Posts Tagged Health

By Juliana Britto Schwartz • 9 years ago

How I’m learning to appreciate different bodies

Last weekend my dad and I got into a conversation about bodies. While cleaning up the kitchen, we started talking about weight and body image, and for the first time possibly ever, I came out of that conversation feeling OK. No tears, no rushing to a mirror, no internal promises to start a diet tomorrow.

This would not have been the case last year.

My father and I have always fought about what bodies he accepts as “healthy” or attractive. I am very close with my dad, so these conversations usually leave me feeling all kinds of angry, but also guilty. In spite of my best attempts to come at them with empathy, I tend to jump in with my fists raised, ...

Last weekend my dad and I got into a conversation about bodies. While cleaning up the kitchen, we started talking about weight and body image, and for the first time possibly ever, I came out of that ...
By Suzanna Bobadilla • 9 years ago

The Feministing Five: Emily Letts

As we covered earlier last week, Emily Letts and her three minutes and 18 second video are empowering women by providing truthful and direct information about her abortion. Her video shares her story about how she implemented her reproductive freedom to make the choice that was best for her. Similar to other projects like Advocates for Youth 1 in 3 Campaign, Emily’s video helps to fill in the silence and the stigma about abortion with its upbeat honesty.

After watching the video, it came as no surprise to me that Emily works as a patient advocate at an abortion clinic in New Jersey: I was struck by ...

As we covered earlier last week, Emily Letts and her three minutes and 18 second video are empowering women by providing truthful and direct information about her abortion. Her video ...
By Sesali B. • 10 years ago

Support this environmental and reproductive justice conference!

A month later, I’m still seeing quotes from Laverne Cox’s keynote address at Creating Change 2014 (which I’m not at all bitter about missing out on. Really…I’m fine). She was a big name at a bigger conference. Thousands of LGBTQ leaders, organizers, and activists from across the country flocked to Texas to participate in the annual conference hosted by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

But there is another conference that should also be on your radar.

“The Kinks, Locks and Twists Conference™ offers women of color and allies a unique space to explore the dynamic relationship between the health and well-being of our bodies, communities and the ecosystems in both a local and global ...

A month later, I’m still seeing quotes from Laverne Cox’s keynote address at Creating Change 2014 (which I’m not at all bitter about missing out on. Really…I’m fine). She was a big name ...
By Courtney Baxter • 10 years ago

Weekly Feminist Reader

What the tech industry has to do with the future of health.

We still don’t have a good way of talking about pursuing friendship.

The dangerous transphobia of Roald Dahl’s Matilda.

“When I fully burned off the anxiety inherited from my mother’s unlived life.”

How the rise of men’s rights activists are hurting women and men.

Everyone is tired of white people on TV.

How jock culture supports rape culture.

What the tech industry has to do with the future of health.

We still don’t have a good way of talking about pursuing friendship.

The dangerous transphobia of Roald Dahl’s Matilda.

“When I fully

By zerlina • 10 years ago

New study shows 76% of women have never been asked about domestic violence in a medical exam

A new national study done by the Verizon Foundation and More Magazine reveals that 76 percent of women say they have never been asked about domestic violence in a medical exam. And while 44 percent of women experience domestic violence, doctors seems to be overlooking a critical detail in their patient’s physical well being.

Domestic violence impacts every part of a survivor’s health and it’s shocking that it’s not part of the routine list of questions. The study shows that women who have survived abuse have higher rates of chronic health problems (like asthma, diabetes, digestive disease, etc.). Doctors need to ask the right questions.

A new national study done by the Verizon Foundation and More Magazine reveals that 76 percent of women say they have never been asked about domestic violence in a medical exam. And while 44 percent ...
By Sesali B. • 10 years ago

Case of 11 year old girl shows we shouldn’t use BMI testing in schools to shame kids

An 11 year old girl in Florida was given a health assessment at school by the Collier County Health Department. The assessment included a BMI (Body Mass Index) test and the results came back that she was overweight. She was sent home with a letter that included the dangers of being overweight and stated she was at risk for  being fat all of her life if no one intervened. Her mother was rightfully concerned about how harmful this practice could be to girls’ self esteem.

I, on the other hand, have some issues with how the story is being reported. Clips from the aired news story include Lily Grassow playing volleyball and being active in her average-sized body. Other shots follow ...

An 11 year old girl in Florida was given a health assessment at school by the Collier County Health Department. The assessment included a BMI (Body Mass Index) test and the results came back that she was overweight. ...
By Maya Dusenbery • 10 years ago

Why are poor, white women dying younger than they used to?

White women who don’t graduate from high school have seen their life expectancy decline by five years over the past 18 years. As Monica Potts explores in a fascinating long-read at The American Prospect, that’s a big effing deal.

There are lots of racial, educational, and economic disparities when it comes life expectancy in this country (this biggest gap is between the most educated white and least educated black folks), but one thing that’s held true almost across the board is that it has been on the rise–drops in life expectancy are super rare. But women like Crystal Wilson of rural Arkansas–whose life and death Potts explores in the piece–are now unlikely to live as long as the generation that came before them.

Everything about Crystal’s ...

White women who don’t graduate from high school have seen their life expectancy decline by five years over the past 18 years. As Monica Potts explores in a fascinating long-read at The American Prospect, that’s a ...

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