Wellness Culture


Wellness Culture

It is Monday morning and let’s face it. You are already pretty exhausted, despite the weekend that has just passed which is meant to leave you feeling refreshed and ready for the upcoming week. Everything is worrying you, from current news affairs, work related issues and events going on in your personal life. Yet, you will continue to convince yourself that everything is fine. Providing that you can continue going out at least once a week, to loosen up, get really drunk, then really, everything is fine. Until, one day, you realise that everything is a bit of a mess. You come across ways and instructions on how to be healthier. How to address and heal your anxieties, rather than constantly trying to avoid them. How to become healthier, instead of continuing to indulge in junk food, alcohol, and whatever else that strings your imagination. Then it suddenly occurs to you how you have been avoiding nature for so long, as you have been treadling along in a foggy old city for so long. Time for a better life, don’t you think? Time to ensure that you take as many vitamins as possible, that you practice yoga for a solid hour each morning and time that you decide to engage with crystals… 

What is Wellness culture? 

“Wellness” became popular in the late 1950s by the “Father of the Movement”, Dr Dunn. He defined wellness as an “active ongoing pursuit”, which “focuses on the improvement of the self.” Wellness culture can look like improving physical and mental health, including gaining strength, and “improving” the appearance of the body, engaging in “self-care” and even engaging in subjects like astrology. 

The History of Wellness Culture 

During Victorian times, many life reformers took some pleasure in asceticism, which involved taking to the outdoors. However, health was blended with beauty, leading to the point where one’s outward appearance was an indication of their health, reinforcing western beauty standards. This gave them “a sense of agency in their own future”, during times of social and economic change. Nineteenth century wellness culture promised health, success, and personal fulfilment. In 2022, there are some parallels between the present and the end of the 19th century, including “a technological revolution, capitalist expansion and labour insecurity.”  

However, there is another element to the history of wellness culture, which was developed by feminists and civil rights activists in the 1960s/70s. They established health centres and programmers, in response to the bias of a “white, male dominated medical profession.” While this sent a particularly important message that equality of health is crucial to establishing a more equal society it could be contested that this has contributed to some of the anti-scientist health which aspects of wellness culture hold today. 

Potential Benefits of Wellness Culture 

The habits relating to wellness culture can be enjoyed and can benefit many people’s physical and mental health. This is due to the emphasis that this has on taking care of the body, taking time for oneself as well as the spiritual benefits. The importance of wellness culture is emphasised in schools, hospitals and even prisons, which is very suggestive of the possible benefits that it holds. 

Why it is so Appealing?

We would all love to strive for this ideal of life, especially if there is accomplishment involved in doing so. This way, it is understandable as to why a lot of us would wish to engage in wellness culture in order to pursue a healthier lifestyle. Also, in the world of uncertainty we are in today, it is understandable why we want something which offers predictability, not to mention a break away from the hustle and bustle of today’s culture. 

The problems associated with Wellness Culture 

While engaging in it a little bit can not only be healthy but also enjoyable, I think that you will agree that not everyone enjoys yoga. In practice, this means that if people set unrealistic goals, becoming extremely set upon wellness culture, it can lead them to a “slip into perfectionism.” This is unhealthy for anyone, because it can lead to “an incessant striving or need to be perfect” and when things do not go to plan which is often the case when people do strive to perfection, there can be “a deep contempt or rage at the self when we haven’t lived up to those elevated expectations.” This can lead to “anxiety, hyper vigilance and obsession” if one fails to meet those exacting standards. Moreover, while this may not be the intention of those who engage in wellness culture, there is still a strong emphasise on the individual, due to the strong focus on the self within a competitive, pressurised environment. And when people put this pressure on themselves then fail to meet up to their expectations, it can lead to a lot of “self-blame” and “self-criticism.” 

Furthermore, it reinforces western beauty standards, concerning the emphasis on improvement of the image, which goes hand in hand with individualism. This can be traced back to how people see beauty standards and want to “improve” their appearance to match accordingly, therefore they can engage in wellness culture to help them strive to this. 

Also, one needs to hold a certain amount of privilege to possess sufficient time to engage in it. I mean, there are so many people nowadays who are having to work as many as four jobs, literally only to make ends meet. This becomes more obvious when we consider the price of “self-care” products, spa retreats and, well, sufficient funds to afford to maintain this “ideal” of health, or beauty. 

Merely Money Making 

So as already mentioned, for many, engaging in wellness culture is costly. Yet let us just think for a minute about who benefits from all this. Afterall, the wellness industry benefits from the money which we choose to spend on it. Furthermore, because of the pandemic, more people have sought the purchase of exercise equipment within their homes. This has of course enabled businesses to make sufficient profit…

The dark side of the wellness industry

https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/wellness-culture-over

The False Promises of Wellness Culture

https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/wellness-industry-issues-perfectionism

Internalised Homaphobia


“I am bisexual, but to be fair, I do tend to go for men rather than women. At least usually. It is because naturally I tend to get attracted to men, but it does not mean that I do not like women or that I would not find myself becoming attracted to them. At the same time, I look straight, don’t I? I mean, I would feel so uncomfortable flirting with a girl in a club, because of how I look and that, plus it is so much easier to just make out with a guy. I mean, they will just come up to me anyway, and if I do choose to discreetly flirt, then what mistakes could occur?” 

I suppose that this could be coming out of my own mouth. I am bisexual, and I do claim that I prefer men over women. Nonetheless, there have been many times where I have questioned this, because let us face it, women are hot ASF! Therefore, what is causing so many of us to still turn away from what we are attracted to, despite all the progress that has been made? 

What is Internalised Homophobia? 

Everybody knows what homophobia is. According to the language, it is a fear of those who are not heterosexual, nonetheless generally it is seen as, and is more of a hatred against gay people. Nonetheless, internalised homophobia has only gained traction recently and it refers to “when a person consciously or unconsciously accepts homophobic biases and apply these biases to themselves.” This often stems from learning prejudiced beliefs during early childhood, which then develops as they become older. The reason for this is because of the assumption that being heterosexual is the “norm” and the “correct way to be.” This can look like people hiding their sexuality from others, being in a heightened concern about getting into a homosexual relationship, or even denying their sexuality to themselves to others. 

But how come when Homophobia “doesn’t exist?” 

Any LGBT+ person would tell you otherwise, however, it is more than reasonable to contest that life is a lot easier for LGB people now than it was 50 years ago. However, if we investigate this further, it can easily be seen how life is not yet exactly super easy for LGB people. For a start, in Northern Ireland “the average age for men to realise their sexual orientation was 12, yet the average age they actually confided in someone was 17.” This illustrates how scared young people are of opening up about something which they realised a long time ago. Clearly showing that young people are afraid to come forward about something that plays a significant part in their lives, and there are obviously going to be reasons why this is the case. 

