. I started to journal everything, from how I was feeling in the moment, to the person I wanted to become, quotes that I found inspiring, a bucket list, wish list, my ideal morning, my ideal day, potential future jobs etc… This really helped! During bad mental health days, it can be so easy to forget that we have dreams in our heart somewhere, and to feel completely hopeless about the future! I know that the biggest change for me was that I no longer knew what I found enjoyable, I did not really…care! Journaling helped me discover parts of myself again and helped me create a new, stronger version of myself.

 

@Canva

 

The second habit that helped me over come the dark days was to implement a face care routine. To some people this may sound unimportant or rather insignificant but for me this was especially important. It was not necessarily about my face it was about taking a step everyday to take care of my body. I think one of the most important things to work on is how we value ourselves and our worth. Having a face care routine actively showed me that I was worth the care, but not only that It also (obviously) made a physical noticeable different to my appearance which gives you that little boost of confidence you need during this time. Other example of showing yourself value would include buying yourself that perfume, moisturising, or even just showering!

@Canva

The third habit which greatly impacted my mental health was trying to be more active. Now, please remember to have patience with yourself this does not mean that you should throw yourself into a 7-day workout programme and strict health diet. I started by walking outside at least once a day (the difference to my mental state was instantly noticeable!), I then upped this to the occasional home workout video, stretching, and eventually into 6 days a week, and running every day. You do not need to get as enthusiastic about fitness as I did but being more active is going to make such a difference to your life. During my workouts, I started to feel invincible, happy and confident. As a woman we can often feel intimidated at the gym or in shorts or at the beach (or in many situations)  and we shouldn’t feel this way! Therefore, confidence is a great feeling to build up and it is one of the first things to fall during the bad times, or at least it was for me!

@Canva

You may want to include other self-care habits into your day-to-day life, and I found it easiest to implement by tracking my habits in my journal. For example, if I decided that I wanted to go for a walk everyday I would draw 31 small boxes for each day of the month and for each day I walked I would tick it off. This allows you to see that you are progressing and allows you to have more confidence in your ability to take care of yourself. Even if you only walked 5 days out of the 7 days and only for 2 minutes that is okay because progress is progress.

 

Lastly, I would like to make a point that one year later after starting to take care of myself, I have built up a few simple every-day habits to make sure I do not start slipping again, for me building these routines have been vital to my progress. My anxiety and depression appear every now and again, but they are so much easier to deal with now that I have built trust and strength within myself. I stick to a strict sleeping regime because I know that without it, I can feel overwhelmed and stressed. My morning and night routine are simple but carefully designed to allow me to take care of my mental and physical health because without those two things nothing else matters. During these two routines I like to rota in meditation, exercise, reading, a healthy breakfast, water, face care, showers, and journaling and I have found that all these habits hold importance in my life today.

 

@September Sky

Just remember that whatever you are going through you are not alone, that things do get easier and you must be patient and kind with yourself.

You can find out more about September Sky @tembersky on Instagram, and she also has a youtube channel with a large focus on mental health and fitness. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC75ap0_NITxmWR7MvgK5AsA?view_as=subscriber