whynotshesaid:

I wrote this and I’m kind of proud of it so I’m sharing.

http://fitandfeminist.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/what-happens-when-the-pursuits-of-skinny-and-strong-collide/

Hey, so, I really love Caitlin’s Fit and Feminist blog, like, a lot because she is SO GOOD at articulating aspects of fitness and feminism that I feel like are on the tip of my tongue but I haven’t quite wrapped my head around.

I’ve seen this “Strong is the New Skinny” slogan on lots of Crossfitter’s t-shirts, etc, and while I felt like I understood and agreed (partly) with the sentiment, it always rubbed me the wrong way for some reason I couldn’t really figure out. I always assumed it had to do with my knee-jerk negative reaction to the word “skinny” but after reading Caitlin’s post this morning, I realize it’s much more than that, and I think she nailed it. She says:

“We don’t need a new ‘skinny.’ We don’t need a new beauty standard, nor do we need yet another physical ideal hanging over our every thought and move like a little black cloud of doom.”

That statement made me say “Yes! yes yes!” outloud as I was reading. I pretty much have that feeling every time I read one of her posts, actually. 

I was talking with my physical therapist yesterday about the general misconceptions and weirdness about what it means to be physically fit, and he was talking about how abs and biceps—two of most coveted areas to seek muscle definition—are actually pretty useless muscles. Glutes, lats, hamstrings—these are the places that actually cultivate strength and power…. 

Anyway, thanks for being so thoughtful and articulate, Caitlin!