Causes of Internalised Homophobia 

The most obvious cause, yet a cause which is sadly quite common today, is because of “antigay bias.” This can result in someone choosing to hide their sexuality because of biases. This can include bias from family, friends, or people at work. A similar cause is heterosexualism, which “refers to the notion that heterosexuality is normal and the default.” This can lead to LGBT+ people feeling that their identities are not the “norm,” resulting in them either being reluctant to tell them what their identity is, concealing their sexuality by dressing to “look straight” as an example, or even denying how they may feel about someone they like. Meanwhile accelerators of internalised homophobia can include religious conservatism, lack of social support and exposure to Non heterosexual identities. While this may seem like a world far away from reality, especially from the point of view of non-homosexual people who mostly claim not to have a problem with homosexual people, the fact is that “51% said that they or a family member from the LGBTQ+ communities had experienced violence because of their sexual orientation”, according to a poll. 

How it can Manifest 

For a start, consciously or unconsciously, internalised homophobia can result in someone trying to “hide” their sexual orientation from others, by “passing as straight.” This may even include someone trying to “pass”, such as pretending that their partner is “just a good mate”, rather than as a partner, to avoid them from being hurt. Further, it can lead to “Poor relationship quality, Mental health complications and Chronic stress.” In fact, gay people are 2.5 times more likely to experience major depression, anxiety disorder, and substance use disorders, and four times more likely to attempt suicide during adolescence.”  

How can we Improve this? 

Before we can begin working on what the cause of internalised homophobia is, we need to realise how homophobia is still rampant. For a start, there are still many homophobias perceived in mainstream religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Furthermore, in some countries, “applicants and current employees can be legally passed over or fired for being non-heterosexual or perceived as non-heterosexual.” What is more is that being LGBT+ puts people at a greater risk of poverty, where the Trevor project estimates 40% of the American homeless are LGBT+, meanwhile 10% of the general US population are homeless. Therefore, to reduce the internalised homophobia which plays a substantial role in the lives of LGBT+ people, we first need to address the amount of homophobia in our modern society, meaning that we need to work on the objects that they face in society. Meanwhile, LGBT+ culture needs to be exposed more to the mainstream, to reduce the extent of anti-gay bias. This can include TV programs featuring more homosexual couples. 

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/heteronormativity-gender-identity-sexual-orientation

Misgendering and the struggles of my internalised transphobia

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/internalized-homophobia#summary

What is Internalized Homophobia?

Internalised Homophobia

Body Neutrality


Wherever you look as a young woman, what do you see. Oh, admire the talent of this person, this is how you become successful in the work place, and brand new art for you all to admire. Don’t be silly. Obviously there is something missing, and once we point out that is the tremendous amount of body talk which we not only read about, but we hear about, and let’s admit it, we probably think about it. And let’s face it, it is rather exhausting. From how to lose weight, how to become more toned, and don’t forget this one! In that you should always still love your body and embrace it whenever you need to. And of course we should try and love and embrace our bodies, regardless, nevertheless this is rather difficult considering the two former points. Therefore, would it not make sense that in the mean time we ought to be happy with their bodies, yep all positive, but not necessarily obsess with the way that they look. After all, just think of all the amazing things that our bodies can do, and the fact that it makes sense that your outer body is not a particularly interesting thing about you . Therefore this way it only makes sense that there would be a movement in order to encourage us to do this, otherwise known as the body neutrality movement.

What is body neutrality?

Body neutrality relates to a “social movement” that “centres marginalised bodies and emphasies that all bodies are deserving of respect.” It focuses more on what the body is able to do, and as opposed to the body positivity movement, it tells people that while they might not necessarily have to love the apperience of their bodies all of the time, they can still give their bodies the love and respect that they deserve. This includes eating a healthy amount to fulfil one’s bodies needs, allowing your body to rest and not giving your body hate because of how it looks.

The ups of the Movement

First of all, for most women, aspiring to the body neutrality movement is more realistic than aspiring to the body positivity movement. This is because considering the rampant media attention that there is on bodies, especially relating to ways in which one can change it, it is very difficult and unrealistic expectation for women to love their bodies at all times. Also, considering the ridiculous amount of attention which the media puts on the apperience of people’s bodies, it is refreshing to see a movement which encourages women to instead value their bodies for what they can do, and to treat their bodies with respect because of this. What’s better, is that it is most certainly more realistic for marginalised groups, who may find it difficult to have to think in a positive way about their bodies all of the time. This includes trans people, who may be unable to feel positive about their bodies due to not being in the body that they should be in. Yet, the body neutrality movement is able to tell young people to value their bodies and give them respect, even though they may be very unhappy inside their bodies.

Your body is the least interesting thing about you

By now, we have probably come across this slogan circulating around quite a bit. This is because whilst there is so much talk about bodies, when we think about this in a realistic way, why is the shape of one’s body so important? When we think of all the incredible things that the body can do which do not relate to the apperience of the body, the fact that as humans we are capable of so many things academically not to mention that the apperience of our bodies do massively change throughout our lives to accommodate our needs. Oh yes, the fact that the UK beauty industry is worth nearly 10 billion euros, therefore it is not surprising that as a result there is so much talk going around concerning how people’s bodies look. Therefore, would it not be nice if we could all change the way that we think about our bodies, before we are encouraged the apperience of our bodies should be the number one thing that we love about ourselves.

Can we still be Body Positive?

Yet it would sound a little sad if none of us end up loving our bodies as a result of this. After all, considering the amount of media attention that bodies receive, we cannot suddenly cstand to a halt when it comes to us thinking about our bodies. This way, in current times, I see that there is considerable room for both the body positivity movement and the body neutrality movement. After all, if you are rather young then chances are you are still going to want to pay some attention to how your body looks. And rather than feeling stuck at the fact that you must therefore no longer pay attention to the way that your body looks, we should still all try and push for liking your body as much as it can for the way that it looks now. Nonetheless, more importantly we all need to think beyond this too, and to realise that there are many more important things than how your body looks.

How can we love our Bodies?

One of the ways in that there was substantial room for improvement within the body positivity movement, was that it could have focused on health more. After all, all of us can enjoy sitting in our rooms just in our underwear with a poloroid camera naked, loving our belly rolls in a sports bra while we are not telling anyone that we are working out so much that we are actually hurting our bodies, or lie to ourselves that we are happy with our bodies when we are binging on chocolate and ice cream each night to cope with our emotions. Nonetheless, it is important to go beyond our hyper fixation of the way that our bodies look, and while we should try our best to embrace how they do look at whatever size, to truly show our bodies love is to do what is best for them is to treat them as well as they deceiver to be treated. This includes all the things which the body neutrality movement includes, as well as trying to do what is best for ourselves, which may or may not have some impact on the apperience of our bodies. Therefore, should try and eat and exercise for our bodies according to what the body needs, for it to be at its best.

