Tag: social construct of beauty
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Fart-Friendly, Mascara-Free, and Unapologetic
I have decided that I need to give up media! Since going through menopause — and now living in my post-menopause years — I’ve been unpacking what it really means to be labelled “female” or “woman.” How identifying with this particular construct often positions me as less powerful than a man. As we age, we…
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Menopause Isn’t a Problem—It’s a Reality to Embrace
I was in my early forties, playing cards at a friend’s house when my girlfriend at the time—who was in her late forties—had a hot flash. It was my first real exposure to menopause through someone else’s experience. She was fanning herself, embarrassed and ashamed, while the men in the room either dismissed or laughed…
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Beauty Standards and Their Influence on Me: A Reflection
What drives a woman to undergo cosmetic surgery? Is it an expression of autonomy over one’s body, or do these procedures perpetuate the ongoing “patriarchal control of women’s bodies”? Before diving deeper, I want to clarify my definition of patriarchal control of women’s bodies. I am referring to the ongoing control, scrutiny, and manipulation of…