New member: Just saying hi

FeministJaz

Hello everyone,
I am a dedicated feminist and PhD student from Montreal, Quebec Canada. I am also very much into health, nutrition and fitness. As an anti-sizist, anti-racist, queer and pro-fat activist I just wanted to say thanks for creating a safe, open and non-oppressive space that allows individuals to share their own stories of being in their own skin no matter what our fitness/health goals and motivations are.

In solidarity,
Jaz

jessiekanga

Hi There-

Rock on! I only joined MFP in September, and found this group. I have to confess... it's been a pretty quiet one. I hope that changes with a few more visits. I wonder if some of the "founding mothers" abandoned it when it didn't immediately gain momentum. In any event, I am here, a fairly passionate feminist who's lived in the violence against women movement my whole life, and am hoping to explore a relationship with my own health, body, and food without all the sexist, sizist, etc stereotypes. It's definitely a winding road.

Good luck, and welcome aboard!

FeministJaz

Hi hi, jessiekanga!

Yes, perhaps the founding mothers did move on. Nonetheless, I am super thrilled to find such a group regardless of the activity that ensues. I am also part of ending all forms of violence against women movement...among many many other movements. I like to keep my hands in all sorts of revolutions, you know?

In a slightly different vein, I have been taking up some yoga. Yoga is quite the commodified, glamourized and eroticized fitness practice taking over the health world. I have tried out some classes in Montreal Quebec, Canada where I love and noticed how elite or bourgeois many of these Yoga Centres and classes are. Recently my partner emailed me a link to some feminist-Yoga practitioners in Vancouver, B.C. Canada and I it really spoke to me. So, dear feminist comrade, here is the link so you can read if you like and maybe we can get some fiery-passionate and political dialogue going on this group....yes?

http://moonlitmoth.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/with-best-intentions-yoga-gentrification-and-solidarity-in-vancouvers-downtown-eastside/

I will be in touch,
Always in sol,
Jaz

jessiekanga

I did read the article, and thank you. Oddly, I never thought about the privilege side of yoga before, though I have thought about it in terms of things like meditation, etc. But I like the article and the way it dissects dominant assumptions about who is in need, in need of being lifted (changed) and why. It reminds that without truly listening first, our "product" may be irrelevant to those we are "selling" it to, and in fact unconsciously validate oppression and stereotypes. Thanks for sharing!!!

FeministJaz

I agree. I really liked the critique of 'helping those in need' as well. I think I needed to read this article in checking my positions of privilege when engaging in fitness regimes and such.....oh how I never stop seeing the importance of self-reflexviity. I am glad you liked me sharing this article! Have a good day, jessiekanga!

TriciaMaina

Hey there!
My name is Tricia and I'm actually getting back into the swing of things on here. I'm 23 and heading off to law school in St. Paul, MN in a few months. Samoan, queer, feminist, socialist. I've done a fair amount of organizing as an undergrad and have always been sad to see people who are supposed to be 'radical' and 'progressive' degrade and shame fat bodies. So I'm glad that this group exists and hope to liven it up a bit
Great to meet you all!

jessiekanga

Hi Tricia-

Welcome aboard... or rather... welcome back. Oh my... Samoan, queer, feminist AND socialist! You're like... a quadruple threat:) Okay, so I used to play basketball. When we were in position to either shoot, dribble, or pass, we would be called a "triple threat." You just up'd the anti. Add law school and you'll be simply unstoppable.

I hear you about the body shame thing. I found it really hard to take responsibility for myself and my health for a long time, for a million reasons, but in part because of my righteousness that society first "makes" us this way... and then shames us for it. But ultimately the person that hurt was me, so now I'm trying to figure out how to reclaim my health, my body, and not buy into the shame. I'm learning that it's so much easier said than done, but I'm working on it.

I look forward to getting to know you. Welcome to my quirky, corny (and also lesbian) little world. Glad to be in yours:)

AnarchistFitness

Hi Tricia

It's really good to meet you!

jessiekanga

AnachistFitness I totally did your name!!!

AnarchistFitness

How did you do that?

jessiekanga

How did you do that?

okay, profound typo... totally DIG your name:) sorry!

inthebigmuddy

I'd like to give a shout out to this tiny, tiny space where we are able to take seriously realities about health in a context where feminism is largely unknown or outright rejected. Returning after a hiatus here...

jessiekanga

I'd like to give a shout out to this tiny, tiny space where we are able to take seriously realities about health in a context where feminism is largely unknown or outright rejected. Returning after a hiatus here...

Welcome back!!! So glad you've returned!!!

reallifealien

i wish this place was more active..

jessiekanga

I'm with you!!! Where do you need us to begin?

Metallux

I love this group is here! Hello--just signed up for mfp last week. I have been interested in fitness, health, food, and working out for a couple years, but slacked off for a while last year as life got completely overwhelmingly busy.
I also hope this group is/becomes an active one.

jessiekanga

Hey, welcome aboard. It is a great forum when folks talk, a nice acceptance zone that's pretty aware of all the ways we need to shake old messages out of our head to get back to ourselves. If there are ways I can be there for you, I'm here!

adproximumconkate

Hello Group!

Just wanted to introduce myself: I'm an MA student living in Switzerland, a country where body acceptance isn't so very common in the larger sizes (like myself), and women got the right to vote in all counties some time in the early 1990s. When I go out for a run, I'm either jeered at for being too large, or whistled at for being a woman in public (ghasp!). I'm hoping an online, feminist support community can help me shape up and be some moral support, and I hope I can bring something to the table myself.

jessiekanga

Hello Group!

Just wanted to introduce myself: I'm an MA student living in Switzerland, a country where body acceptance isn't so very common in the larger sizes (like myself), and women got the right to vote in all counties some time in the early 1990s. When I go out for a run, I'm either jeered at for being too large, or whistled at for being a woman in public (ghasp!). I'm hoping an online, feminist support community can help me shape up and be some moral support, and I hope I can bring something to the table myself.

Hi there!!! Welcome aboard... so glad you found us. This Is a remarkable quiet little forum, yet we exist, and many of us have also friended each other to stay in touch even when the forum is quiet. Wow, early 1990's... so hard to continue to take in how much work there remains to do. Good for you for getting out there, running anyway, and doing this for you. Welcome!

lsmsrbls

Welcome to the group! That is so amazing that you continue to run despite what the jerks might do to try to dissuade you. I think that you've already brought something to the table by sharing your story. That is inspiring!