https://www.allure.com/story/why-i-dont-use-body-neutrality

https://www.insider.com/what-is-body-neutrality-explainer-2020-8

https://www.healthline.com/health/body-neutrality#learn-more

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jul/23/the-rise-of-the-body-neutrality-movement-if-youre-fat-you-dont-have-to-hate-yourself

https://www.byrdie.com/what-is-body-neutrality-5075038

The Toxic Side to the Body Positivity Movement that no one wants to Discuss


Happy new year, and welcome to 2022. The time of year again where gyms, gym wear companies and, come on let us just bite the bullet here, really anything relating to diet culture, can look forward to making money off people. This includes those who long to start fresh this year, embarking on a journey of health and wellness. Among this group, a substantial number consist of women and girls, who are unhappy with their bodies, and will once again strive to change their selves, to get leaner, even though they are healthy weight. For the better or the worse, this group includes me. Thankfully though, there is a strong and persistent movement, acting as a power against this. This is known as the body positivity movement, which encourages women of all sizes to love and embrace their body as they are, rather than worry about aiming to lose more weight, to get to a desired and ideal appearance, which is going to be exceedingly difficult, potentially unhealthy an even impossible for many to achieve. This is going to make more sense seeing how much the ideal standard keeps on changing; from the hourglass in the 1950s, the extremely thin frame in the 2000s, and the current hourglass, which is even harder to achieve, without extensive plastic surgery and gym membership! Therefore, anyone who holds a gram of common sense and who possesses minuscule respect for women, would agree that it is surely better that women are instead encouraged to love and embrace their bodies, regardless of their body type. Yet, as much as we all think that beauty standards are not only wrong, but harmful, we often fail to acknowledge the flaws of the body positivity movement, which is resultantly hindering its progress. 

What is Body Positivity? 

Body positivity relates to a movement which has encouraged people of all sizes to look at their body in a positive light, despite the way the media has influenced us into believing that a particular type of body is the ideal. It dates back as far as the 1960s, and “grew in tandem with women’s liberation and Black Civil Rights in the United States.” It focused on embracing larger women’s bodies, especially those belonging to women of colour. However, as this movement evolved, it has focused more on promoting bodies of all sizes, including skinny bodies, bodies that have cellulite and disabled bodies. Although, there has also been concern that it has become too focused on slim, white bodies, closer to the “ideal”, in recent years. 

Why we Need the Body Positivity Movement 

Before we debunk the body positivity movement, we do need to note why this is so important. Because while it certainly has flaws, it has been particularly important in helping people of different body types feel more comfortable within their bodies. For a start, it is often assumed that larger people are “lazy” because of their size, while discrimination against those people is rife. For example, it is true that a “fat” person would be less likely to be selected for a job compared to their thinner counterparts, even possessing the same skills and qualifications. Furthermore, it is very often the case that when people who may be overweight according to BMI go to the doctor, they are often only advised to lose weight, rather than have their condition investigated, which may not be at all related to their size. An example of this would be the experiences of positivity influencer and “Youtuber FatGirlFlow”, who while experiencing a history of eating disorders, was “continually” told by doctors to “lose weight.” Nonetheless the advice they were giving her was not only unhelpful, but was incredibly dangerous, as her strive to “be healthy, nearly killed her.” This shows that weight most certainly does not equate to health, however there still lies a significant prejudice that larger people are not only lazy, unmotivated etc, but are also “unhealthy”, when this is most certainly not always going to be the case. 

Where some think the Body Positivity Movement is going Wrong 

In recent years, influencers with smaller bodies have captured a substantial amount of the body positivity movement. For instance, while Gabi Gregg, known for the “fatkini” has around 876K Instagram followers, Daene Mercer, another body positivity influencer who has a very thin physique has 2.4 million followers. It is understandable as to why some may feel neglected by the turning that the movement has taken, seeing it ending up being about white women, with bodies close to the ideal, posting photos representing the difference between when they are sucking their stomachs in and when they are not. 

“But hang on a minute, it’s Unhealthy!” 

If anything, I hope the last paragraph has shown you that size does not always equate to health. Yet, it is also true that obesity can lead to a huge array of health complexities. This has led to some people to believe that fat shaming is acceptable including Maher, who contested that if people could be shamed out of smoking, then perhaps fat shaming “would make people rethink their lifestyle habits.” Nonetheless, while it is important to point out that obesity is an important health issue, it is unfair and incorrect to presume that someone has an unhealthy lifestyle just because of their size, just like it would be inaccurate to assume that one leads a healthy lifestyle just because they are slim. 

So, what Happens when the Fat Girl does become Skinny? 

“Let’s make something clear, having a goal for intentional fat loss is not body positive” 

Everyday Feminism

 

How beautiful does this sound? All of us should love our bodies, and be perfectly happy in our bodies, regardless of what they look like. But there is a catch. Because what happens when someone like Adele chooses to lose weight? I do not know her exact intentions, but perhaps she did it for her health, because she wanted to feel more comfortable, or she was fed up with the amount of grief that the media gave her beforehand. Even though it was equally beautiful before. Plus, I will not even go into why the media would want to obsess over her body, considering the huge talent she possesses. In my view, it is most likely that her motives were a combination of all three. Therefore, if she was intending to lose fat, then she had to make these healthier choices so these two go hand in hand. Nonetheless, regardless of her intentions, with regards to the media it backfired, with some fans even commenting that they had felt “betrayed” because of her weight loss. Yet, regardless of what your body looks like, surely if she is happier now because of her hopefully healthier lifestyle choices, then we ought to be happy for her? And even if she chose to make this move to change her appearance, no one should ridicule her, considering the extensive pressure she was under. This way, while she may have “given in” to the pressures of beauty standards, considering the difficulty associated with not doing so in the position she is in, no one should shame her for making the decision to lose weight. 

Toxic Body Positivity 

One could choose to look at the body positivity movement, and then think brilliant! Regardless of what weight anyone is at, we ought to, or even need to love our bodies. But surely something must be wrong when people become upset when a public figure chooses to lose a substantial amount of weight? This is because while one can interpret the body positivity movement as a way for them to embrace their bodies regardless, if they are left being felt betrayed at another women’s weight loss, then perhaps it suggests that these people are not as happy within their own bodies as they may think. And while I believe a large motivator for many women losing weight, is unfortunately due to wanting to be viewed in a better light and to be nearer the ideal, another strong motivator is health. And if one knows that their lifestyle is not as healthy as the ideal, then it is likely that they are not going to be as happy with their bodies as otherwise. Therefore, perhaps if the body positivity movement did choose to take a stronger focus on health, overall, it would enable more to feel comfortable in their bodies, due to being encouraged to lead a healthier lifestyle, leading to a healthier body. Regardless of what the body looks like. 

Conclusion 

Happy new year, and welcome to 2022. The time of year again where gyms, gym wear companies and, come on let us just bite the bullet here, really anything relating to diet culture, can look forward to making money off people. This includes those who long to start fresh this year, embarking on a journey of health and wellness. Among this group, a substantial number consist of women and girls, who are unhappy with their bodies, and will once again strive to change their selves, to get leaner, even though they are healthy weight. For the better or the worse, this group includes me. Thankfully though, there is a strong and persistent movement, acting as a power against this. This is known as the body positivity movement, which encourages women of all sizes to love and embrace their body as they are, rather than worry about aiming to lose more weight, to get to a desired and ideal appearance, which is going to be exceedingly difficult, potentially unhealthy an even impossible for many to achieve. This is going to make more sense seeing how much the ideal standard keeps on changing; from the hourglass in the 1950s, the extremely thin frame in the 2000s, and the current hourglass, which is even harder to achieve, without extensive plastic surgery and gym membership! Therefore, anyone who holds a gram of common sense and who possesses minuscule respect for women, would agree that it is surely better that women are instead encouraged to love and embrace their bodies, regardless of their body type. Yet, as much as we all think that beauty standards are not only wrong, but harmful, we often fail to acknowledge the flaws of the body positivity movement, which is resultantly hindering its progress. 

