This is the so-called ideal mold that women and men are pressured to fit in with, said media’s effects on women senior Hayley Mathie.
“By striving to fit this mold, I’m actually doing more harm than good,” Mathie said. “I personally have chosen to love my body.”
After being influenced by the media for years herself, Mathie decided to do something about it.
She organized Love Your Body Week in an effort to defuse a phenomenon she didn’t want to see happening any longer.
The week consists of multiple events with the goal of achieving body acceptance.
One such event took place Tuesday night and was met with support from students who live in Mathie’s residence hall.
Stride For Pride, a walk- run event began in East Shaw lobby and circuited around the rock on Farm Lane, accumulating a distance less than a 5k.
The short distance was chosen to allow for comfort and for the idea that anyone, regardless of body shape or fitness, can participate.
For many students who feel inadequate because of the influence of the media, this event could be an eye-opener.
“Even though we might all have different goals for our bodies, it’s important to be content with it,” elementary education senior Natalie LaBeau said. “Just that we got that message out and seeing people’s faces was inspiring.”
Students were encouraged to “wear as little or as much clothing” as they wished, within the confines of appropriateness.
Mathie said she encouraged participants to paint themselves with words and phrases like “I love my legs” or “I’m a hottie.” Some participants opted to paint “Love your body” and drew hearts on their bodies.
Others painted on negative words, like “fat” and “stupid.”
Mathie suggested painting on negative words they had been called before as a symbol for accepting their bodies.
“Be open with other people,” Mathie said. “When you keep it bottled up, you think, ‘I’m the only one who’s feeling this way.’”
For one student, the event reinforced a belief he already held.
“Appreciate yourself,” social relations and policy sophomore Tanner Delpier said. “It’s something I really believe in ... it promotes self esteem.”
