Large Community, consideration all!

My mom sent me a box of fun things last week and in it was that issue of Marie Claire. It’s where I first read your name and story (ironic because my mother hates feminism). I stumbled across you again today from Tumblr’s advertisement of the panel you’ll be on about young feminists. So of course, I came to browse your blog. And then, to see this entry – well, I flipped back through the Marie Claire, and let me tell you, you look like a strong, sassy, confident, beautiful woman, as I’m sure you are. Those voices are so hard to exorcise, but wow – they are lying to you. Completely. The outside only matches the inside – a beautiful, indignant, intelligent, brave fighter. I’m sorry you had to shed tears over those frustrating voices.

Much love and thanks for all your work. As a newly hatched feminist from Texas -
sp

I heart this post ridonkulously. And I am very discriminating with my heartage of the internet variety. Reading this has made my evening, and by saying so, hope I can improve your day to some degree, in a similar way (Youtube comments are fantastic for annihilating ones faith in humanity, so reading this has brought me right back up!).

in other words, it’s not just you. there are plenty of people out there in the world actively pushing this crap and manipulating other people, and putting them down. those voices in our heads got there from outside! i’ve found that speaking up to other people about my experiences, firstly after the fact and later, as i gained courage, while bs. was occurring, has made a huge difference in how i view myself. i’d encourage other people to try it out too – just like you’ve done in this post today.

I think you are fabulous, and incredibly sensitive to the issue of others, not only women. I think if I had to walk a mile in your shoes, I wouldn’t know quite which direction to take because being so careful and “correct” most definitely makes you a target for the masses, even those people who claim to support you. Hopefully, I will not be “that girl,” but I would like an opportunity to engage with some of the ideas you present, if I may.

I just have an itty-bitty issue with the term “a real looking woman.” I find it so divisive. I “get” what you mean in using the world “real” but aren’t all women “real?” Why does my version of “real” have to be your version of “real? We all start out as “real” do we not? And whether we choose to adorn ourselves with the trappings of our material world, it doesn’t make us less “real” than the women who choose a different real/ity than you.

I also have to say that while I respect what you went through in that photoshoot [it sounded perfectly horrible, and I applaud your tenacity even though you broke down], I have to wonder what you expected. I’m sure that you didn’t expect to feel humiliated, but the world of print & fashion is like that. Even the so-called pretty girls undergo and soul-annihilating experience to achieve that so-called magazine perfection. [Sigh, now I'm sounding like the fashion divas who say that magazines don't make girls skinny or fat]. But my point is to find that balance and then live with your choices. Did you really think that a professional photoshoot would have you wear your own clothes? This is naive.

Ugh, I feel like I’m just getting started. But I have to take my girls swimming. I look forward to becoming fully immersed in your very interesting world.

Much respect!
xobolaji

I could go on. In fact, I did. The issue of “Real Women” was one of my first blog entries written as a letter to Oprah [http://bit.ly/buzr66].

Anyway, if I could, I would spend more time on the subject, but my 2 and 5 year old want the first in a succession of things to eat after breakfast. Such is life. Keep up the beautiful dream, and thank you for inspiring all of us to ‘keep hope alive.’

Sincerely,
xobolaji