What is Body Positivity? 

Body positivity relates to a movement which has encouraged people of all sizes to look at their body in a positive light, despite the way the media has influenced us into believing that a particular type of body is the ideal. It dates back as far as the 1960s, and “grew in tandem with women’s liberation and Black Civil Rights in the United States.” It focused on embracing larger women’s bodies, especially those belonging to women of colour. However, as this movement evolved, it has focused more on promoting bodies of all sizes, including skinny bodies, bodies that have cellulite and disabled bodies. Although, there has also been concern that it has become too focused on slim, white bodies, closer to the “ideal”, in recent years. 

Why we Need the Body Positivity Movement 

Before we debunk the body positivity movement, we do need to note why this is so important. Because while it certainly has flaws, it has been particularly important in helping people of different body types feel more comfortable within their bodies. For a start, it is often assumed that larger people are “lazy” because of their size, while discrimination against those people is rife. For example, it is true that a “fat” person would be less likely to be selected for a job compared to their thinner counterparts, even possessing the same skills and qualifications. Furthermore, it is very often the case that when people who may be overweight according to BMI go to the doctor, they are often only advised to lose weight, rather than have their condition investigated, which may not be at all related to their size. An example of this would be the experiences of positivity influencer and “Youtuber FatGirlFlow”, who while experiencing a history of eating disorders, was “continually” told by doctors to “lose weight.” Nonetheless the advice they were giving her was not only unhelpful, but was incredibly dangerous, as her strive to “be healthy, nearly killed her.” This shows that weight most certainly does not equate to health, however there still lies a significant prejudice that larger people are not only lazy, unmotivated etc, but are also “unhealthy”, when this is most certainly not always going to be the case. 

Where some think the Body Positivity Movement is going Wrong 

In recent years, influencers with smaller bodies have captured a substantial amount of the body positivity movement. For instance, while Gabi Gregg, known for the “fatkini” has around 876K Instagram followers, Daene Mercer, another body positivity influencer who has a very thin physique has 2.4 million followers. It is understandable as to why some may feel neglected by the turning that the movement has taken, seeing it ending up being about white women, with bodies close to the ideal, posting photos representing the difference between when they are sucking their stomachs in and when they are not. 

“But hang on a minute, it’s Unhealthy!” 

If anything, I hope the last paragraph has shown you that size does not always equate to health. Yet, it is also true that obesity can lead to a huge array of health complexities. This has led to some people to believe that fat shaming is acceptable including Maher, who contested that if people could be shamed out of smoking, then perhaps fat shaming “would make people rethink their lifestyle habits.” Nonetheless, while it is important to point out that obesity is an important health issue, it is unfair and incorrect to presume that someone has an unhealthy lifestyle just because of their size, just like it would be inaccurate to assume that one leads a healthy lifestyle just because they are slim. 

So, what Happens when the Fat Girl does become Skinny? 

“Let’s make something clear, having a goal for intentional fat loss is not body positive” 

Everyday Feminism 

How beautiful does this sound? All of us should love our bodies, and be perfectly happy in our bodies, regardless of what they look like. But there is a catch. Because what happens when someone like Adele chooses to lose weight? I do not know her exact intentions, but perhaps she did it for her health, because she wanted to feel more comfortable, or she was fed up with the amount of grief that the media gave her beforehand. Even though it was equally beautiful before. Plus, I will not even go into why the media would want to obsess over her body, considering the huge talent she possesses. In my view, it is most likely that her motives were a combination of all three. Therefore, if she was intending to lose fat, then she had to make these healthier choices so these two go hand in hand. Nonetheless, regardless of her intentions, with regards to the media it backfired, with some fans even commenting that they had felt “betrayed” because of her weight loss. Yet, regardless of what your body looks like, surely if she is happier now because of her hopefully healthier lifestyle choices, then we ought to be happy for her? And even if she chose to make this move to change her appearance, no one should ridicule her, considering the extensive pressure she was under. This way, while she may have “given in” to the pressures of beauty standards, considering the difficulty associated with not doing so in the position she is in, no one should shame her for making the decision to lose weight. 

Toxic Body Positivity 

One could choose to look at the body positivity movement, and then think brilliant! Regardless of what weight anyone is at, we ought to, or even need to love our bodies. But surely something must be wrong when people become upset when a public figure chooses to lose a substantial amount of weight? This is because while one can interpret the body positivity movement as a way for them to embrace their bodies regardless, if they are left being felt betrayed at another women’s weight loss, then perhaps it suggests that these people are not as happy within their own bodies as they may think. And while I believe a large motivator for many women losing weight, is unfortunately due to wanting to be viewed in a better light and to be nearer the ideal, another strong motivator is health. And if one knows that their lifestyle is not as healthy as the ideal, then it is likely that they are not going to be as happy with their bodies as otherwise. Therefore, perhaps if the body positivity movement did choose to take a stronger focus on health, overall, it would enable more to feel comfortable in their bodies, due to being encouraged to lead a healthier lifestyle, leading to a healthier body. Regardless of what the body looks like. 

Conclusion 

Coming from the point of view of a young, white women in an “average sized” body, which while not matching up to the ideal, is accepted and not discriminated against in society, one may wonder how I could be in the position to criticise the body positivity movement. However, I hope that some would agree that the body positivity movement should focus on encouraging people to show their bodies more love, rather than show that they love them. In practice, this would look like the movement encouraging people to make healthy choices that will benefit their bodies, rather than plainly stating that we should all love our bodies full stop. Moreover, to progress, the body positivity movement needs to become more inclusive, including more people of colour, different genders and still an expansive range of body shapes. Regardless of whether they are big or small. This said, while it is important for us to look after our bodies, the movement should also address the difficulties arising from living a healthy lifestyle, which is unsurprising considering the hectic, stressful, and expensive world that we are living in. Finally, I will add that regardless of how “healthy” anyone’s lifestyle is currently, and regardless of their appearance, they should not burden themselves with shame because of this, because being “healthy” is not as easy as many tend to make out. And, while one’s body is not as toned etc as what one may like it to be, the body positivity movement should still encourage them to dress as they like, and show off as much of their bodies as they choose, rather than covering it up in shame. 

