Were you born with a vagina or a penis? Right, the question is none of my damn business, so why doesn’t the rest of society accept this fact? Being female or male does not make a difference in all areas. Think about sports such as basketball, football, ballet, and swimming. Do you remember the story regarding the transgendered swimmer (born a male and transitioned into female)? She was the topic of a national debate because of her personal choices. People were suggesting that she shouldn’t be allowed to swim on the women’s team for various reasons such as not being born a female, having testosterone and being able to physically perform stronger and better and other issues. This is not a disadvantage because if this is the case, then someone can find fault in any sport. For example, I’m short and can walk under a volleyball net depending on the height, or my husband shouldn’t run in a race because he is 6 feet 6 inches and has longer limbs than most people. Aren’t there some women that are stronger than men, but they are not condemned for it. For example, Rhonda Rousey is stronger than the average man because of the training and profession that she is in, but that doesn’t make her less of a woman or more of a male. The qualifications for sports has nothing to do with what is between your legs. It should be based on your ability to perform at the best level that you are able to without any enhancements. Everyone is entitled to enjoy any sport. I have a vagina, but why is that your business? So, to those ignorant and closed minded people, please dial 1-800-GO2-HELL!

When is the last time you stepped on a scale? Did you like the results? I’m pretty sure you immediately thought about ways to lose weight and fast. No one wants to wait months or years to see a noticeable change. For as long as I can remember, society has specific guidelines on what a “perfect body” for a male and female. The characteristics are different, but the goal is to look good for others, no matter the cost…to one’s mental or physical health. When we do not have the body of what society deems “beautiful”, we sometimes may go to extreme habits in order to be excepted. Have many diets have you been on? Counting calories, eliminating carbs and sweets and implementing more fruits and vegetables in your daily routine? We will often try anything to look the par, but the methods do not stick because we are too busy trying to be accepted instead of being healthy. For example, when women give birth, often times their goal is to get back to pre-pregnancy weight or being labeled a “MILF Mother I Like to Fuck). In order to achieve this sometimes u realistic goal, rather than exercising and changing eating habits, one may look for a quicker approach, such as diet pills, special drinks and bars, insane diets such as only eating watermelon each day for a specified number of days (watermelon challenge) and the new craze, Ozempic injections. For me, I never really paid any attention to this weight loss drug because I am not a fan of needles (tattoo needles are not the same) and was under the impression that only Hollywood uses this drug, which from the before and after transformations that I’ve seen, do in fact look incredible, but at what risk? I took some time out of my day and listened to a podcast by Mike and Aubrey titled Ozempic. I learned a lot about this drug and came to the conclusion that it isn’t right for me and for those that use it without a medical reason are selfish. This drug is also the main ingredient that is used for people are have Diabetes. At the height of the Pandemic, the diabetic patients were rationing out their medication because people were purchasing it for weight loss. This drug has some unkind side effects such as regular gastro issues, acute kidney disease, gall bladder cancer, pancreas and other issues. If you are a healthy person, taking this drug has the potential to make you sick, but because society classifies beauty with weight, the scales should not be tipping with weight, but tipping with how much weight one has lost. Are you comfortable with yourself to lose weight the old fashion way or do you use a scale?

It is the year 2023 and we are still be ignored and left to either fend for ourselves are die during pregnancy and childbirth. Who is in charge of the pregnant body? Well, it should be a combination of the expectant mother and her medical provider(s). However, oftentimes, we are not, and this a normal attitude that needs to change since the mortality rate is alarming. An OB/GYN has a medical degree for that specific area, but does not have charge over the symptoms and ailments that come with pregnancy, so I have the final say on WHAT I want to happen during this amazing reproductive experience. Some attitudes regarding black maternal health are the same as the 17th centuries views. In the reading “African American Midwifery” talks about how the slave masters would ignore the pain and concerns of the black pregnant women because all that mattered was providing minimum care just enough so that slaves can keep reproducing MORE slaves! The mere fact that as the decades passed, more black women were entering the midwife field, was great. What better a way for a black expectant mother getting care from someone who looks like her? But, these midwives were not getting the respect or credit that they deserved, therefore; the white man was looked up as great for these medical developments. Fast forward to 2020, and the issue is still ongoing. For example, the film “Aftershock” is about the stories of families that were followed and interviewed regarding how the black woman was treated during pregnancy and childbirth, which ultimately ended in these women’s tragic death. Leaving their children with memories, have a newborn never know their mom, leaving the partner devastated and raising a child alone, and leaving families destroyed. Women are able to reproduce in order for ANYONE to be born. THE WOMB MATTERS! In the film, Sharmari is constantly telling the medical system that she is in pain and having issues, but she is ignored numerous of times, her test results are overlooked, and finally when the medical professionals realize something is in fact wrong, it is too late and another black woman has died during the childbirth experience. There has to be a change, but where does this change begin?

The body has been around since the beginning of time right? It has always been male or female, with the rare individual that has both sexes. The human body can be defined as being precious and the raw material through which we navigate the world. We use our bodies everyday for various activities such as sports, and for motions that we may take for granted such as walking, talking and breathing. When we can’t do simple tasks that we used to, it can cause a decline in the body from being disabled and depressed. The body is not only a subjective individual act, but also a political and cultural act. Growing up as young children, you noticed the different between boys and girls through their bodies and actions. Girls like to play with dolls and indoors and boys like to play with trucks and outside with dirt. Even at a young age, we are taught that boys are the better sex because they are stronger and more respected. It still rings true today, the political world, there are only 25 women in the Senate and the cultural world, the males are viewed as dominant. There are binary dualisms of the body such as gender, race and ability. The body has the ability to do whatever you want it to do. A female can do a male’s “job” and a male can do a “females” job because the body doesn’t know the difference. The humans have made the divide by shaping our understanding of our bodies through representation, medicine, beauty and fashion, religion and industries (fitness, fat loss, mindfulness, etc.) Let’s talk about the topic of beauty and fashion and what the cultural expectations are. For women, beauty is characterized as being thin, full lips, small waist and a large butt. For men, it is having muscles, being tall and athletic. For example, the BBL’s are extremely popular, even though there could be potential complications including death and every man doesn’t need to be built like a movie star (The Rock, Irdris Elba or Chris Hemsworth) to be respected. This way of thinking is setting us up for failure because it is not allowing us to value and accept our own individual bodies as they are. Also, there isn’t an in between for the transgender community or the woman that can bench press 300 lbs or the man that is a beautician. I think that self-esteem shapes our minds of what is expected of each gender, which can cause an individual to self-conscious about their body. Is it not enough that us women are viewed as sexual objects and not what our bodies can do, such as create life? The pressure is overwhelming, which sometimes can lead to body-shaming, intentional or unintentional. The men are under alot of pressure as well. For example, steroids are easy to get to and they help you to have a great amount of muscle, but the negative is not promoted as much as the positive, like as the man ages, he could develop heart issues and potentially die. There are several Pro Wrestlers that have died after years and years usage. Both females and males view their bodies as gifts, but I feel that the pressure is more on the females to look a certain way.