You know that feeling you get when you think you're forgetting something? The mental checklist you go through before leaving the house? That's how it feels right now in a world that has so many cries of outrage — it's hard to keep track. Racism, sexism, ageism, feminism, lgbtq+, nature conservation, and freedom of religion, just to name a few. These are all so important and deserve equal attention, but I can't help but feel that we are forgetting one last crucial dynamic: body diversity.
The funny thing about body diversity is that it might just be the easiest fix, but the most unnoticed. Open a magazine or turn on the TV and notice who it is you're looking at. Women are mostly white, tall and thin with long flowing hair and faces that fit the stereotype of accepted beauty. They are usually between the ages of 16 and 36 and identify as straight. So let's break down that description into the topics of fighting we currently understand: race, gender, age discrimination, and sexual orientation. Therefor, if body diversity accounts for so many of the topics we are so passionate about, why is it so forgotten?
We are not doing our part in destroying physical stereotypes. Why are models and mannequins a size two when the national average is a 16? This is not by accident. This is because someone somewhere wants you to think that you aren't small enough, pretty enough, white enough, or smart enough. If you could just squeeze into a smaller size of jeans, your life would be so much better. If your boobs were bigger, but not too big, you would be happier. And if your skin could just be a few shades lighter, we would greatly appreciate it.
Body diversity is the forgotten fight because it is so easy to feel powerless against society's portrayal of women (and men but I can't speak from experience). Be bold and question this widely accepted norm. Support companies who create a positive message for people of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Embrace what makes you unique, whether it's curly hair or wide thighs. Don't give up on this fight because the more we diversify beauty, the more beauty we will find in this life.
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1. You get excited when the parents purchase season passes to the pool.
If the kids get a pool pass, so do you. It's not exactly a leisurely swim when you have to keep an eye on the kids, but it's a good opportunity to work on your tan and get out of the house. Plus, a day at the pool tires out the kids.
2. You've become friends with the stay-at-home moms in town.
You may just be the nanny, but that doesn't stop the other moms from wanting to include you in their gossip sessions or carpool rotations.
3. You get a chance to eat "kid foods" again.
Dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets, character mac & cheese, you name it.
4. You've traded in your cute purse for a large tote bag.
The only type of bag that can hold a plethora of snacks, sand toys, and extra clothes for the kids to change into after they swim.
5. You have at least one car seat in your backseat.
You've been given the extra booster seat for running errands with the kids during the week. Next thing you know, it's Saturday night and your friends are laughing over the crammed backseat, car seat and all.
6. Their nap time is your happy time.
If you can somehow manage to get all the kids napping at the same time, major props to you. Now you can enjoy a few hours to yourself (or maybe even take a nap of your own!).
7. Lunch time can be a disaster.
When they can't agree on a meal or when you don't make it exactly like their mom does...
8. You have to play the same board games repeatedly.
"Sure, we can play Monopoly again for the hundredth time in a row," said no sane person ever.9. You catch yourself using the same lines your parents once told you.
When you ask them to clean their room and they ask "why?!" you can finally reply with "because I said so," just like your mom would say to you.
10. Your "mom-mode" kicks in at times.
Forcing the kids to wear sunscreen while they play outside is such a motherly thing to do, and you love it.
11. Your heart melts a little when they do something cute.
And then you're reminded why you have the best summer job in the world and wouldn't trade it for anything.
1. "Wow, this class is really boring."
Well of course it is, or you wouldn't be daydreaming.
2. "If this wasn't a General Education Requirement, I would've dropped this class already."
Everyone in this room would have dropped the class already.
3. "That kid is sleeping, I wonder if the Professor would notice if I closed my eyes..."
Maybe just for three seconds...
4. "I'm really hungry."
What they are serving in the dining hall...I hope it's mac and cheese.
5. "Can I be excused for the rest of my life?"
OK just kidding, but seriously, can I leave now?
6. "Where are we on the notes?"
Once you are lost on the notes in a lecture class, there is no turning back. Might as well go back to daydreaming about how you are a failure.
7. "Is she/he still talking about this slide?"
Yeah, it's been 10 minutes on one slide of the presentation and yeah, she/he will continue for another three.
8. "What am I going to do this weekend?"
Well I could go to that movie night on campus, or go out to dinner with friends -- anything but doing the homework for this class.
9. "Why do I even need this class?"
Many classes have me asking this question...I need about 15 minutes to really find the answer to my great question.
10. "Is anyone even paying attention?"
Everyone looks like zombies shaking their heads to look like they are listening, and I know that kid next to me is drooling so he is definitely not paying attention. There goes my chance to catching up on the notes -- back to day dreaming.
As a Puerto Rican born in Ohio who has a very Puerto Rican family, I can tell you that there are also things that you shouldn’t say to us. Here are the most common no-no’s that have been said to Puerto Ricans.
1. “Oh, so you/your family are immigrants!”
Puerto Rico is not an independent country. It is one of a few United States territories that have their own local government but abide by U.S. law and U.S. leaders. Everyone on that island is a U.S. citizen so no, my family members are not immigrants.
2. “Is Puerto Rico near Mexico?”
Okay, Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island in, you guessed it, the Caribbean Sea along with a bunch of other islands. Each of those islands has a unique culture and history so why do you always assume all Latin nations/territories are near or associated with Mexico?
3. “Do you speak Puerto Rican?”
Even though Puerto Rico has its own slang, there is no such thing as a language called “Puerto Rican.” Puerto Ricans speak Spanish. Period.
4. “You look too light/dark to be Puerto Rican.”
This comment irritates me to no end. Puerto Ricans- and Latinos, for that matter- are extremely diverse. Our descendant range from the Spanish conquistadors to the indigenous groups who lived before colonization to the African slaves who were brought to the region. Not all of us fit the stereotypical mold of appearance.
5. “Do I need my passport to go to Puerto Rico?”
Again, Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory not a country, therefore, you don’t need a passport to go there.
6. “Geez, you are obsessed with your flag. We get it, you’re Puerto Rican.”
Since when was it a bad thing to show pride towards one’s heritage? Last time I checked, no one was making fun of patriotic folks who waves the stars and stripes of the U.S. flag.
7. “Why are you so loud?”
We are just loud people. If you don’t like it, don’t talk to us.
8. “So does your family know English?”
Puerto Ricans are taught Spanish and English. Both are the official languages. Technically, Spanish is the first language of many Puerto Ricans on the island, but they understand and speak English. In fact, there are schools on the island that teach in English.
9. “Oh my god, Puerto Ricans are so spicy.”
This is an annoying stereotype that also plagues much of the Latino community. We can be sassy, but that’s just an individual personality trait that doesn’t apply to everyone.
10. “So did you eat a lot of tacos?”
Let’s see… did I grow up eating food from Mexico? No, because my family is Puerto Rican, not Mexican. Puerto Rico has its own cuisines. I grew up eating Puerto Rican food. Stop merging cultures.
11. “Are you Mexican?”
No. Stop. Not every Latino is Mexican. Mexicans are Mexicans, Puerto Ricans are Puerto Rican, and so on. Do not be that person.
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