Coming from the point of view of a young, white women in an “average sized” body, which while not matching up to the ideal, is accepted and not discriminated against in society, one may wonder how I could be in the position to criticise the body positivity movement. However, I hope that some would agree that the body positivity movement should focus on encouraging people to show their bodies more love, rather than show that they love them. In practice, this would look like the movement encouraging people to make healthy choices that will benefit their bodies, rather than plainly stating that we should all love our bodies full stop. Moreover, to progress, the body positivity movement needs to become more inclusive, including more people of colour, different genders and still an expansive range of body shapes. Regardless of whether they are big or small. This said, while it is important for us to look after our bodies, the movement should also address the difficulties arising from living a healthy lifestyle, which is unsurprising considering the hectic, stressful, and expensive world that we are living in. Finally, I will add that regardless of how “healthy” anyone’s lifestyle is currently, and regardless of their appearance, they should not burden themselves with shame because of this, because being “healthy” is not as easy as many tend to make out. And, while one’s body is not as toned etc as what one may like it to be, the body positivity movement should still encourage them to dress as they like, and show off as much of their bodies as they choose, rather than covering it up in shame. 

https://www.self.com/story/skinny-shaming-is-not-the-same-as-fat-phobia

HAS THE BODY POSITIVITY MOVEMENT FORGOTTEN ITS ROOTS?

Why Body Positivity Feels a Bridge Too Far

Why Body Positivity Feels a Bridge Too Far

https://scan.lancastersu.co.uk/2018/11/16/has-body-positivity-gone-too-far/ 

https://greatist.com/live/body-positivity-movement-too-far#11

21 Things I have Learned During 2021


Okay, so hopefully we are still just about in the new year spirit, if such thing exists, where we still may be reflecting on the previous year, just before we must face January full on and forget all our new year’s resolutions. I remember last year (well the year before now), posting “18 things I have Learned before turning 18”, although I have decided this year to write about what the year has taught me instead. Because, at least from my experience so far, being 19 is the same as being 18. Because I still have the same responsibilities, I am still a teenager, and although I have been a legal adult for over a year now (eek), I still do not feel like a fully grown adult. So here goes… 

1. I Actually Know so Little 

What a great way to begin. But it is funny that when I was around 12-16/17, I thought that I was so wise. Yet, I think that due to new experiences and situations arising, I have learned that there is an awful lot which I do not know yet. Which is fine. Does this feeling intensify as you get older, if anyone knows, then please enlighten me… 

2. Reach out to people 

I admit that this is not always going to work, as people are busy, and they may not have too much interest in talking to you. But at the same time, they could potentially end up being significant in your life. And if you do not try, then how will you ever find out? I used to push people away, because I was so terrified that if I were to hang out with them more, act more like myself around them or even go to lunch with them (when invited) I would appear needy. Life is too short, and I know that I would never think ill of someone who contacts me first, even if at the time I was busy and did not have the time to engage with them. And I hope that you would not either (unless you knew that person was a bit of a c*nt). 

3. Lots of men are trash! 

I really do hope that one of the things that 2022 will teach me, is that there are many decent men about as well. Of course, this is something which I do already know, yet 2021 has not really shown this to me. Perhaps I am just too good at attracting bad people. Oops. 

4. Be a bad bitch 

To overcome some of the pain and toxicity that life throws at us all, you need the strength to fight back. Even if you are not the least bit confident in yourself, fake it until you make it. Tell your friends stuff, because often they will recognise that something or someone is not good for you, when at the time you are blind to it. Subsequently, they can tell you not to go on possessing dog poop and wait for something better (even if you will be waiting an eternity). Just remember, you are no one’s object or trophy, no one’s nice person to turn to only when they are feeling down and you are most certainly no one’s plan b!  

5. Workplaces are fucked 

What I mean, is that if you work somewhere, there is usually something going on behind the scenes, which is not too great… An extreme example I want to share, is when I was working back in the summer (working 50+ hours a week😭), there was a particular member of staff who was high up. He was fired, for being under the influence of drugs, sexual harassment and getting into a fight. Only for him to be rehired again, just in time for me to work full time over the summer. And as he would walk by, he would brush up against my ass🤮 I told the managers, and one of them thought I was lying, and then she told me how she was against the me-too movement! Thankfully, I quit in July and found somewhere else where I was not working as many hours. Ha, another lesson, always speak up against this kind of stuff. Even if it is trivial in comparison to what others have been through, it is still unacceptable, and if no one speaks up, these kinds of people will get away with much more severe wrongdoings, which could potentially traumatise someone. Because, as I thought at the time, it was gross that he did that to me, yet if I had been 14, and had a history of sexual abuse (which fortunately is not the case), the consequences could have been severe and long lasting. 

6. Taking breaks is so important  

This is something I have learned this year, and as a result I have far more time to socialise, take time for myself (self-care products are amazing, even though it’s basically consumerism) and my productivity has improved so much. For instance, at the end of 2020 I was super stressed about a levels, and I was working my bum off, only to find that when I started spending less time on work, my grades improved! Perhaps this also means there is something to be said for a four-day work week. Admittedly this is still something that I find difficult, maybe because of being a Capricorn with both parents also being Capricorns (only joking, I do not really believe in all of that). 

Here are some things that I have learned about myself this year. 

7. I am far less introverted than I thought I was 

Ok, it is still the case that when I am in my room be it at home or at university, I like to be uninterrupted. But then I suppose that is the territory that comes with growing up with no siblings, very rarely seeing other family and having remarkably busy parents Xx  

But (and it is a very fat peachy one), if I am out the house, I just love to have a long ass rant with someone. I love to say what is on my mind and I love meeting new people depending on the kind of person they are. I do like to be around people providing that they are the right kind of people. Also going out is so much fun. I think in previous years, I have been overly shy, therefore I went for the easier option of not being as open and shrinking myself to match the vibe of those around me. Which I would say has had a detrimental effect on me in the past. I suppose I am an ambivert, or an extraverted introvert or something, but who knows next year I may come to do a similar post and be like “yo- annoying ENFP has entered the room!” 

8. I kind of hate myself 

🎉🥳🍾 

I am going to try and work on my confidence next year though, but then I do that each year and sometimes I feel like I am getting nowhere. But then I am certainly far better now than I was even last year, not to mention a few years ago. But then I had been trying to “fake it until I make it”, which helps to some degree, but really it is important to be confident internally as well. 

9. Loving yourself is so important 

Do I love myself? Sounds odd to love and hate yourself at the same time, but I am getting there. Do not take shit. 

10. I am definitely pansexual (bisexual) 

How much more oversharing can I fit into one post? Yet since being around 12, I have always felt that I am bi-sexual, although I would not find someone nonbinary or of a different gender off-putting. Yet, I would say that this year has proven that I am not a lesbian, and that I am not straight. 

11. I have internalised homophobia 

Yep, girls are attractive asf! But I tell myself and others that “I know I’m bisexual, but I tend to go for guys over girls.” While it is certainly true that most bisexuals, if not all, are not exactly “50/50”, I could be lying to myself a little when I say that I have a much stronger preference for guys. I know I am more likely to subconsciously push a girl I like away in that respect, I have far more confidence flirting with guys rather than girls (still it is scary), yet there was a female “friend” who I had maybe some feelings for, and I got signals that she may have felt the same about me, causing me to shove her right into the friendzone.  

The rest of what I have learned this year are less serious things, because come on! It only has been a year. 

