Resources
We have a big appetite for all things that support a healthy identity and body-image, so we?ve compiled our favorite self-lovin? resources right here.
BOOKS
Feed yourself some inspiration with these great insightful books.
Here are some of our favorite books about body image?from the educational to the motivational.
A Hunger So Wide and So Deep
Becky Thompson
A multiracial view of women's eating disorders. Through interviews with women from a range of cultural backgrounds, Thompson takes a rare and vital look at the influence of ethnicity, assimilation, abuse and trauma on women of color's quiet struggle to feel at home in their bodies.
Body & Soul
Linda Villarosa
A comprehensive health and wellness guide tailored to African-American women, by former Essence editor Linda Villarosa.
Body Outlaws: Young Women Write About Body Image & Identity
Ophira Edut
The first-ever multicultural body image anthology, by site found Ophira Edut. Twenty-eight young women and two men reveal a world where bodies come in al their many-splendored shapes, sizes, colors and textures. In doing so, they expand the national dialogue about body image to include race, ethnicity, sexuality and power?issues that, while often overlooked, are intimately linked to how women feel about their bodies.
The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls
Joan Jacobs Brumberg
Through the lens of girls' diaries throughout the 20th century, Brumberg captures the way teenage girls have fixated on their bodies, making appearance into a "project."
Deal With It! A Whole New Approach To Your Body, Brain and Life As a gURL
Esther Drill, Heather McDonald & Rebecca Odes
A new-generation "Our Bodies, Ourselves," this frank, funky gem from the creators of the website gURL.com combines must-know facts, cool illustrations, and excerpts from girl site members' actual e-mail conversations.
The Beauty Myth
Naomi Wolf
The Beauty Myth exposes the media, advertisements and the cosmetic industries for creating an unattainable beauty standard that leaves women hating their bodies and undeservedly disappointed with themselves. A great book to read if you feel bad about yourself everytime you open a magazine.
The Male Body: A New Look at Men in Public and in Private
Susan Bordo
A captivating look at how media, society and family have shaped men's body image.
Rethinking Thin
Gina Kolata
New York Times science writer Kolata takes a unique look at the diet industry and genetics, debunking myths about weight loss.
No Fat Chicks
Terry Poulton
For losing 65 pounds in six months, Terry Poulton was once the subject of a magazine cover story. She destroyed her gall bladder in the process, finally realizing that the problem wasn't her body, it was the diet industry. No Fat Chicks tells her tale and gives compelling reasons to ditch Jenny Craig and feel good at any size.
Am I Thin Enough Yet?
Sharlene Hesse-Biber
A look at the economic and social pressures that cause women to be obsessed with the pursuit of thinness.
Deadly Persuasion: Why Women and Girls Must Fight the Addictive Power of Advertising
Jean Kilbourne
Tired of scantily-clad women advertising alcohol and tobacco? Jean Kilbourne is. In this interesting-but-not-snoozy look at the advertising industry, she argues that attitudes are more influenced by advertising than people think. An engaging, informative read.
Big Fat Lies
Glen A. Gaesser, et. al.
An exercise physiologist challenges the conventional wisdom that excess body fat poses a health risk, and presents scientific evidence of the benefits of some body fat.
Such a Pretty Fat
Jen Lancaster
In this hilarious, messily honest memoir, Lancaster tries to lose weight through dieting and discovers her own truth instead.
Whatever It Takes: Women on Women's Sport
Joli Sandoz & Jobi Winans
The first-ever anthology by women, about women's sports. Contributors include coaches, athletes (pro and non), tomboys, and more.
Fat!So?
Marilyn Wann
An informative, insightful and fun book that leads the way to loving your body, whatever your size.
Fat History: Bodies and Beauty in the Modern West
Peter N. Stearns
A thorough historical look at the way ads, doctors, and media gave women schizophrenic messages about body size throughout the entire 20th century.
Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom
Christiane Northrup
A definitive mind-body wellness book that covers everything from nutrition to fertility to holistic healing.
Our Bodies, Ourselves
Boston Women's Health Collective
The must-have book for any woman who wants to understand her body inside and out. First published in 1980, its 25-year anniversary edition was released in 2005 with comprehensive new information.
The Fat Girl's Guide to Life
Wendy Shanker
A hysterically funny, irreverant and real look at how to live happily in the skin you're in.
Going Hungry: Writers on Desire, Self-Denial, and Overcoming Anorexia
Kate M. Taylor
A collection of multicultural women's experiences with eating disorders -- at last, the silence is broken.
Generation Extra Large
Lisa Tartamella
A scientific and sociological look at the rise in obesity among children in America and worldwide.
Feed Me: Writers Dish About Food, Eating, Weight and Body Image
Harriet Brown
Contains an essay by AdiosBarbie.com's own Ophira Edut.
Organizations
Heal from body image issues with these organizations that are here to help.
Needs support or helpful information? These organizations promote healthy body image, address eating disorders and open dialogue on important self-esteem issues.
American Anorexia Bulimia Association
Resources, facts, and where to get help for an eating disorder.
Check them out at: www.aabainc.org
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)
Facts and resources on anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders.
Check them out at: www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
About-Face
This cool San Francisco group combats distorted images of women in the media by giving popular ads a "facelift" and offering body-positive workshops and programs for girls.
Check them out at:www.about-face.org
National Love Your Body Day
The NOW Foundation sponsors this annual day of body activism. Get information and find out how to participate.
Check them out at: loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org
NAAFA
The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) site is chock full of legal, health and size acceptance organizing info. Check out photos from their "Million Pound March."
Check them out at: www.naafa.org
Body and Soul Boosting Buys
Big Beautifuls
Calendars, cards and paintings by artist Kristine Paton depicting beautiful, bountiful women.
Check 'em out: www.bigbeautifuls.com
Party In My Pants Cloth Menstrual Pads
Sporting the outrageous acronym "P.I.M.P.," these fashion-forward cloth menstrual pads help you flow in eco-friendly style.
Check 'em out: www.partypantspads.com
Vinnie's Tampon Cases
Know your flow! Tired of your 'pons getting crushed in your purse? Let Vinnie's Tampon Case protect your assets during that time of the month.
Check 'em out: www.vinnieangel.com
The Anti-Panti
Anti-panti is the answer to all this underwear nonsense...thongs, g-strings, low-riders, briefs, boy-cut, bikini--the list never ends. With anti-panti you don't have to choose. Antipanti is an adhesive-backed cotton disc that sticks to the inside of your pants and eliminates the need to wear underwear.
Check 'em out: www.antipanti.com
Dolls Like Me
Dolls are where girls get early lessons about self-image and identity. When people have told me that "Barbie's just a doll," I've argued that she's a metaphor for a social predilection toward whiteness, and the privileges that go along with it. Girls of color can suffer from an identity distortion when they don't see images of themselves represented in popular culture and the media. There's a self-esteem issue here.
Dolls Like Me is a toy retailer with a conscience. They provide better books, toys and baby gifts that accurately represent today's children.
Check 'em out: www.dollslikeme.com
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