Author Archive
Claire Higgins
Claire Higgins is a resident of northern New Jersey. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Finance at Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland. At the Mount she is an active member of Student Government Association holding positions as Advisory Board Student Liaison and Executive Board Treasurer. In her free time she enjoys going for runs and attending spin classes. After graduation, Claire hopes to continue serving the community around her
A Being Beyond Your Body
In previous issues we have talked about the fabulous Victoria’s Secret Angels — their careers, their confidence, their fun spirit. These beautiful and graceful Angels are who many women want to be like, afterall sexy confidence sells. With exotic backgrounds, they have exciting careers traveling around the globe to exotic shoots while being spokeswomen for their brand. However, the question can be asked if these size zero women are actually inspiring or deflating to the average woman? I believe the answer can be both at times. These successful Angels are inspiring women. However, looking beautiful is their job and what they spend hours doing. That being said, you as a normal woman most likely have different responsibilities. You have a demanding job, maybe a significant other, and maybe a family that all need your attention while trying to remember to save a little time for yourself. When you start to compare yourself to airbrushed models, we may run into some problems.
In a TEDTalk given by Cameron Russell titled “Image is Powerful”, this Victoria’s Secret model talks about image and models. She considers herself lucky because models are models simply because they won “the genetic lottery” and fit the mold or “legacy” that society has set in place.
In her short talk Cameron says “image is superficial” because the pictures we see in magazines and advertisements are not portraying the models themselves but rather “constructions” by photographers, makeup artists, and hair stylists building a certain image. After showing several photos of her from past shoots she says “that is not me” because it was an image created of her rather than a real portrayal of herself. Cameron contrasts pictures of her on the day of the photoshoot with what she was transformed into the day of the photoshoot. Her photo shoots produced images of a much older and more sexualized woman than the young woman she actually was at the time. So next time you start comparing yourself to anyone else, remember Cameron’s words about these created images: photos can play to our fantasies rather than our realities.
Weeks ago Victoria’s Secret released their re-engineered “Body” line, a part of their cotton underwear line meant for all shapes and sizes. The tag line was “You have never seen ‘Body’s’ like this”. However, while showing a diversity of skin tone, Victoria’s Secret did not show a diversity of body size.
Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty, which has been an ongoing effort for the past few years, can be contrasted with Victoria’s Secret’s approach. Dove can be thought of as the champion of the beauty of real women of all sizes. Their campaign picked up on a lack of self-esteem and a lack of positive body image among women. Understanding that there are naturally thin women out there, there are also naturally curvy women too. Instead of strictly size zero, Dove ads showed size four, six, and size twelve women.
However, dress sizes are all just numbers. You are more than a number that a retailer puts on you. The key lies in remembering to look beyond your body.As humans, we all HAVE a body but we ARE a soul. Your job is to foster your soul and spirit rather than solely the body. This really hit home to Janine Shepherd, an Australian Olympic-hopeful cross country skier. During a five hour training bike ride, she was hit by a truck and suffered life threatening wounds, broken bones, and a partially crushed spinal cord. In her TEDTalk, Janine talks about her recovery story. It was a battle between her mind and her body. Paralyzed from the waist down, the doctors surgically repaired her spinal cord but told her that she really would never walk again. As an athlete her body was everything to her. She asked herself if her life would ever have value again because she had lost all that had been of value to her. Sitting at home one day she was inspired by a plane flying overhead to become a pilot. Janine told herself, “If I can’t walk I might as well fly”. It was her inner drive and her unfailing spirit that drove her recovery and her new dream of being a pilot. Janine said, “My real strength never came from my body and although my physical capabilities have changed, who I am inside of me never changed“. She eventually regained mobility and passed her pilot’s test! After hearing her talk, I understood that there was no getting in her way and no stopping her lively spirit. Janine is such an inspiration to us all! In the time since her accident, Janine has come to understand the strength of her spirit, which she uses to empower others.
So just remember this for me: You are real. You are not a photographers “construction”. You are more than your dress size. You and your body have been through real challenges. You are a being with a special purpose. And lastly, you have great worth!
Magazines And Your Mental Health!
Every day standing in the checkout line or walking by a newsstand we encounter magazines. The glossy pages promise us solutions to problems we may not even know we had (yet are eager to fix such gaffes). Much contained between the cover pages is actually some form of advertising. Photoshopped celebrities line these covers offering us glamorous distortions of reality. But what is all of this doing to your mental health? Check out the link below to see what we uncovered!
Just Click on the PNG image below or Click here for Magazines And Your Mental Health! – PDF. Share it with your friends and remember confidence is the new sexy!