12. First term of university is a doddle compared to A levels 

I am not saying it is easy, and I am not saying that there is not a ton of reading and revision that I really ought to get started with. But, compared to the work and stress that came with A levels, this is nothing. It is partly because I am with people who, saying it in a nice way, put in varying degrees of effort. In contrast, where I was before you had people crying over getting one B grade, and now there are a substantial number of people in my classes who I do not think I have met yet, because they have not turned up. Yet I know that to pass this year, I only need 40%, which literally means listening to the prerecorded lectures at double speed, and then hoping for the best. 

13. I can be defensive and arrogant  

Sorry if I have hurt anyone, I don’t mean to be a dick. But knowing our own flaws is important if you want to improve yourself💕 

14. Tinned sweet corn is amazing 

15. Don’t live off junk food at university 

It makes you feel like crap, and gives you spots. I knew that already ok; I was quite capable of cooking a proper meal before, but at the same time I was scared to go into the kitchen some of the time, which is so silly considering all my flat mates are lovely people. 

16. When you first move from an area you have lived in all your life, you will miss it 

When I was in Swansea, (when you read this I will be back there again), I actually missed Bournemouth so much, and when I got to Bournemouth, visiting seemed so reviving. This said, I made the right decision to move quite a distance away. 

17. Buying Clothes is too Addictive 

I remember being younger and not really having enough clothes to be able to express myself in (or enough clothes at all to be honest). Then as soon as I started working, I was like “yey, I can finally afford to buy nice clothes”. Sadly, however, this sort of addiction does not really stop. Not sure whether it is just the highly effective impact of personally directed ads, the impact of mini trend cycles or if it is just down to the fact that there is this empty void inside of me that needs something else rather than new clothes. But once you get into fashion, it does not stop… Saying that I have not really brought that much in a while, wait that is a lie. Never mind! 

18. Once you go to university your bank account will be fucked 

All right, so I worked all summer, I got a grant, got my student loan and I even have a part time job. But my bank account is looking sadder as the days go by 😦 

19. The laundry trip at university is hell! 

At this stage I should have just titled this post “University Survival Guide.” But this is worth mentioning, I promise. Because it is a five-minute walk from home to the laundry place and getting the washing and drying done takes at least three round trips.  

20. Spellings Matter 

Even though I have successfully managed to spend the first 19 years of my life convincing myself otherwise. But seriously, I know that the content of the writing is more important than the actual spelling. But at the same time, you do not want to take the risk of someone reading your work to notice that it is full of spelling mistakes. This always used to be me, at school and then sixth form, and I used to think to myself, why is any teacher going to care about what I can and cannot spell, if my essay is about Cuspate Forelands (why do I even remember these things?) But I do not think that the teachers took too well to my poor spelling. 

21. There are no Sheep in Swansea,

probably because they have already been taken XOX. I do feel bad though because some of the guys at the university are jerks. 

Welsh Speed Dating from funny

Personal (and Blog) Update


Hello, and happy new year! Sorry, I am pretty sure this is the third post now where I have wished everyone a happy new year, but new year does only occur once a year, so we may as well make the most of it while we can. 

So, I will begin with how I am getting on personally. It was nice to have a little break over Christmas, and Christmas, while uneventful, was good. Well, I mean nothing bad happened. Over the break, I have allowed myself to, well, have a break. Although this said I have spent a considerable amount of time drafting new posts. Meanwhile, I have done a (bit) of revision, whether it is enough is another question, but at least we are allowed to use notes when doing exams. Also, I am getting over that time of year where I feel groggy (it always happens toward the end of a year, possibly because of it getting darker etc.), so now I am in a decent place to return to university, and to go into 2022. I have not really been up to anything that exciting really, apart from meeting up with friends, while I will be going to London for a couple of days, as of writing this, tomorrow and Sunday. 

In the next few weeks, I am likely to be far busier because not only do I have exams, but there will be other commitments which I will have at Swansea. Plus it is likely I will be working more hours because apparently I am so good at losing things to the point where I must pay substantial amounts for replacements of items which most people would not lose (I am referring to my driving license, as it is the second time I lost it, meaning also that I did not get to do my driving test, so that is something else that will have to be paid for). I know that in the scheme of things, this is not that much money, but when you add retail therapy (much cheaper than professional therapy for sure), and the fact that my family have not told me about any fat money tree growing (plus I DO NOT want to be dependent on them), it would help if I was able to earn some more money. Meanwhile, part of me wants to save for a car, and while I know that this fucks up the environment, if I were able to drive myself to places, I would feel like a bad bitch. And again, this rests on whether I am ever able to get my license! 

Now, the actual reason for me writing this post is because I wanted to make you aware of the recent blog changes, which will be going forward into the new year. Firstly, you will have noticed that I have changed the name of this blog to Personally Political, just because it is more relevant to the general theme this blog has. Also, I have changed my cover photo, which I personally much prefer to the one I had before. Furthermore, I have made the decision to monetise the blog, meaning that it is possible that I may get a little bit of money because of adverts. Although I am not sure how that works yet, or whether I would be getting enough views to get any money at all. 

As well, I have (finally) decided on a posting schedule, in that I will post every Wednesday, and Saturday at 5:30 PM. By mentioning this here, I am now accountable. Again, I will keep up with the monthly updates, which I think I will post on the first day of each month. 

Finally, I am looking for other writers and graphic designers, because I am going to try and utilise social media a bit more, yet this is a lot of work to do alone. Also, I think that with this blog relating to social issues, it would be beneficial if the posts were written from a range of perspectives. It would be so nice to meet and mix with people around my age, with something in common. This position would be open to anyone, regardless of age, gender, where you live etc., therefore if this is something that you, or anyone who you know may be interested in, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.  

What 2021 Has Taught me, and my New Years Resolutions


No, I do not have too much faith in New Year’s resolutions either, because often we think we are going to keep them, then we find it becomes too much, or even circumstances change making it practically impossible (2020 anyone). Therefore, at least from my experience, it is better to make resolutions which are not quite as specific, so that they can evolve according to the circumstances that we are in. Nonetheless, I know that for many, more specific goals are a lot easier to follow, so if that works for you then stick to it (not that you would want to listen to someone who has just turned 19 and has no clue what they are doing from one day to the next, let alone with their lives). 

But anyway. Overall, for me 2021 has been a pretty decent year. Of course, there have been rather a few ups and downs as with life, and I have not exactly managed to make a million pounds, travel the world, or meet the love of my life! But I do feel that I have grown as a person and found out quite a bit about myself and have had some interesting experiences. From having to take “mini exams” because of covid, working at that terrible kitchen job with an even worse head chef (yuck), then of course beginning university. And while I am a little sad that 2021 is over, I am looking forward to what 2022 might bring! So here are my New Year’s resolutions for 2022. 

  1. Be more healthy 

This is something which I reckon that everyone tires of hearing about. Because every fucking January, gyms will put out their membership discounts, exploiting poor plebs like us to sign up, only for us to go about three times before we find that we do not have the time or the energy to persist. Gym wear companies, also, are good at making us all feel groggy, as everyone who models them appears to have a perfectly toned body, making people think that they also would have that ideal if they worked for it. Then you hear people who go to the gym, who say they do it purely out of health, rather than appearance. Many think that these people are lying, many are lying.  

