Today, women are encouraged to set up an indulgence party or stage a “real women beauty pageant” as part of the sixth annual “Love Your Body Day” sponsored by the National Organization for Women Foundation.
According to the NOW Web site, the day originated in 1998 to speak out against advertisements and images of women that are harmful, offensive, disrespectful and demeaning.
The 2003 installment of Love Your Body Day focuses on cosmetic surgery and how people allow outside forces tell them how to look.
“Pressure from the media, fashion and cosmetics industries to conform to rigid, unrealistic ideals of beauty causes many women to spend large amounts of money on drastic and often dangerous surgeries,” said Karen Johnson, NOW executive vice president, in a press release. “We encourage you to place special emphasis on the harms of cosmetic surgery this year in your Love Your Body Day actions.”
NOW’s objective is to have women believe in the way they look. The organization suggests not limiting the LYBD activities to just that day.
Julie Hupperich, LSU Student Health Center associate director, said in years past the group Advocates for Better Body Image sponsored events on the day, but since the group has disbanded there are no sponsored events on campus for this year.
“The goal was to promote healthy body image and have people feel comfortable in their own skin,” Hupperich said.
Students not belonging to NOW can still get involved in the day’s activities even though there is no sponsored activity on campus.
The NOW Web site lists several things women can do to obtain the full experience of a Love Your Body Day.
They can host an “Indulgence Party” in which guests are encouraged to wear whatever makes them feel good and serve delicious, decadent foods or silly snacks without the guilt. Or stage a “Real Women Beauty Pageant” that does not pit women against each other and allows them to perform with just natural beauty.
For more information on the day or how to become involved in it next year please check out the NOW Web site at www.now.org.