Just for the one day?

It's kind of annoying that the silhouette is of a woman who's no bigger than a size 4 with proportionately-large breasts...

Well there are plenty of other posters with designs featuring larger women at the site, Incendria. I imagine the reason that the reason Ann chose this one -- at least, it's the reason that it's my favorite from this year -- is because of the text.

And I'd actually say that silhouette woman could easily be larger than a size 4. But admittedly not any larger than a size 10.

Love my body? As a busy modern woman - you know, the "juggling" kind (strange how feminism and circus skills make such infamous bedfellows) - I may have to get someone in to love my body for me while I ice some fairy cakes and argue with an accountant.

No doubt they are celebrating big style at Unilever HQ.

Love my body? From a feminist?

I'd be happy if the feminists I run into would stop hating on me for having a transgendered body.

Or maybe some bodies are more deserving of love than others? Which seems to be the point that they are trying to make, if only for SOME women...

It's true, I was more into the text on this poster than the size of the woman depicted:

Beauty is more than the size of our parts. Don't fix what isn't broken.

You know, I hear this phrase a lot (love your body) but I can't for the life of me figure out how to do it.

It's kind of like telling a depressed person to "just cheer up!"

Every day should be Love Your Body Day. If only we were immune to media messages that distort and mold our constructs of what is beautiful... if only we could really resist the Hollywood ideal...if only we could accept and embrace our bodies as they are, without it being a political statement of some kind. Can you even imagine that?

I have a very healthy self-image, but I'm sure my life would be absolutely transformed if I actually lived in a world like that.

Huh.

Lyssa, I in no way mean to downplay or dismiss the discrimination that you have faced. If you say that feminists have discriminated against you because you are transgender, I believe you. But I would like to say that not all of us are so prejudiced and close-minded. Some of us, in fact, are strong allies. When I say "love your body," I do mean all bodies. Fat, thin, athletic, disabled and everything in between. . . and yes, that includes transgender.

Also, I find the overall negative response here to be pretty disappointing and depressing . . .obviously Love Your Body day isn't going to magically fix things. But isn't this the kind of message that we want to promote?

If you say that feminists have discriminated against you because you are transgender, I believe you.

Actually, I was referring to the large body (sorry!) of transphobic hate speech in feminism wrt trans bodies. So many feminists hate and devalue transwomen's bodies that it is near impossible to believe that "love your body." applies to me.

Some of us, in fact, are strong allies.

I agree. I've met some. Plus, I WANT to believe, which is why I'm engaging you.

I do mean all bodies.

The problem is that too many feminists too easily easily forget this. How much trans women visiblilty have you seen in feminist promotion of this? Nil, I bet.
As pointed out, the depiction also presents a normative body that is problematic. My body fits this type, but my transwoman partner's doesn't. Your claim that this applies to "all bodies" is yours, and IS NOT born aout by the illustration depicted here.

Of course, if I designed a trans woman/fat positive poster, the problem would still be exposure, now wouldn't it.

Also, I find the overall negative response here to be pretty disappointing and depressing . . .obviously Love Your Body day isn't going to magically fix things. But isn't this the kind of message that we want to promote?

It's a hot button issue for so many women. It needs to be confronted. As a new woman myself, so much of my interaction with other women centers on our bodies. They're constantly problematized by ourselves, by society, by everyone, it seems. So maybe the negativity you're seeing means that something is being done right here, and that it's just the implementation and the history of some groups of women that need to be addressed.

"If only we were immune to media messages that distort and mold our constructs of what is beautiful... if only we could really resist the Hollywood ideal..."

Never mind the media and Hollywood, what about imagery and standards much closer to home?

If only those of us who don't have enough acres to live off the land could really feed ourselves without having to meet our clients'/customers'/employers'/etc. standards of what acceptable workers look like...

"'If you say that feminists have discriminated against you because you are transgender, I believe you.'

"Actually, I was referring to the large body (sorry!) of transphobic hate speech in feminism wrt trans bodies. So many feminists hate and devalue transwomen's bodies that it is near impossible to believe that 'love your body.' applies to me."

For what little it's worth, I had the impression that maybe some jerk got on your case in a "surgery is bad, keep your penis and don't get breasts no matter what!!!" way.

For what little it's worth, I had the impression that maybe some jerk got on your case in a "surgery is bad, keep your penis and don't get breasts no matter what!!!" way.