Personally, I have more than one reason for choosing to go to the gym frequently and cutting down on “junk food.” One being, that I do genuinely want to be healthier, mentally, and physically. Because believe it or not exercise does help me a lot with focusing on work, meanwhile it relieves so much mental stress. Furthermore, I have also found that I sometimes struggle with emotional eating, and I do not want this to become a problem. However, I do admit that part of the reason, is because I do want to appear slimmer, and while it is important to try to not let beauty standards consume us, at least it is a healthy habit and it sometimes we do need to do things which make us feel better about ourselves, even if these are a bit shallow. 

2. Work on confidence 

I think this is something which I have tried to do for a few years now, and although I have come a long way, it is definitely something which I still need to work on! I would also say this goes to anyone who struggles with this, because having confidence not only works wonders for yourself, but it is good for those around you! Concerning myself, I have found that in the past year I have become far better at appearing more confident, although I know that I still struggle internally. 

3. Get my Sh*t Together at university 

Whilst I am not one of those students with whom my lectures would not recognise because I never show up, at the same time, I feel that I have not worked as hard as I could have. This is perfectly ok, considering it is only the first term, and I reckon most feel the same way, however I do not want this to become a habit. 

4. Join a couple of societies at university 

During the first term I joined the surfing society with a friend, which was fun, but going back in January it is going to be freezing cold and I would therefore like to do something else. Because I found that in the first term, I did not have the confidence to join anything alone, but at the end of the day, this is such a good way to meet like-minded people and get the most out of Swansea.  

5. Work on the shitty side to myself 

We all do have our flaws, and regardless of how much anyone works on themselves, this will always be the case. Nonetheless, I believe that the more we can families ourselves with our flaws, the more likely it is that we will be able to work on these, and as a result, become a better person. And if we are in a fortunate position where we can make positive changes, then it is important to do so! 

6. Be More Consistent on this Blog! 

This year, I sadly kind of stopped this blog for much longer than I had hoped. Yet I do really enjoy blogging, and while I know this is not too important, I found that after I came back, my numbers had gone down. Now while I am not going to have as much time for this blog compared to what I had last year, I would like to dedicate at least some time each week to blogging. Plus, the Christmas holidays were a significant help. This way, I will aim to make the most of my other holidays to write prewrite posts etc (although there currently is not a reading week in my course).  

7. Read More 

This is something which I reckon again I state I want to do each year, then I find myself not having the time etc. But often the real reason is because I am often put off by the thought of picking up a book, as opposed to aimlessly scrolling through social media. Also, I have found that this year I have been watching more Netflix, which is fine and is not a complete waste of time like some may contest, but I have found that I do genuinely prefer reading overall, plus, let’s face it, it is more productive. Therefore, even if it is half an hour every other day, before going to sleep, the time does add up. 

8. Travel (hopefully) 

Much of this is going to be very dependent on the situation with covid, but the last time I went abroad, I was literally 13. During the summer, I do hope to travel abroad a little, probably working rather than volunteering which I know sounds a little bad, but A) I will probably be broke and B) it is rather off-putting when I hear about projects where a group of volunteers construct some building, only for it to be knocked down immediately afterwards, enabling some middle aged white man in a suit to profit. 

So finally, we are at the end of the list. I do hope that all of you have a great New Year’s Eve, and that 2022 will include some new, exciting experiences, and hopefully covid will not dominate it. Don’t get too drunk, and hopefully see you (most of you not in person lol) in the new year! 

New Money


If you have read the previous post, old money, then while you may adore the aesthetic and all, hopefully you will not have too much regard for those in possession of old money. Because apart from everything else, however hard we work, we will never even become close to obtaining their kind of lifestyle. And while we may all dream of spending the days away prancing around large fields in long fancy dresses, wandering around private libraries, not to mention drinking some of the poshest cocktails, we know that the wealth accumulated to allow those people to live in that way, was done so in a hideous manner, thoroughly based off exploitation. But there is a part of us all that would like to attain a lifestyle that may be slightly more affluent than the average. That we of course would have to work rather hard for, so then we can all have a good bit of fun by looking down on all those lazy plebs who are nowhere near as successful. Nonetheless, I would also hope that you are with me on this one. In that it is hilarious that anyone can make fun of older children who still believe in Father Christmas, when there are grown men who believe in trickle-down economics. Ok, if that sounds familiar, then it is. I stumbled across the post on “left wing bible” on Facebook. Appreciate my originality! But if some of the implications of new money are equally as gross, then what is the appeal? 

What is new Money? 

In opposition to old money, which relates to wealth accumulated a long time ago, passed down through generations, new money “usually denotes a person who has recently gained an immense amount of wealth.”  Meanwhile, new money is earned through “salary, business profits, and/or investments.” Consequently, often those with new money can end up having more than those born into old money. This term is also called “nouveau rich”, and while it can be used to separate those who have accumulated new money from those coming from “old money”, it can also be used “as a derogatory term.”   

New Money as an Aesthetic 

The style of new money is hard to define, because it involves following trends which keep changing, unlike old money which has a pretty distinctive style. However, there are certain aspects of style in which we do associate with new money, being modern, expensive looking and distinctive. That is due to new money being fueled by consumerism and people striving to look wealthy. However, there is a range of assorted styles which do have parallels to new money, including gold (relating to gold), Jetset (fancy jet engines and the like), and minimalism. However, there is another interesting aesthetic, in which many of us may find a little appealing, known as Boujee. But it is important to be aware of the meaning of the term before we wish to get too far in embracing this style.  

Boujee 

Ok, ok. If you are reading this as a socialist or a communist, then I see you and I hear you, stop tearing out your hair, ok, as it is not going to fix anything! Everyone else may be wondering about what on earth it is that I am rambling about now. But listen up! It is said that Boujee is a style or aesthetic for middle class people to appear rich. This may appear a bit strange, but if you spend 5 minutes searching for Boujee items of clothing (someone please buy me this beautiful blue top, I promise it is not expensive), then you will understand what I mean. Meanwhile, the less affordable side of Boujee, is associated with expensive brands like Chanel and Gucci. And while Boujee is used to describe the middle classes who want to appear richer, this only really extends to fashion and style rather than actual lifestyle when concerning the lower middle classes. Yet, concerning “boujee” people in the upper middle classes, it is more likely they are more concerned with “wealth, status and all things luxury.” And while these people can be “charitable”, this can “easily turn to narcissism and entitlement.” This makes sense considering that the term “bourgeoisie” relates to the “middle and upper classes that own capital (money, machinery, and other resources used to create more wealth)”, in contrast to the working class, exploited by this, referred to as the “proletariat”. As well as the fact that, at least in my opinion, if one does prioritise money and wealth over other things, it can lead to unhealthy behaviors, and a more negative outlook on the world.  

The Appeal of New Money 

If you are anything like me, smart enough to understand the social, political, and economic consequences of consumerism, capitalism and people accumulating extensive amounts of wealth, yet nowhere near strong enough to resist the persistent urge to want to work extremely hard to lead an affluent lifestyle in the future, then it is likely that you may find the aesthetic of new money (or “Boujee”) appealing. Yes, you admit it, part of you just longs to live in a glamourous, modern apartment in the middle of the city, being able to afford the nicest food and clothing on the market with no male figure in the background there to help you out! And considering the extent to which materialism and consumerism, as well as productivity culture, is on display to us and most certainly presented under an incredibly positive light, it is no wonder why so many of us would be drawn in. 

