Shis issue:

(Y Cutting the umbilical cord for national independence

CGE Talelo roku elU ale lecimxclarela Alicia

Ca Feber] aleligalleteKrs

And more!

Have your voice heard!
Contact: Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor
M opinions@theotherpress.ca

www. theotherpress.ca

 

‘T’m all about that bass’

» Not men’s opinions of my body

lloradanon Efimoff
Contributor

(CD oys like a little more
booty to hold at night.”

Tlove the song “All About That
Bass” by Meghan Trainor. It
has areally positive message.
For a long time, positive body
image has been a goal in fem-
inist communities, which I’m
all for. There have been many
celebrities celebrating their
curves, such as Lady Gaga, who
stated: “My boyfriend prefers
me curvier, when I eat andam
healthy and not so worried
about my looks, I’m happy.”

Christina Aguilera stated
something of the same ilk: “I’m
happy where I am, I have a boy-
friend that loves my body, I love
my body, my son is healthy and
happy. That’s all that matters.”

This embracing of not-ste-
reotypically “beautiful” bodies
is refreshing and hopeful,

: bodies. However, the fact that
: all three of these celebrities

: tie their love for their body to

: the men in their lives is highly
: ironic in the eyes of feminists.
: The fact that being curvy is

: only okay because men like

: itis the same thing as being

: skinny because men like it.

: Curvy or skinny body types

: being subject to male approval
: and acceptance illustrates the
: patriarchy in our society.

I’ve written before about

: apathy and how that may be

: a better option towards body

: image. Personally, I’ve been

: inrelationships with men

: who have wanted me to lose

: weight, gain weight, or stay

: the same. I’ve always been the
: happiest when my partners

: have kept their noses out of my
: appearance. The fundamental
: reason for this is because it’s

: my body. Viewing your body

: as beautiful because it’s func-
: tional and healthy is the most

because people should love their practical way to view this issue.

Obviously aesthetics are an

important part of many people’s
: partner-choices, and most

: wouldn’t deny that appearance

: is important to some extent.

: However, losing or gaining
weight because your partner

: wants you to is still submission

: to the same type of control.

Furthermore, this concept

merely exacerbates competi-

; tion regarding appearance in

: women. Ifit’s better to be curvy,
; are curvy women superior?

: This is a continuation of the

: “zero isn’t a size” movement

: that started last April. It’s nota

: matter of women doing it right,
: small, or big, it’s a matter of

: women doing it right regardless,
: because appearance isn’t the

: pinnacle of human existence.

: Anyone who tells you so is

; not someone you should want

: to associate with, let alone

: be ina relationship with.

“Cause every inch of

you is perfect, from the
: bottom to the top.”

 

 

Consumer competition

» Why ‘high-end’ brands are giving you a bland personality

 
  

Elliot Chan
. Opinions Editor
M opinions
@theotherpress.ca

e brag about the products
we own as if it was some
kind of accomplishment. As if
it added value to our lives. It
doesn't.
When people approach me,

eager to show off their expensive :
: people choose to use expensive

: products to separate themselves
: from the less fortunate, and that
: is the venom of consumerism.

watch, designer purse, or bold-
logo T-shirt, I feign excitement,
smile, and for a brief moment,
feel gracious at being in the
presence of something so

valuable. “Wow,” I exclaim, “you :
: you want people to know about
: your prosperity and wealth—

: and maybe your fabricated

: sense of style. You want people

: to know that you can afford a

: Versace bag, an Armani suit,

: and a pair of D&G leather shoes.
: You are, ina sense, better than

: them. That attitude to me isa

: little sickening, but it is true.

: The same way some people

: use cosmetics to appear more

: “beautiful,” others use luxury

must have worked really hard
and been very fortunate to earn
this luxury item. I’m sure glad

I have a successful friend like
you.” That feeling, however,
vanishes quickly—just like my
paycheque.

High-end products such as
designer brand fashion, luxury
vehicles, and expensive alcohol
fascinate me. I grew up ina
lower-middle class family where
less is more. All the same, my

: parents always strived for the

: best. When I went back-to-

: school shopping, my parents

: bought me Nike and Adidas.

: When we went out to celebrate
: my good grades, they would take :
: me toa fine dining restaurant.

: I'd have been satisfied with Joe

: Fresh and McDonald’s, yet I

: didn’t decline. Money didn’t buy
: happiness, but it was a great way :
: to motivate and celebrate. But

that is not always the case; some

If youre wearing a product
with a large logo, it’s because

: items to appear higher up on the :
: social hierarchy. :

[have a slight guilty

: pleasure watching someone
: purchase a counterfeit product

thinking it’s authentic. They

: saved money and they'll be

: happy fora while. Most people
: can't tell the difference between :
: a Chanel bag purchased on

Robson Street and the Chenel

Furthermore, many

: intimate relationships are

: based around expensive

: outfits and accessories. In our

: consumer society, a mate’s

: desirability is based upon the

: bling. Now, I ain’t saying she’s

: a gold digger, I’m just saying

: she looks fine in H&M, driving
: around ina Toyota Camry, and
: eating brunch at Costco. A

: relationship where lavishness

: isa prerequisite is a flawed one.
: And to think that someone

: is not good enough for you

: just b they don’t h
: bag purchased on Keefer Street. eee eae

: Sooner or later, those who own
: a Chenel bag will ultimately

: feel inferior. They would rather
: throw it away shamefully than

: continue using it as a practical

item. It’s true consumer tragedy. : owning a garment will change

our personality and make us

; more appealing, successful, and
: happy. Luxury items are short-

: term solutions, like drugs or

: alcohol; they don’t harbour any
lasting memories.

: unlimited credit spending and
: a gold-encrusted jumpsuit is

; rather offensive. It’s like trying
: to find love in a pile of money.

: designer brands, thinking that

: expensive products, choose to

: use that money for experiences

: with friends and family, charities
: for less fortunate, and your own

: personal growth. That'll impress
: me more than your stupid gold

: watch.

Now, I ain’t saying
she’s a gold digger,
I’m just saying she
looks fine in H&M.

We have become blinded by

Instead of spending on