Being in a larger body and wanting to participate in fashion trends and overall fell good about the body your in can be challenging.Majority of the styles and fashions you may want to wear may come with an high price tag or be from a fast fashion company that has unethical business practices that many in your everyday life or online community spaces may not agree with (shein, temu etc).

The body positivity movement, gained popularity in the middle to late 2010s. It embraced the notion that all bodies, regardless of size, shape, or impairments all bodies are beautiful in its natural state.From this movement I saw society move into a positive direction from beauty brands such a Fenty beauty being released that had over 50 foundation from fair to dark. Or other major brands like Nike, Old Navy, Yitty, and Target, who used plus-size models in their advertising campaigns and had plus size mannequins in all there stores and offered size-inclusive apparel lines often going up to an 5xl or 6xl. Those in plus size and fat bodies had options and could shop, browse ,window shop and enjoy the in store shopping experience that weren’t out of dated stores like Torrid, Ashley Steward and Lane Bryant .It was such a beautiful thing to enjoy the in store shopping experience without asking a sales associate if you had an 2xl or 3xl in the back or having to see if your size was available online.

However I’ve notice a shift happened in the last year or two both with major brands and certain social media trends as the body positivity movement in a way faded from the mainstream fewer plus-size models in advertising for plus size clothing , reduced availability of extended sizes, and a lack of representation in physical stores. Some brands that once championed inclusivity have quietly phased out size-inclusive options, even on there websites which left me and many plus size shoppers frustrated and disappointed.It feels like we took such a huge step backward especially with the “unbig” and “big back trends” on social media.Some of the videos are actually funny as its people talking about times were they indulge in a food they like or get themselves a sweet treat but when people began to stuff pillows and bedding under there clothes is were I fell like it crosses the line and becomes fatphobic and harmful.

What is the future of women’s rights going to look like in United States under the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 and the return of Donald Trump. The weakening of women’s rights has become a major concern since Roe v. Wade was overturned, particularly for those residing in conservative states with restricted access to reproductive health and support networks.

A few week ago we discussed how exactly change happens and looked over a few moments of resistance and activism which made me think to myself what movement of large scale change would change how United States politics operates ?

What radical movement could change help women through theses next four year ?

The 4B Movement, is an grassroots feminist movement in South Korea that questions conventional around dating, marriage, sex, and Childbirth. In actuality, what at first seems to be a personal lifestyle decision to what some my think of a cat lady lifestyle or a life of a spinster but in actuality is a daring political stand against patriarchal structures that are trying to take the country by to the 1950’s.

Many people have noticed following the election how successful the 4B Movement has been in bringing about social change since it first appeared in the early 2010s. As the movement’s impact increases, the government of South Korea, which was previously sluggish to address gender disparity and the falling birth rate, is now compelled to act. The 4B Movement has shown structural weaknesses in South Korea’s social and economic frameworks by opposing traditional roles of marriage, childbearing, and traditional family arrangements.Policymakers have been awakened by the country’s dropping birth rate, which is among the lowest in the world. The birth rate has decreased so dramatically over the last ten years that it has resulted in labor shortages, an aging population that places a tremendous burden on the welfare system, and the closure of schools in remote areas. In response, the government has offered financial incentives, including cash grants, tax breaks, and childcare subsidies, to encourage people to have children. The underlying, structural problems that the 4B Movement draws attention to, like employment discrimination, a lack of support for working mothers, and ingrained gender norms, have mostly gone unaddressed by these initiatives.

Women are coming up with new strategies to fight against institutions that don’t work for them, whether in South Korea or the US. One powerful illustration of how defying social conventions may be used as a means of political protest is the 4B Movement. The lessons learned from the 4B Movement serve as a reminder of the strength of unity, mutual support, and group effort as women in red states and abroad fight for their rights in a changing political environment. Women around the world are influencing a future that places a higher priority on justice, equality, and autonomy by adopting radical reimaginings of traditional roles but would this movement have the same effect in the United States

“The duties that are expected of you, but go unnoticed” is a quote that has been replaying in my head constantly these past few weeks. It hits home because of the reality of my mental bandwidth being a form of  labor. Emotional labor went unnoticed by myself and those around me needing this labor from me. Julie Beck’s concept of emotional labor in her article, Concept Creep, has made me reflect on the countless times I have unknowingly experienced this form of labor, causing me to question how I add onto the load of others emotional labor ? or do I appreciate more visible types of work and labor ?  

