There's a movement underway mostly geared towards women that I heard recently in the Crossfit/Paleo community. Based on this original blog post, the Facebook page for the movement has close to 6,000 members:
Strong is the New Skinny
Though I am for empowering women, especially young girls, to eschew the ideal of skinny over being strong and fit, I think this tag-line is still perpetuating the concept of "skinny."
Why can't Strong be the New Strong? Why can't we focus on raising girls to love their bodies, no matter their shape, and help them learn to be strong, both physically and mentally? Why does "strong" have to be in lieu of skinny or instead of? Why can't it just be?
I may also be digging far too deep into this and what the original writers and the movement was calling for was for media and specifically, models, to embrace being strong as sexy rather than skinny. To find healthy, strong women more visually appealing than their "skinny" counterparts. The author also wrote an addendum.
Maybe to me it's the idealization of the term "skinny" or even the negative connotation of it. Some people are just skinny, genetically and it's who they are. Can't they be strong too?
Again, I may be over-sensitive and over-analyzing a movement meant to empower. And I'm not trying to dig at the creators or the authors of that blog post because I think they are well-intentioned.
I an a tough, strong woman. I an prouid of that for what it is. And I will raise a tough, strong daughter. To be proud of herself and her body, for what it is, not for what it isn’t.
I just wish more women, especially our daughters just wanted to be.
Be strong.
Be fit.
Be happy.
What's your take?
I took a bit of a different tone on my post RE: SINS, but it just doesn't sit right with me for a few reasons. It's more the subtext of the whole idea that irks me. Like when I was six and I proclaimed to the world that I hated the popular girls...but secretly still wanted to be one. This in comparison to just liking MYSELF, not based on what I was up against or what I used to compare myself to.
ReplyDeleteHere's the post...sorry! http://cavegirleats.com/2010/09/24/strong-is-the-new-strong/
ReplyDeleteI think you're getting caught up in semantics and completely missing the point.
ReplyDeleteAnon: I actually agree with you a bit and made note of it in my post a few times, so your point was indeed noted.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to draw the line between semantics and reconciling a gut reaction to something that just doesn't sit right.
Thank you for your line about the evil connotations of skinny. I'm genetically skinny and have struggled and am struggling with accepting that. I'm tired of the whole "real women have curves" idea. Real women are WOMEN. Why do we have to define it at all? Go on with your strong self! While we may be on opposite ends of the body type scale (ha! No pun intended.), you're an inspiration for bettering one's self because one wants to, not because society pressures one to.
ReplyDeleteThis is great food for thought!
ReplyDeleteFor me, that addendum post is an important clarification because you (and obviously others) bring up a great point that there is no reason to demonize skinny in order to promote strong. The two do not have to be in opposition, because you can definitely be both.
All the same, I love the idea of promoting strength as an ideal to reach for, specifically because it is something everyone CAN control, instead of promoting a certain body type like the mainstream media does, because it is something we basically have no say in - Large frame/small frame, you get what you get.
So because of all that, I kind of love the message and am taking the inspiration with a grain of salt.
I can totally understand your semantic irritation though, and I think everyone has their hot button words/issues that get them riled up. In fact your post the other day when you showed that picture of yourself looking super fit and everyone was like "OMG YOU LOOK SO GOOD FOR 200 LBS THAT'S SO UNBELIEVABLE" kind of hit one of my hot buttons. Not because you don't look fantastic (because you do, OMG -- rock on with your bad self!) but because everyone was so hung up on the number and I just wanted to shout IT'S NOT ABOUT A NUMBER, PEOPLE! She doesn't look fantastic for a 200lb person, she just looks fantastic!
But then I got over myself and realized I was just being sensitive and moved right along :) haha
The movement doesn't bother me, and I am all for encouraging strength. I get what they're trying to do.
ReplyDeleteBut I also agree with what you've written. Why the competition? Why the categorizing? Let's all just get too busy being AWESOME!
I want a "This is Crossfit" video of you- showing how awesome and strong you are. That would be an inspiration to all.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the message shouldn't be about "skinny." After losing 50 lbs, I'm back to "skinny" but I don't feel strong OR fit. Both of those things are what I really want to be, and I think teaching girls to love their bodies for what they are, and take the best care of them as they can is a much healthier goal.
ReplyDeleteI'm new to this "SINS" and crossfit world, but let me just say, I think the message was missed with taking the word "skinny" so literally.
ReplyDeleteThe way I see it is not striving to be "skinny", but striving to have the body you were meant to have, your ideal body (from a fitness pov). With that being said, since society has idolized "skinny" as the ideal body type, being a STRONG woman, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, etc. is what all women are, and the new "ideal". Being physically STRONG is just one facet of how women are truly amazing, imho.
So, personally, I've taken this SINS as a challenge to be the best "ME", in all areas of my life.
-JoJo G.
As a woman who is naturally thin, but not at all physically strong, I can see first hand how skinny does NOT equal happy, secure or sexy. I spent 16 years suffering fibromyalgia before learning how to force it into remission. Pregnant, Breastfeeding or both for 8 out of the last 9 years hasn't sped my recovery from pain and weakness into strength.
ReplyDeleteStrength is all that matters to me. There is nothing sexier than strength to me.
Strong is the new strong. love it.
Strength is far more important than merely working out to look good.
ReplyDelete