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Week redefines ideal body

By Gaveliers, The Gavel Media Team, on October 26, 2009 11:41 PM

By April Chang, For the Gavel -

“I don’t feel adequate in the men’s locker room,” an anonymous Boston College athlete said. Despite common misconceptions, women are not the only ones eating too little and exercising too much. Men’s Health magazine lists BC as the third ‘fittest’ university in the nation, and students feel that they have a reputation to uphold. It should come as no surprise that even the fittest students are still very conscious of their body image.

The Women’s Resource Center’s “Love Your Body” campaign will host a nine-day series of events exploring recurrent health-related issues and themes such as yo-yo dieting, criticism of modern feminist culture in America, racial misogyny, globalization of Western beauty standards, and the interplay of sexuality and spirituality. “Oftentimes, women put themselves on the line to achieve the ‘ideal’ body,” Andrea Wang, CSOM ’10, said.

The pressure of media makes it hard to not cave in. “Even men take drastic measures to find the optimal solution in losing those last 10 pounds — and that is to simply not eat,” Jacqueline Shin, A&S ’10, said.

“Everyone knows someone who has been affected by these issues. It has become increasingly important to raise awareness and promote wider appreciation of one’s body and recognition of one’s beauty even without conforming to standardized norms,” Rachel Lamorte, a key organizer of the campaign and A&S ’10, said.

This fall, the WRC will cast a wider net, reaching the overlooked community of body-conscious men and also elucidating the contradistinctive beauty standards of the international community. For the first time, the WRC will partner with Sisters Influencing and Empowering Sisters Through Assembly (SIESTA), the Armenian Students Association (ASA), and the Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies Students Association (MEISSA) to co-sponsor a panel on Muslim women’s perception of the hijab.

“This is an incredible opportunity to reach a different part of the BC community,” Lamorte said.

For the past six years, the “Love Your Body” campaign has become the WRC’s staple program. “It’s always been such a popular campaign,” Lamorte said. “People are incredibly supportive of it.” The cheerful collaboration of different campus groups and administration has been unprecedented for the WRC. The major participants in this campaign include the Women’s Studies Program (WSP), Females Incorporating Sisterhood Through Step (FISTS), Health Education Team (HET), FACES, Residential Life, First Year Experience (FYE), Office of the Dean for Student Development (ODSD), Office of AHANA Student Programs (OASP), Black Film Center (BFC), Dedicated Intellectuals of the People (DIOP), SIESTA, ASA, and MEISSA.

“This week is one amazing example of cooperation between a multitude of students and administrative organizations coming together to work on an important on-campus issue.” Alicia Johnson, member of the campaign’s planning committee and A&S ’10, said.

The last few weeks, the campaign’s 45 volunteers invaded McElroy and Corcoran Commons to do everything from painting banners to handing out flyers. “The week would not be possible without them,” Lamorte said.

The WRC’s campaign’s kick-off event, Lecture with Ariel Levy, sponsored by WSP, will take place this Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. in McGuinn 121, and other events will continue until Friday, Nov. 6.  The campaign hopes to emphasize that there is no “ideal” body type and will attempt to break down unrealistic standards.

“If you’re cutting calories and exercising for your own health, then more power to you,” Stephanie Lee, A&S ’10, said. “But if you’re not, get off the treadmill and enjoy a piece of cake.”