#Eurocentric ideals

[blackgirlslivingwell]

From Spanish Rule To Miss Universe: Why Some Filipinos Still Struggle With Colorism.

Over 400 years of colonization ingrained Eurocentric ideals glorifying lighter skin tones. Examining this legacy is key to understanding colorism's insidious impacts on Filipino society today. The backlash against Chelsea Manalo's win underscores how much more progress is needed.

[elbiotipo]

It's also funny that in Victoria 2, if you play as a developing nation outside of the great powers (say, Argentina) and if you implement liberal laissez faire economics, your economy goes to absolute shit. The only good way to play Victoria 2 is with state capitalism or a command economy, because otherwise the invisible hand of the market screws you.

If the Liberals get in charge of Argentina, it ruins the country for generations. 10/10 excellent realism.

[trans-rights-coastalmangoes]

if you as an artist are going to interpret the plant brothers as white you have to make them at least a little ugly. if you are making them white to make them look perfect/beautiful then i am hunting you for sport!!!!

[zzzzzzepis]

Genuinely mindboggling to see "x queer identity isn't oppressed" every six months for some new fucking group. I don't give a fuck about it they're all fucking queer and need support from a community that doesn't police them for having a confusing or complex identity. I think that some of you are like mentally puritan catholic schoolteachers masquerading as tumblrinas. Kill the cop in your brain or you're not welcome at pride either lol!

[stsapphos]

i cant process the fact that the united states doesnt even have direct elections

[jewishcissiekj]

wait why does older Omega look so different than Emerie Karr??? they're literally clones so????

[dughole]

it girls used to have beautiful big noses.. bella hadid’s original face you would do so well if this was 1969 ❤️

[homo-trashcanicus]

being a fan of (east) asian media is just white-knuckling and teeth-gritting your way through a "their body, their choice" breakdown every time the latest celebrity shows up with their whole face denatured like an egg

[moonfirebrides]

Lookism is prejudice or discrimination toward people who are considered to be physically unattractive. It occurs in a variety of settings, including dating, social environments, and workplaces.

[maastrichtiana]

lordship tied to land holdings and castle seats, that are run by the lord’s wife

i’m not a medievalist but the whole feudal gender thing in asoiaf is interesting because it really feels like the peak masculine ideal is being a lord which itself is gatekept by class and birth order within the upper class. so if you did not inherit your way into wielding systemic violence over others as a first son you as a second son have to compensate by being really really good at individual violence. but to only benefit from systemic violence without at all demonstrating skill in individual or systemic violence is a female trait. these people are insane

[onefleshonepod]

On Barbie

I'd like to share my thoughts on John’s choice to house Alecto in a body that looks like Hollywood Hair Barbie.

To the best of my recollection over the past year, I've seen several people claim that Barbie being a famously unattainable beauty standard for women and arguably a sex symbol was irrelevant to John's decision to make Alecto a Barbie lookalike, and that rather the main impetus for this decision of John’s was his trauma, gender non-conformity, internalized homophobia, and desire to return to the comfort of childhood. This argument posits that John's decision had little or nothing to do with patriarchy, misogyny, objectification of women, or impossible beauty standards placed on women by men.

I empathize with the above position to a certain extent — it's absolutely crucial to remember and consider in our analyses that John is a queer working-class Indigenous man.

But………....................

John is not a real person. He is a character written to advance plot, themes, and political commentary within a carefully crafted story.

If I'm Tamsyn Muir writing John 1:20 in Nona the Ninth, and the point I want to make about my character is specifically and only that he is struggling with self-doubt, trauma, gender non-conformity, internalized homophobia, and yearning for the comfort of home and childhood — and I want to say nothing about patriarchy and misogyny?

I'm not having him make the soul of the earth into a Barbie!

I'd be having him model Alecto after a completely different popular 1990s toy for girls, like a Polly Pocket, or Betty Spaghetti, or a Raggedy Ann doll, or another doll that doesn't carry the same connotations as Barbie. Or, hell, I’d be having John make Alecto look exactly like his mum, or his nan, or female Māori mythological figures from stories he must have heard from his nan in childhood, like Papatūānuku, or the first woman, Hineahuone, who was made from earth.

I'm not smarter or more creative than Tamsyn, and the above ideas are just the alternatives I thought of in five minutes that would have specifically symbolized John's personal trauma and nothing else.

But Tamsyn didn't do that. Tamsyn picked Barbie specifically. I think that's worth taking into consideration.

Let’s examine exactly what John says in John 1:20.

