Last March I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, otherwise known as PCOS. When I heard this, I felt like not only were things starting to make more sense, but like I didn’t have to blame myself for my weight gain.
body ownership
“You’d look perfect if you got double-eyelid surgery”
I was sitting out on my grandma’s porch when she decided to tell me that I would apparently look perfect if I got double-eyelid surgery.
Speaking Up for the Selfie
The Day I Taught My Mom How To Take A Selfie (2006)
I am proudly, unabashedly, fond of selfies. Even before the advent of the camera phone and the digital camera, I was taking pictures of myself on film — the anticipation of what would come back from the lab always excited me. It’s amazing to me that we can so easily create images of ourselves, and the fact that our ability to do this is, historically speaking, Kind Of A Big Deal, is never far from my mind.
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Proactive Perspectives on Beauty Ideals
Beauty ideals executed through cosmetic modifications or fashion can be traced as far back as 6000 BC. From the ancient Egyptians who practiced complete body hair removal and experimented with nose reshaping, to tribal tattooing, to the modern day breast augmentation. Continue reading
You Can’t Take Them With You
My experience with organ donation.
When I was small, I riffled through my mother’s purse looking at the different membership cards. Then, I stumbled upon her driver’s license. Continue reading
Stop Faking Your Fake Disease
Disassociation and depersonalization are one of the most controversial topics in the field of psychology. Let’s start with the basics and define some terms. Depersonalization is when your mind becomes disconnected from your body in such a fashion so that you feel as if you are watching yourself
Identity, Body Ownership, and Poverty
For me, identity has always been a difficult topic. For years, I only had a hazy conception of my interests, personality, and values. It may seem a bit weird, but I feel that part of my difficulty with forming an identity was because my family is poor. Continue reading
Unruly Bodies 