helloaashlyheo-blog

[helloaashlyheo-blog]

Introductions

Hi, my name is Ashley Heo. For this project, I plan to study the #effyourbeautystandards movement. I chose to write about this hashtag because it’s something I’ve always struggled with and continue to struggle with to this day. I learned about the context while reading a short blurb on social media about Tess Holliday, a plus-size model who is defying the current beauty standards of our generation. Growing up in a period of constant social media can be challenging for both males and females because it directs them to follow a certain “beauty standard.” However, it is safe to say there’s not only one way to look or feel beautiful. Therefore by studying it, I’m interested in how this hashtag has affected individuals and will continue to impact individuals that don’t fit the stereotypical beauty standard, along with how it has or will evolve the beauty industry.  

[helloaashlyheo-blog]

Hashtags & Social Media Revolutionizing Change

The hashtag phenomenon began on August 23, 2007, on Twitter by Chris Messina. It has been over ten years since the introduction of hashtags; however, I’m speechless in how far and revolutionizing it has become. Back then, little did society know the impactfulness and differences a simple hashtag can do. Furthermore, the combination of a hashtag and social media can create. However, hashtag movements are designed for a reason. It’s a way for individuals, groups, and communities to share their information with the public, allowing them to raise their voices and make a difference. 

Hashtag and social media do not only create groups or a community but also brings them together. Hashtags on social media have the ability to bring individuals with like minds, interests, and passions together. In this blog, we’ll talk about the hashtag #effyourbeautystandards and how it brought women of all age and color to come together and resist societal view on modern beauty. It is essential to acknowledge that social media is not only a platform for communication but multitude purposes such as strength, reason, and identity. It allows us to connect with anyone around the world, opening opportunities, and solving problems that seem impossible. Furthermore, social media and hashtags can develop ones’ self and identity. It can give them a purpose, and strive upon their ideologies establishing uniqueness and change.

                            What is #effyourbeautystandards 

It is a hashtag movement pushing back on modern beauty pressed upon both women and men. The #effyourbeautystandards campaign was launch in 2013 by a model named Tess Holliday, who is a plus-sized model changing the fashion industry with her looks and fashion. The hashtag was a way to revolt against the fashion industry that stated to individuals that you can’t be beautiful if you happen to be over a size ten. She wanted everyone to embrace his or her daring fashion and body, and oppose society’s constriction (Gordon, 2016). She quoted, “We’ll will take back our right to be a total babe regardless of our size…big OR small we all deserve to feel beautiful”. Within days, the #effyourbeautystandards circulated and appeared in over a million Instagram pictures. This movement allowed women to share positive images of themselves and find support from others all around the world (Peoples, 2016). Most importantly, there are more to the #effyourbeautystandards movement than revolting against standard beauty; it combats the issue of feminism, changes society’s outlook, and forms real change.

                              Society’s Standards Are Toxic

Society’s projection on modern beauty brings a toll on a woman or man’s self-esteem. For the past decades, there’s always has been a great emphasis on how women should look, which has been primarily proliferated through the media (Ossola, 2010). In today’s society, women are constantly bombarded to attain a standard of beauty, and the unrealistic beauty standards give women a sense of worthlessness. It forces women to exercise excessively, take diet pills, diet, binge, and purge and develop eating disorders. As the media constantly surrounds us, we construct our identities through the images we perceive. It controls how women should feel about themselves and how they are prisoners in their own body. 

                                 Resisting Media’s Mainstream Beauty Standards

This hashtag offers women the opportunity and hopes that beauty does not pertain to one size but multiple shapes, looks, and sizes. It encourages women that their body is beautiful and they shouldn't be ashamed of it. It inspires other young women and men to follow their steps. It's inspiring to see how social media and the digital sphere were once not a safe space for body positivity, but now through this hashtag, it has become a body positivity movement (22 WORDS STAFF). 

                                             Not Alone

Although Tess Holliday has started the movement, many other reputable women are continuing to fight the change of society’s beauty standards. Iskra Lawrence is a plus-sized model for Aerie who regularly promotes self-love and body positivity through social media. Ashley Graham is another plus-sized model that cultivates beauty goes beyond size through interviews and social media. Lastly, Olakemi is model and founder of the #PlusIsDiverse movement who promotes acceptance, love of all body types, and diversity.  