Hollywood Hair Barbie's physical appearance comes first in the list of reasons why she was his favourite, and her other characteristics come last. He lists two physical traits and one non-physical trait of hers. “My favourite was her old Hollywood Hair Barbie,” he murmured. “I loved her little gold outfit and her long yellow hair. She was the best. She got to have all the adventures.”

He discards as an option a model of a woman who doesn't conform to patriarchal, Eurocentric beauty standards specifically because of her appearance: “There was also a Bride’s Dream Midge, but Mum had cut Midge’s hair into this weird mullet.”

He chooses a blonde Barbie body that he can mould into and mentally map onto glamourized versions of women created by men through the ages. “I made you look like a Christmas-tree fairy … I made you look like a Renaissance angel … I made you Adam and Eve … Galatea. Barbie. Frankenstein’s monster with long yellow hair.”

Our famous cultural images of Renaissance angels are all idealized depictions of women made by men — Raphael, Titian, Albrecht Dürer, etc. Frankenstein's monster, a man loathed and discarded by his creator, is a more nuanced comparison... but the only thing John notes is that his version has long yellow hair.

I'm not even getting into the whiteness (or the plastic-ness) of it all, but three of John's comparisons here are specifically coded as white women considered beautiful by Eurocentric standards in the Western cultural imagination (Christmas tree toppers, Renaissance angels, and Barbie), and the others are often depicted as white.

Galatea specifically is such a telling comparison. This myth is the story of a man caging and controlling his idealized, beautiful female creation, which exactly parallels John’s goals with Alecto: “From my blood and bone and vomit I conjured up a beautiful labyrinth to house you in. I was terrified you’d find some way to escape before I was done.”

Given all of this, I genuinely think that John's choice of Barbie as a model for Alecto was intended to position John as a symbol of patriarchy, misogyny, and objectification of women, through both a political and religious lens. Tamsyn is way, way too smart to have not made a careful, considered, intentional choice here.

John didn’t make Alecto into a Māori goddess from his nan’s stories. He didn't make her into a cheerful Raggedy Ann. He made her into a beautiful, blonde Hollywood hair Barbie.

[fadetoblacked]

Big, Bold, Black

In a world increasingly aware of systemic injustices, we must question every aspect of our lives and how they contribute to or challenge these systems. One powerful yet often overlooked area where we can enact change is in our personal relationships. As a radical anti-racist and pro-Black activist, I believe it is essential to encourage young European women to date African men. This is not merely a matter of personal preference but a radical act of social justice.

Challenging Eurocentric Beauty Standards

For centuries, European beauty standards have dominated global perceptions of attractiveness, marginalizing and devaluing the beauty of African men. By choosing to date African men, young European women can challenge and deconstruct these oppressive standards. This act of love becomes a statement against the narrow definitions of beauty perpetuated by a Eurocentric worldview. Celebrating the beauty of African men is a step towards embracing diversity and dismantling deeply ingrained biases.

Promoting Cultural Exchange and Understanding

Dating African men offers an opportunity for profound cultural exchange. In a world where ignorance fuels racism, understanding and appreciating diverse cultures is a powerful antidote. Relationships between European women and African men can foster greater empathy and awareness. These relationships become a microcosm of what a more inclusive and understanding society could look like. Through love and connection, we can bridge gaps and foster unity.

Redressing Historical Injustices

The history of Europe’s interaction with Africa is marred by exploitation, colonization, and systemic racism. While individual relationships cannot undo this history, they can be acts of personal reparation. By choosing to date African men, European women make a conscious choice to stand against a history of oppression. This is not about fetishizing African men but about recognizing and valuing their humanity in a world that has often sought to dehumanize them.

Supporting Black Empowerment

In many European societies, African men face significant socioeconomic challenges due to systemic racism. By forming relationships with African men, European women can contribute to the social and economic empowerment of Black communities. These relationships can break down barriers and create networks of support that extend beyond the personal to the community level. It’s about building solidarity and working together towards a more just society.

Rejecting Racial Prejudices

Deciding to date African men is a powerful rejection of the racial prejudices that persist in society. It is a declaration that love and human connection transcend the artificial boundaries of race. Young European women who choose to date African men are making a bold statement against racism. They are choosing to see and value people for who they are rather than the color of their skin.

A Personal and Political Statement

Every relationship is political. By choosing to date African men, European women make a personal and political statement. They declare their commitment to anti-racism and social justice. These relationships become symbols of resistance against the racist structures that seek to divide us. They represent a vision of a world where love, respect, and equality are not just ideals but lived realities.

In conclusion, young European women have a unique opportunity to contribute to social justice through their romantic choices. By choosing to date African men, they can challenge Eurocentric beauty standards, promote cultural understanding, redress historical injustices, support Black empowerment, and reject racial prejudices. This is about more than individual relationships; it’s about creating a world where love and justice go hand in hand. Let us be bold in our love and unwavering in our commitment to a just and equitable society.

