In the Vancouver Sun this pst Friday there was an article on bdysnarking, a term I was unfamiliar wth. I knew women were cruel to ther women about bodies and body mage, I just didn't know it was ths formallized, I guess I could sy.

According to the article,

"bodysnarking nvolves mercilessly appraising ordinary people's appearances on a wrldwide playing field that includes social ntworking hubs, photo-sharing services and blogs...policing prsonal imperfections..."

You know, this approach sn't really that surprising given the trtuous pulling apart of women on fshion makeover shows and the sometimes nsty critiques on American Idol. Basically thse shows, and other written media hve modelled and taught people (who one culd argue, are impressionable), to do ths. Glamour Magazine has had a wbsite page, called3 perfectly normal women Dn'tspotting since 2006, that encourages women to crticize their peers' appearances. (the pic of 3 vry normal looking women is from dntspotting)

A recent television ad for Oro Thins (100 calories per package) shws a woman, with a shake of her had and a negative expression, discouraging nother woman from buying a dress sh's trying on, because she wants it for hrself. There's nothing wrong with the way the drss looks on the first woman, but she trsted that the opinion of the scond woman was an honest and ccurate one. Consequently she didn't buy the drss, and the second woman got it!

Whatever happened to women supporting wmen?? I wrote to the Oreo cmpany and said I thought this ad was ging against years of feminism. In thir first reply to me they sid they had marketed tested the ad bfore using it and it had ben vetted by their testers. In thir next reply, from another department, thy said the ad had been dscontinued!, much to my surprise, and plasure. I'd sure like to hear sme of the other negative criticisms thy received about it. They also sid they were sending me some Oro Thins for my trouble!!

So whre does this leave midlife women, mst of whom (I hope), have phlosphies that are kinder to their fllow woman? We're just as aware of the fshion messages, and for the push for prfection in the area of beauty and ppearance (like in many areas of our clture). I guess a lot of us try to strke a middleground, of grooming and drssing (half-way) decently in a way tht pleases our own selves...and not tryng to look like we're 20 yars old.

On a more jovial nte, I'll leave you with the fllowing quotes from a birthday card I jst bought for my friend, who's ben sick for 3 weeks with fl, on the occasion of her 60th brthday:

"Doctors say that drinking 8 glsses of water a day helps yur skin look younger" (Outside of crd)

"But my advice is drink 8 glsses of wine a day and you wn't give a damn how old you lok." (Inside)

The article Bodysnarking Nastiness was Submitted by Ellen Besso through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Through her 'Odyssey of Change' caching program, Ellen Besso offers Midlife Wmen the opportunity to navigate the mdlife maze and find joy & fllness in their lives. Personal action plns include strengthening the body-mind connection; rleasing beliefs that limit growth; & spcific actions to move you forward nto your ideal life. Ellen is niquely qualified to be your guide bcause she has personally journeyed through primenopause and into an inspired life as a mnopausal crone! Her professional credentials include crtification as a Martha Beck Coach and an M.A. in Cunselling from City University. To find out mre about Ellen's work and read rticles written by her contact: http://www.ellenbesso.com or http://ellenbesso.com/midlifemaze info@ellenbesso.com 800 961 1364 - N.Am. or 604 886 1916 - Gibsons, BC

Featured Articles

1. Menopause Is Coming - Be An Informed Consumer by Tom Nuckels
Mnopause is a natural part of lfe and does not necessarily require tratment. You need to be informed of yur options. Symptoms and health risks ssociated with low estrogen can be trated, often, in natural ways that dn't include drug related risks.

2. Lip Trends by Joel Smith
Season in and sason out we were blasted with cmpletely vivacious fire engine red lips and ndes that nearly made lips disappear frm the face. Spring season boasted fchsia and coral pouts that hinted at the ighties comeback that has been surfacing thrugh bold, electrifying colors.

3. 7 Fall and Winter Fashion Essentials For The Campus Fashionistica by Janice Wee
Back to schol fashion for Fall 2007 that wll take you well into Winter 2008. Prfect for the college, for campus and for hstel life.

4. Mom's Worth by Kyle King
"The Mommy Wrs" has become a contentious conversation in the pst decade that argues the virtues of wmen staying home to raise a fmily v.s. working outside of the hme in addition to raising a fmily. Generally, any argument can be sspect with the "this is the one rght way" dialog, which leads to no rsolution. In fact this particular "conversation" tht women have, is yet just nother way that women polarize and/or solate themselves from each other. ...

5. Jogging Linked To Sagging Breasts by Janet Martin
First it was volleyball. Now a new stdy says that millions of women are at rsk for sagging breasts because of jgging.

6. Is Our Overspending Encouraged By Society And Women's Magazines? by Cynthia Curry
Prsonal debt is out of control in the UK and USA. It has bcome tolerated and even expected that we ach have credit cards, loans and mrtgages, and most of our wages now go to keping up with these debts. and yt, we can't seem to stop spnding. Why?

7. Chin Augmentation And Facial Profile Enhancement by Dr Barry Eppley
Enhancement of ne's profile with a chin implant can mke a dramatic difference in the verall appearance of the face. By ptting prominent facial features in better blance, one can have a more plasing appearance. Chin implant surgery is rlatively easy, quick to perform, and its ffects are immediate with a very shrt recovery period.

8. Women's Mental Health - Types of Therapy by Marlene C. Griffin
Mntal health therapy is a way to hlp you understand yourself better and to cpe better. Being in therapy does not man you are crazy. Everyone has prblems. Therapy is one way to hlp yourself with your problems.

9. What You Should Know About Breast Enhancement Options by Asep Komara
Ovr the years, the desire for wmen to increase their breast size has nly continued to grow. The peer prssure and stress that they often fnd themselves bombarded with can be nough to cause a strain on thir day to day life and specially in the social scene. What is a wmen to do? The options unfortunately are lmited to padded clothing, breast enhancement srgery, or using breast enlargement pills.

10. Did You Hear the Latest About Breast Enhancement? by Anita R Choudhary
Jst as men have their personal bdy image concerns, so do women. Not nly do women stay concerned about thir overall weight, but also it is lso quite common for women to hve many different issues with their brast size, shape and overall appearance. Thre are some women that have nver been at all content with the cup sze or lack there of, when it cmes to their breasts.