WTF: SEX & BODY POSITIVITY

Written By Yari Blanco

WTF (WOMEN TO FOLLOW) will be a monthly series where we'll list out a few females who are out here leading the way in topics TGM is covering. This month our theme is Sex & Body Positivity and these women (you'll see as you scroll) are simply bad ass when it comes to these two topics. They have no qualms about who they are and what they bring to the table, and let's face it- we all need a little encouragement when it comes to owning ourselves. 

Every day our government (and the antiquated world) tries to push the agenda that says that women shouldn't be allowed to own their bodies or their sexual choices. WTF (what the fuck) is up with that? We know change is happening as more and more of us stand up and speak out... but even if you're not ready to do that yet, the mere act of secretly buying a yoni egg or having a naked Sunday at home is an act of resisting the b.s. others want us to buy into.

So don't feel pressured to to grow hair under your armpits all summer long (but if you wanna go forth!). The beauty of this revolution, is that you get to CHOOSE how you want to revolt. 

Okay! That's my spiel. Now check out these ladies and follow away! 

Instagram post by DASCHA POLANCO * Mar 13, 2017 at 8:37pm UTC

21.1k Likes, 158 Comments - DASCHA POLANCO (@sheisdash) on Instagram: "To the left to the left... being art. #ismellgood #selflovery #mia"

Sometimes all you need is a little coffee and some scissors . *NEW* @nowrongwaymovement T-shirt now available in sizes S-4X . Get your shirts and don't be afraid to add your own personal touch, like I did, and share using #NoWrongWay 🖤😘✂️ .

9,989 Likes, 70 Comments - Denise Bidot (@denisebidot) on Instagram: "Sometimes all you need is a little coffee and some scissors . *NEW* @nowrongwaymovement T-shirt now..."

in the face of racism, sexism, sex-negativity, misogyny, & shame, I will love myself fiercely. (this is not for you.) #sexuallyliberatedwoman #radicalsoftnessasaweapon #sextingmyself #mybodyisnotoffensive

611 Likes, 17 Comments - EV'YAN WHITNEY (@evyan.whitney) on Instagram: "in the face of racism, sexism, sex-negativity, misogyny, & shame, I will love myself fiercely...."

when life feels too full remember there are galaxies within you 🌌 #illustratedtruths #zinesrasquache #pussylove

242 Likes, 5 Comments - francis (@girasoulll) on Instagram: "when life feels too full remember there are galaxies within you 🌌 #illustratedtruths..."

Don't wait for the world to be ready for yo shine. Just fuckin shine. #effyourbeautystandards

7,921 Likes, 219 Comments - Lizzo (@lizzobeeating) on Instagram: "Don't wait for the world to be ready for yo shine. Just fuckin shine. #effyourbeautystandards"

I took this last November, in a moment of celebration for finally finding pants that fit both my waist and hips. This celebration was cut short when enough ppl reported it for @instagram to take it down. Usually I wouldn't address this- but here's the thing: I'm covered from head to toe, and yet my picture was seen as "inappropriate" enough to get deleted. My whole life I've struggled w/ body image issues & only in recent years have I come to appreciate my curvy body. Being a curvy Muslim woman hasn't been a easy journey. I've been made aware my whole life that my body takes up too much space and evokes negativity from mean aunties and men alike. If my hips weren't as wide, would my picture have ever been taken down? Probably not. This is the double standard in the Muslim community, as well as beyond the Muslim community. Curvy is tacitly seen as immodest-- sexualized by default-- so my photos as a curvy hijabi are consumed and seen as obscene. For centuries now, men have been policing women on how they should act, dress, speak, etc. and this incident is just another example. I don't believe in comparing myself to other women, because they're not my competition, but the harsh reality is that it's easier to be a slimmer hijabi wearing this same outfit. I'm tired of being told I shouldn't wear certain things because I'm not a size 4-6, a size range I haven't fit in since elementary school. Growing up I never saw anyone that looked like me in the media and I definitely didn't see a black, curvy, hijabi-- and still haven't to this day. Representation is important to me. Seeing women like Serena Williams, Ashley Graham, etc., feel beautiful in their skin is a inspiration to all in a world that tells women the opposite. I come from a community where ppl who look like me are not visible and are constantly shamed. This is my body & I'm not hiding it anymore to make others comfortable. Love yours 💓

2,578 Likes, 375 Comments - Miski (@musegold) on Instagram: "I took this last November, in a moment of celebration for finally finding pants that fit both my..."

#Stoptellingwomentosmile for @ArtinAdPlaces. Happy to contribute to this dope project that's replacing ads with artwork. Photo by @lunapark

1,542 Likes, 24 Comments - Tatyana Fazlalizadeh (@tlynnfaz) on Instagram: "#Stoptellingwomentosmile for @ArtinAdPlaces. Happy to contribute to this dope project that's..."

post image by: Shanita Sims

Yari Blanco
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