[blackexcellence]

Welcome to Black Excellence 365, where we celebrate all things Black and Excellent every day of the year. This month, for March, we will be taking a look at a new theme and source of pride & expression: Hair ✂️.

This month is all about hair, and its importance to Black style, culture, music, history, politics, and, most of all, Black Excellence. Black hair is an essential part of the Black experience. You name it, we’ll look at, explore, and celebrate it: cornrows, box braids, natural coils, knotless braids, goddess braids, twists, pixie crops, locks, wavy hair, crochet braids, and everything in between. Black hair goes hand-in-hand with every aspect of Black life and touches every corner of the world. Care for Black hair is a labor of love ❤️and a long, long process that involves washing, detangling, combing, oiling, braiding, twisting, and decorating the hair, which creates not just a sense of beauty but honors its spiritual power. And this legacy lives on today across Black life. In the 60s, the Afro was a big expression of Black power, pride, connection, and revolution popular with artists, performers, youth, and activists. Some artists would use their hair as an expression of art, as they do today, while young Black Americans would ‘fro their hair to emulate the style of the civil rights heroes like the Black Panthers and convey Black pride, as pioneered by the Queen, Angela Davis. Since that time, Black hair has become a symbol of celebration, a reminder of our roots, and a call to embrace heritage while politically rejecting Eurocentric ideals. Today, the Natural Hair Movement is carried with pride and power. Black hair has always been political — in the same vein, in 2019, The Crown Act (sign the petition|email your legislator) was passed as a starting point to support Black Folx in their appreciation of their hair — their CROWN 👑. Whatever the period, whatever the style, It is all Black Excellence and is here to be celebrated 24/7. 

But BE365 is nothing without you: so POST your favorite hairstyles, iconic Black cuts, shapes, and styles, and your cutting-edge hairdressers and stylists who turn Black hair into art, and Black Excellence. And don’t forget to tag your content with #blackexcellence365 for the chance to be featured. And last but not least, join us for our celebration and of the very best in Black hair of every shape and every style. Make sure you join in, follow, and smash that share button using the tag #BlackExcellence365. 

Welcome to March in #BlackExcellence365 ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽!

[entropy-sea-system]

The body:

it somehow doesn't completely look like the body's face, and we have highlights in those colors on the lower 2/3 of our hair

some headmates' ideal forms :

Firelight:

Hyacinth/Amethyst:

Rift/Sonic/Minsaram:

Ash:

starting a tag game cause i'm bored and i hate my notifications :D

WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE IRL

WHAT U WANNA LOOK LIKE

picrew: here!

tagging @random-doctor-on-the-internet @cataperat @discoveredreality @ladykiller-yt and @midnights-dragon

[fanghaunt]

Do you have any tips on how to render or anatomy? Specifically furry anatomy.

i dunno how to make this specifically furry but yes!

studying the forms and shapes of the human body is the best way to figure out how form and shading works. what i use to study is this figure drawing tool which is pretty good substitute for a figure drawing class if you dont have access to one

and then for references, i have a copy of the book "anatomy for sculptors" (i think theres a pdf version online somewhere but idk). iiiii wouldnt 100% recommend Buying that one bc while it does have useful information theres a lot of eurocentric/straight sized features described as "ideal" instead of being like. actually diverse information. but i do think there is good stuff in there besides that

another reference i use is the app "magic poser" for ipad. i paid the $10 or whatever it is for the extra features, its worth it

and finally, here's my massive pinterest board of pose references i use for inspiration

Studying this stuff will make it easier to draw and render whatever u want, including however u want to draw furry bods!

[doberbutts]

Can you please explain what you meant by clothes not being meant for black men's bodies?

Much like how many black women are not built like the idealized body white clothing designers think are "ideal range", neither are black men. (And it's my personal experience that black women, whether cis or trans, usually have exponentially better luck shopping specifically at stores/within brands who cater to and are run by black women- prior to transitioning the clothes that fit me the best in the women's section were black brands or from black stores, and I know this is true for a significant portion of the women in my family as well as most of my black trans friends who are women or shop the women's)

Not in a "black men are intrinsically different from white men" manner but in a "clothing designers in this country are by and large looking at a eurocentric idealized standard that many white people don't even qualify for let alone black people whose measurements are even less likely to match up with said eurocentric standards"

I am the only black person in my family that can easily shop clothes without trying them on or ordering specifically from custom stores or black-owned businesses. Everyone else, regardless of gender, cannot.