The Basler Center for Physical Activity held Love Your Body Day, Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Advertisements that depict women in demeaning ways were hung up as possible reasons behind the scrutiny of the female body. One ad with an image of a full figured Barbie read, “There are 3 billion women who don’t look like supermodels, and only 8 who do.”
“It was important for me to do this because I think women are bombarded everyday in the media by ads that don’t represent you,” said Kristen Dickens, a graduate student in the Counseling Center. “It is important for women to realize that these are not normal ideals, real women across the U.S. do not look like this. … Some may say that things like body image in the media have no influence over them, but I say look at what your wearing, look at who your wearing it for.”
Dickens is apart of CAASV, or Campus Advocates Against Sexual Violence, a group that organized the event.
ETSU Student Health Services had a very interesting and “hands on” booth, a cardboard cutout of Angelina Jolie lay on the table, the point was to feel her molded breast to try to find possible cancerous lumps.
Wyeth Lawson worked this booth and pressed the importance of self breast exams every month. Handouts and a How to Breast Self-Exam were available.
The Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee had their table covered with pamphlets about various kinds of disorders and solutions. “With a booth like this people are more likely to take a brochure than to ask questions,” said Lee Hughes of Frontier Health.
“These pamphlets have information to get in touch with someone who can help, and if the individual is willing we can lead them in the right direction,” Hughes said.
Purelife Chiropractic’s taught any willing student about how they can have better posture, while a masseuse from Massage Therapy gave students five minute massages.
Dickens said, “My goal for the day is to emphasize loving your body not abusing it, and even if just one person gets it, than today was a good day.
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