Emotional labor encompasses the unseen and often unacknowledged efforts that individuals often ignore. In my own experiences working in retail and hospitality, I have been responsible for such labor regularly, even though it might not have been in the job description.For instance, as a sales associate in retail, I would greet customers with a smile and ask, “Did you find everything okay?” that would have me engaging in small talk through the transaction or getting talked over and the customer just asking me how much? Though this may seem like a simple interaction, it involved managing my emotions to appear friendly and approachable, regardless of how I was feeling internally. There were also times when I found myself laughing at a customer’s unfunny joke while working at a sports bar, simply to maintain a positive atmosphere. These interactions, though small, added up to a significant emotional toll over my 8 hour shift 

On top of this, emotional labor often blends into physical tasks that fall through the cracks. An example that comes to mind is when I was living with roommates here at college. If someone removed the trash bag but didn’t replace it, I would end up doing it. Even though I wasn’t assigned this specific duty, I knew if I didn’t replace it, no one else would.Or I notice that the house has changed in appearance when I get home from a three-month trip to college. In my absence, my brother has been left to handle all home responsibilities, and he has done his best. However, the distinction is obvious. It serves as yet another illustration of how invisible work can accumulate when there aren’t enough hands to divide the workload. I can see how the tasks fall unevenly without me present, and the mental and physical labor I usually provide is not accounted for until I return.These duties may not seem like much individually, but together they reflect the often invisible labor that many workers perform daily. Emotional labor may not be part of a job description, but it remains an essential component of many jobs, ensuring that workplaces function smoothly, customers are satisfied, and tasks are completed even when no one is watching.

Honestly I’m just over it.

Nothing is wrong with you is a term i’ve heard all my life,when experiencing feelings of sadness,anxiety worriedness and overall disappointment in my life.It was only at times when my parents saw behaviors and situations that they did not agree with is where I got the advice to drink more water start working out, eat less etc  My parents often repeated this phrase some much that when I hear it now I just roll my eyes and continue on with my day,But I never realized how much the phares “nothing is wrong with you” has effect me.Nothing is wrong with you  is such a simple expression that has affected my embodiment  both with my mental and physical health and it is something that I have never considered or realized till this semester.

From my point of view, when my parents used this term, it was often their way of moving past situations that required emotional effort to navigate. I understand why they were both juggling a lot. My mom worked a full-time job while pursuing her master’s degree, my dad put in over 40 hours a week, all while raising two kids under the age of 10. It was a lot for them to manage, and in their eyes,Taking me and my sister to activities  providing a roof over my head and food on the table were the essentials,and the things I needed most.Now i’m not saying that they didn’t care about my emotional needs, but I think their own exhaustion and focus on providing for us made it hard for them to fully engage with the deeper feelings I experienced during my childhood and own personal discovery at times.

As both my mom and I grow older, we’ve developed a stronger emotional connection. Recently, I opened up to her about something I’ve struggled to admit to anyone. I rarely get my period. As a biological female there’s a lot tied to the fact that your period often serves as an indicator of your overall health and what your body will and will not be able to do, in some ways, simple terms of one’s fertility. For a long time, I felt embarrassed to talk about it because it seemed to say some much about myself without saying a lot and most of it were things about my body that I wasn’t ready to face. What really held me back from making appointments and not self diagnosing myself was a part of myself repeating the phrase “nothing is really wrong with you” because I always found a way to justify how my body was moving through time.

Nothing is really wrong with you quickly became a way for my mind to override any negative emotions and what my body’s needs in my life.Which is why I feel like this assignment took so long for me to complete because I could grasp how scholars could contextualize both there unruly bodies fit into society and it not that they just so happend to be borning this way but society was constructed this way.

To end off on a more positive note, I’ve  gotten a diagnosis of my medical condition.This realization, combined with finally receiving a diagnosis for my medical condition, has helped me come to terms with the fact that something is wrong with me, and that’s okay. It’s comforting to believe that our bodies aren’t defined by moments of sadness, emotional struggles, or physical issues like irregular periods or hirsutism, but truly embracing that idea of having a body is  challenging.