The Evolution of the Angels
If you have had the good fortune of catching the televised Victoria’s Secret fashion show recently then you have seen the large production featuring gorgeous Angels, intricate costumes, spectacular wings and celebrity musical acts. It has been rumored that the 2011 show costed $12 million. The next show seems to be an improvement over the previous years. But simply, it is a wonderful display celebrating femininity! Was the original show this elaborate and when did the first Angels walk the runway? Click the link to find out the origins of the Angels in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show! Just Click on the PNG image below or Click here for The Evolution of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show – PDF. Share it with your friends and strut your sexy stuff!
Sexy Milestones
America and her sexuality have had a colorful past. When did it all start? While many envision the 1960s as a time of awakening, it started earlier than that decade. It was just during the 1960s that the counterculture of the 1950s and before became more mainstream. Click the link below to see how early America actually experienced it’s stirrings! Just Click on the PNG image below or Click here for the Sexy Milestones – PDF version. Share it with your friends and raise some eyebrows!
Fun Ways To Stay Active
Think that hopping onto a boring stairmaster machine for an hour is the only way to torch those calories? Think again! A myriad of other fitness activities are just waiting for you! However exercise doesn’t need to be just you against the clock. It can also include you and the guided class. For those of you social beings who like to engage in group classes there are plenty of classes in the water or on land for you to enroll. Fitness classes are a great way to explore new paths while challenging yourself. So mix it up during your next workout and see the linked infographic for other exciting calorie-torching options! Just Click on the PNG image below or Click here for the Fun Ways To Stay Active – PDF Version. Share it with your workout buddy!
Yoga for Your Mind
Is your mind so fried from constantly being “on” thinking of a million and one things to be done throughout the day? The solution is yoga! While we know that yoga makes our limbs limber these poses also improve our mental flexibility. One aspect of yoga is completely clearing the mind focusing inward or on something simple such as breathing. As hard as this may be it is very beneficial to your frazzled mind. So take a little time out of your day to unwind before going to bed. In the linked infographic we have provided several poses for you to explore and de-stress your mind! Ommm……. Just Click on the PNG image below or Click here for the Yoga For Your Mind – PDF Version. Share it with your friends!
Super Foods for a Super YOU!
After the holidays or in preparation for a big event (such as bikini season), many go on a “detox”. Juicing is one way to go about this. As always there are healthy and unhealthy routes. A detox does not involve near starvation techniques or only drinking juice cocktail loaded with unnecessary sugars. Instead Dr. Gary Null offers in his book The Joy of Juicing dozens of healthy, satisfying, and filling recipes made with fresh ingredients. However not all of his recipes are for smoothies but even include salads, main dishes, and desserts! Many include the below listed 18 Super Foods. Each one packs multiple nutritious values and supports a healthier you! Just Click on the PNG image below or Click here for the Health Boosting Properties of 18 Super Foods – PDF Version. Share it with your friends!
Women And Antidepressants In English Speaking Countries
Not to be a “Debbie Downer” but let’s talk about depression. Recently there has been an increase in the volume of anti-depressant medications being prescribed to women. This is not just a local trend but rather a global trend particularly in English speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Women’s mental health has become a topic of discussion and doctors, in the above mentioned countries, follow similar instructional backgrounds while practicing in similar medical environments, where pharmaceutical industries and governmental regulatory agencies impact the prescriptions that doctors write. So, are you more at risk to be depressed because of your country of residence and language? Or rather is this a question of diagnosis and treatment due to similar medical mindsets? See the linked infographic to find the statistics of women and antidepressants. Just Click on the PNG image below or Click here for the Women And Antidepressants In English Speaking Countries – PDF version. Share it with the your friends and loved ones! 
Medicating Womanhood
While depression impacts the lives of men and women it has been found that women are more susceptible to depression than men. Also, women across the board are being prescribed more antidepressants. While mainly an issue for middle aged women, antidepressants are being prescribed to girls as young as the age of 12. When I was 12 none of the girls I played with were on medication for depression. However this begs the question are people just more easily overwhelmed these days? Are doctors over eagerly prescribing antidepressants? Or are women just becoming more open about their mental health? Check out these interesting stats! Just Click on the PNG image below or Click here for the Medicating Womanhood – PDF Version. Share it with the women (and men) in your life!
Special Thanks to Claudine Casabonne for the design and Christiane Kuehn for the research.
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Remember the Ladies – Famous Firsts In Law
Abigail Adams is famously known for writing to her husband John Adams during the Continental Congress in 1776: “I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could.” It seems that Mr. Adams did not listen to his wife and it was not until 1920 that American women were given the right to vote. However, this did not stop women from expressing themselves in other ways by becoming lawyers and running for various positions in office. Below are some famous firsts in representation for women beginning in 1869. Just Click on the PNG image below or Click here for the link to Famous First by American Women In Law – PDF Version. Share it with your friends! 
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