                                      Fat is a Feminist Issue

The #effyourbeautystandards movement opens the doors to so many issues that are wrong with society today. It signifies that fat is a feminist issue because fat women are an embodiment of what our patriarchal society insists that women should not be" (Brown, 2018). Fat women are considered second-class citizens and treated differently than those who are slimmer. For example, fat women lack in clothing options, seen as the second choice in employment, paid less, judged, and verbally harassed on the streets. To make the matter worse, they are considered to be "less desirable" to look at. Therefore, the hashtag movement is imperative because it provides women to have a collective voice especially since a woman's place in society has always been hidden or invisible. For centuries, a woman's place was in the kitchen cooking or cleaning the house. The hashtag embarks women to upheaval to societal expectations, and slowly change society's mindset.  

                                         Loving Oneself 

It's challenging to accept one's body when growing up in an Asian household and community. The rule was that if you were bigger than a size four, you were considered obese and ugly. I felt as if everyone were mocking me of my size whenever I went out. That's why this movement holds close to my heart. It's incredible to see how this movement and the power of social media can project confidence to young individuals. I'm envious of this woman's confidence being able to post this photo and loving her body. Hence, communities like these constructs modern individuals identities. It gives them purpose, love, and recognition.  

                                   Spreading The Issue

Since the launch of the #effyourbeautystandards in 2013, other hashtags have emerged following its’ step. In South Korea, the hashtag #escapethecorest was founded. It encouraged women to destroy their cosmetics and cut their long hair, in order to rebel against the country’s long-held ideals of beauty standards they’ve been subjected to in a male-dominated country (Lee, 2019). Another famous hashtag is the #Metoo movement. 

                                         Final Thoughts  

The hashtag #effyourbeautystandards makes a difference in our generation and changes long. It explores that there are more to society’s viewpoint on standard beauty. By changing society’s viewpoint, we open doors to self-love and greater forms of beauty standards for younger generations to appreciate and acknowledge. Also, it is a space allowing young individuals to feel beautiful. It’s amazing to see the relationships formed and encouragements are given to young women struggling with self-acceptance. However, there will always be counterattacks on this movement. Tess Holiday was attacked for promoting an unhealthy lifestyle, and there will be individuals that continue to fat-shame others online such as Canadian comedian Nicole Arbour. Nicole Arbour posted a video online claiming fat shaming is not a thing, but a concept made up by obese people (Hetter, 2015). However, it is crucial we overcome these negative connotations from networked counterpublics and strive for acceptance of all women of color, size, shape, and ethnicity.

                                           References 

Brown, Gillian. “Why Is Fat a Feminist Issue?” The Body Is Not An Apology, 21 Jan. 2018, thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/why-is-fat-a-feminist-issue/.

Gordon, Bryony. “'Eff Your Beauty Standards': Meet the Size 26, Tattooed Supermodel Who Is Changing the Fashion Industry.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 14 May 2016, www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/eff-your-beauty-standards-meet-the-size-26-tattooed-supermodel-w/.

Gordon, Bryony. “'Eff Your Beauty Standards': Meet the Size 26, Tattooed Supermodel Who Is Changing the Fashion Industry.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 14 May 2016, www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/eff-your-beauty-standards-meet-the-size-26-tattooed-supermodel-w/.

Hetter, Katia. “Fat-Shaming: Celebrities Battle It Out.” CNN, Cable News Network, 8 Sept. 2015, www.cnn.com/2015/09/06/entertainment/fat-shaming-nicole-arbour/index.html.

Lee, Seulki. “South Korean Women Ditch Makeup and 'Escape the Corset' in Rebellion against Ideals of Beauty.” The Japan Times, 2019, www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/02/22/asia-pacific/social-issues-asia-pacific/south-korean-women-ditch-makeup-escape-corset-rebellion-ideals-beauty/#.XMsC_5NKgWp.

News, Guardian. “South Korean Women Destroy Makeup (and Smash the Patriarchy).” YouTube, YouTube, 22 Nov. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=r80pp5qSlNo.

Ossola, Alexandra. “The Media's Effect on Women's Body Image.” Hamilton College, 1 Sept. 2010, www.hamilton.edu/news/story/the-medias-effect-on-womens-body-image.

Peoples, Lindsay. “How Tess Holliday Is Single-Handedly Changing Beauty Standards.” The Cut, 22 Nov. 2016, www.thecut.com/2016/11/how-tess-holliday-is-changing-beauty-standards.html.

22 WORDS STAFF. “These Instagram Models Are Leading the Body Positive Movement by Example.” 22 WORDS , twentytwowords.com/radical-body-positivity-is-taking-instagram-by-storm-and-its-incredibly-inspirational/.