I legit started to cry when I read that Serena Williams... THE Serena Williams, the GOAT... is taking weight-loss medications. People should do whatever they want with their own bodies, obviously. But the idea that this body which propelled her to greatness somehow needed to be made... smaller, made me feel hopeless about people ever being able to escape social size standards. Perhaps this hit me harder because Nicole wrote so movingly about maitri and self-love towards oneself this week. And perhaps some of this was because Big A, who before being sick was the fittest person I know personally--running marathons, doing triathlons, and once even besting Usain Bolt on the Peloton--was thrilled about having lost a significant amount of weight. He has been ill for nearly two months--how is his resultant body change something celebratory?
And then it turns out that our Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent letters to all 50 governors calling for the removal of Pride crosswalks. (The connection between transportation and crosswalks seems a bit tenuous to me?) Florida has been the first state to comply. In many places including at the Pulse Nightclub memorial where many LGBTQ people were gunned down in 2016, residents have been chalking pride colors back where they are being erased, and now the governor is sending the police to stand at crosswalks to make sure that doesn't happen. Is this really the most pressing issue for law enforcement? These people seem to have no sense or shame.
8 comments:
Oh no, not Serena!!! Oh, that makes me SO sad. I'm also sad about Big A of course - (HE BESTED USAIN BOLT ON PELOTON PLEASE TELL ME EVERYTHING) - gosh, it's been two months, this is so hard for you. I'm sorry, friend.
Take care.
Yes. It is ok to want to be smaller. Respecting bodily autonomy and expression is respecting bodily autonomy and expression, IMO
Diet culture really has its hooks in almost all women and quite a few men, too, it seems.
I am so bummed about the crosswalk thing, even though it's a small thing. But that's the point, I think, to demoralize us. They hate any little things that brings us joy. The next thing you know they will be outlawing puppies and kittens.
My grandmother had an eating disorder, low level in that she couldn’t eat anything without shame, but she never got that horrible body dysmorphia I don’t think. Anyway, I remember when she was in her late 80s, she was hospitalized for something or another (broken bone? - she had osteoporosis early, broke her hip at 40, likely a combination of dieting and smoking) and she asked my great aunt (her sister) to check her chart and see how much she weighed. “102” was the answer. “Damn, I thought I would have done better.” 80 something years old, in a hospital bed, and she’s frustrated and feels guilty that she has only lost a pound in 2 days. It’s bullshit.
I mostly just want to complain that I've had to wear a sweatshirt to walk the dog for the last few mornings and I'm super upset about it. August should be the hottest month of the year and I'm over here being CHILLY. I refuse to acknowledge the reality of this timeline.
I take a different viewpoint on the use of GLP-1s as she might be taking them because she is pre-diebetic? I don't love athletes promoting weight loss drugs but I'm sure the money is hard to turn down. I have a couple of family members on weight loss drugs because they are pre-diebetic so I know they are doing it for longevity reasons. I don't love how easy it is to get access to those drugs as there are side effects that should be discussed with a medical professional! I get the sense that a lot of mid-life ladies are getting rxs through places like HERS. :/
I loved Nicole's post. Yes, that is sad about Serena Williams! It's just a sad state of affairs in general. And, yes of course Florida is rushing to remove their pride crosswalks! Gee, I wonder why I want to move (well- that's not the only reason, but there are sure fewer and fewer reasons to stay!)
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