Well, Shelia Jeffery's wannabe's certainly don't help.
What troubles me most is the centering of some women's bodies at the expense of others. On one hand, I have feminist readings at my school telling me that I am a transsexual and NOT a woman because I don't have the right kind of body, and other women at school jealous because I turned out so well (in their estimation).
It is an ugly crossfire that most cisgender women don't experience.

BTW, why do you use the phraseing "For what little it's worth...?"
I hope you don't think I think that your opinion doesn't matter or something. Elucidate, pls?

I didn't even KNOW there was a Love Your Body day!

I’ve started an exciting project in which Feministing readers may want to participate. It’s called The Face of No Make-Up (at http://nomake-up.blogspot.com). It's a photo gallery of women wearing only their natural faces. Its goal: to get the world used to seeing us as we are, and prove that “Make-up is optional and beauty is in the eye of the beholder!� I hope to get a minimum of 100 photos on site.
Women of all ages, races and ethnicities are encouraged to mail a photo of themselves to: mirandasp@comcast.net. Subject line: Face of No Make-Up. Please include first name and age at time of photo.

I didn't even KNOW there was a Love Your Body day!

I’ve started an exciting project in which Feministing readers may want to participate. It’s called The Face of No Make-Up (at http://nomake-up.blogspot.com). It's a photo gallery of women wearing only their natural faces. Its goal: to get the world used to seeing us as we are, and prove that “Make-up is optional and beauty is in the eye of the beholder!� I hope to get a minimum of 100 photos on site.
Women of all ages, races and ethnicities are encouraged to mail a photo of themselves to: mirandasp@comcast.net. Subject line: Face of No Make-Up. Please include first name and age at time of photo.

P.S. I welcome photos from transwomen not wearing makeup, as well.

"Well, Shelia Jeffery's wannabe's certainly don't help."

Um, who? I didn't get it, so I searched for that name and found a whole bunch of different people - who's the one you mean here?

"It is an ugly crossfire that most cisgender women don't experience."

Yeah, it sounds awful.

"BTW, why do you use the phraseing 'For what little it's worth...?'
I hope you don't think I think that your opinion doesn't matter or something. Elucidate, pls?"

I just figured my opinion on what I thought you meant mattered less after you'd already posted a clarification of what you did mean, and didn't want anyone to think I was rude enough to assume my interpretation was more important.

Mina:
Um, who? I didn't get it, so I searched for that name and found a whole bunch of different people - who's the one you mean here?

Try this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Jeffreys

I just figured my opinion on ...
Thanks for the courtesy. I'd still like to hear what you had to say, though.

Yeah, it sounds awful.

Sad but true. What seems worse is how troubling this issue is for so many women. I know we have to start somewhere, but "Love your body day" seems like putting a band aid on a haemorrage.
It's funny that you mention "living off the land" to get away from this because my partner and I are planning on getting a small farm in Vermont to do just that!

mirandasp: Sounds interesting...good luck on your project!

"It's funny that you mention 'living off the land' to get away from this..."

I just figured that sexual drives get overrated and survival drives get underrated in discussions of these issues (some people do the math about getting laid but not about getting fed).

"...because my partner and I are planning on getting a small farm in Vermont to do just that!"

Cool, best of luck to you two. :) Do you know what you want to farm yet?

Personally, I prefer living in a city (and wish getting judged for one's looks wasn't part of that), but if I thought everyone else should live in cities too I'd be asking for crazy congestion.

Mirandasp, I just convinced my mother and my sister to let me take pictures of them without makeup to send to you. I'm sending one, too. It looks like such a cool project!

I just figured that sexual drives get overrated and survival drives get underrated in discussions of these issues (some people do the math about getting laid but not about getting fed).

You totally nailed it! For me it's "will I look OK enough to escape violence and get a job." It hacks me off that my body is not acceptable unless I "pass," that is meet certain body standards for acceptability as a female. Funny, this seems to be the central issue I share with my girlfriends at school. It's a bonding point.

I'm still in the process of selling my partner on the idea. It's part of my super nefarious plan to trurn her into a landdyke. As far as what we'll farm? I'm thinking of just a subsistence farm to start, and possibly expanding it to include a for profit nursery.

"It's part of my super nefarious plan to trurn her into a landdyke."

The first thing I thought in the moment I read this was "as if she's a waterdyke now?", like a mermaid's in love with you and thinking of aquaculture in a less landlocked state... ;)

Mina: LMAO!