What is not so Appealing About New Money 

While there is a part of us all, who wish we could finally jump on a 1-million-pound yacht and scream that we have made it, we know that accumulating vast amounts of money is impossible for most of us. Regardless of how hard we work. Therefore, while consumerism and I would also like to argue, productivity culture, may try to trick us into believing that it is an appealing but also very acceptable lifestyle, when we consider the disparities in wealth globally, then allowing oneself to be sucked into a system designed to work against us, to the point that we are deceived enough to believe that we can hugely benefit, surely does not add up. Because again, we all look forward to pay day so that we can continue to afford all the essentials and will hopefully be able to treat ourselves, at the same time an excess of money should not be used to fill an empty void within ourselves. Not to mention that there simply are not enough resources available for everyone to live the life of a billionaire, and at least to me, it cannot be right if 1% of people who do work hard become entitled to this life, while the other 99% must work twice as hard, and still be scarcely able to put food down on the table. 

The Conflict Between New and Old Money 

As already mentioned, nouveau rich can be used in a derogatory way. But when I say this, I am not referring to those who are disapproving of new money, due to their opposition to capitalism and consumerism, but those in possession of old money. Some with old money believe that those who have not been brought up into the world of money cannot be truly part of the aristocratic class. What is more, is that those with new money do not know how to spend it wisely due to their heavy focus on materialism, while those with old money have enough experience to invest their funds wisely. This distinction stems back from Ancient Greek times, where “many Ancient Greek texts refer to those with newly acquired money as being placed on the lower rungs of society, while those with old money were well-respected.” New money is also faced with suspicion because it is thought that not all new money is accumulated legally.  

To summarise, new money is interesting to consider both as an economic/political concept and as a style. But before we enjoy putting on yet another flashy dress, or before we enjoy sporting a golden necklace, remember the background concerning new money may not be as appealing. 

https://exploringyourmind.com/why-people-obsessed-accumulating-money-possessions/

https://www.theroot.com/the-difference-between-bougie-boujee-and-bourgie-bour-1822522172

https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Boujee

https://www.wise-geek.com/what-is-new-money.htm

https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/New_Money

Survival Guide for Disorganised Bloggers!


Hello! So, in case this is the first time you have stumbled across this blog, my name is Victoria and I am 19 (it was literally my Birthday yesterday haha). While I have been blogging for about two years. However recently I have taken a longer than anticipated break from it. Mainly because revising for A levels turned in to working too many hours over the summer, which turned into “university work” (or rather just “uni” if you get what I mean). But here I am now, and before I begin, I just want to thank everyone who has supported this page, whether that has been by following me, liking, and commenting on my posts, or encouraging me to keep on with this blog.  

What Inspired me to Write this Post

I remember when I first started out, there were a lot of blog posts coming from bloggers who were more experienced, giving advice as to how to successfully run a blog. And while I acknowledge that there were a lot of bloggers clearly doing this as a way of making money (advertising many plug ins and the like which most of us cannot afford), there were many bloggers who did give very helpful advice, and I could tell that it was coming from their heart. However, each of these bloggers would give slightly different advice, according to what works best for them. Therefore, as someone who struggles a lot with organisation and sometimes with sustaining motivation, I thought I would do a post especially tailored to likeminded people, yet I would hope that this can be helpful for any new bloggers! So here we go… 

 

Write about a Topic that Interests you

If you want to be able to stick to blogging, then there is no point in starting a blog about a topic that you do not know much about, or have much interest in. That is because, depending on the type of blog you have, often posts do need to be well researched, not to mention the time it takes to write and proofread, therefore you would soon tire of writing a blog about a topic that you have no interest in. 

Be Relatable

Yes, you could produce brilliant pieces of writing, which are authoritative, very persuading, and fascinating to read. Yet, what I have found by blogging, is that readers will often want to know your thoughts and experiences. Therefore, if you were to write a post, say for example about cake decorating (which I know is not my niche, and I cannot decorate a cake to save a life, but I love looking at pretty cakes and I love eating them even more), then of course provide a comprehensive guide so that readers can establish trust in your post. But I would say also, it is good to include some of your own personal experiences. Even something as random as “I once used baking sodar rather than sugar.” Because while you may not deem this relevant, readers would be interested, and they would therefore want to find out more about you as a person, and thus be more willing to subscribe. I mean, I certainly would be! And do not worry, this story is made up, but there are many far more humiliating stories about me which are true. In an equivalent way, if you were writing a blog post that is like the ones I usually do, then as an example, you could include your own experiences of growing up as a young woman if you were writing about feminism. 

Engage With Other Bloggers

When you first start out, how is anyone meant to find your blog if you do not start engaging with other bloggers? Instead, by liking and commenting on other people’s posts, bloggers may take an interest in your blog, which is where you will begin to grow from. Aside from how it benefits you as a blogger, I found that during lockdown, engaging with other bloggers helped me when I was not able to meet with other people. And even now, it is always nice to engage with, and occasionally get to know new bloggers, even if the only interaction is on WordPress. Furthermore, reading content posted by other bloggers enables you to learn more about topics you may have had little knowledge of before, and it all helps in enabling your own writing skills to improve! 

Be Curious About where the Blog May Take you

I know that a lot of content creators do have extremely specific goals to achieve under a limited period. Now if you are the sort of person to have a to do list at the start of each day, a morning routine, and you usually manage to get each of these items ticked off at the end of each day, then having specific blogging goals may well work for you. But be it for the better or the worse, I am certainly not this type of person, and I know that not everyone is. This way, more so if we have a lot going on in our lives, having specific goals may not be the best way to motivate us. Because over time, we may find that we are not able to commit to working on the blog for a certain number of hours. As an example, if you have exams coming up, then you may find that you cannot allocate as much time to your blog as previously speculated, and in this case, exams may need to take priority.  

Do Not Hyper-Focus on Money

If you have been blogging for a little bit, then you will be aware that there are several ways in which you can make money through blogging. It is understandable as to why anyone would not mind earning some extra cash through blogging, nonetheless, to earn substantial amounts from blogging, a lot of time and effort would need to go into the blog first, while it would need significant numbers of viewers and subscribers. It was only the other day when I finally monitized my blog, and again I doubt that I will get anything, at least in the coming few months. And even if I get something, then it is likely to be peanuts (plus it costs to have an upgrade allowing you to do this). This is not me suggesting that it is impossible to make good money from blogging, but it would take a lot of hard work and commitment, in the long run. 

Do not Over Work Yourself

There is nothing worse than gazing at a computer screen, having completely run out of ideas. You feel terrible about the fact that you are not really achieving anything, yet you would feel extremely guilty for taking a break! If you have found yourself in these kinds of situations, then chances are, you do need a break! And whilst blogging is not easy, it is to the benefit of yourself and for the blog to allow yourself to rest when needed. This does not only apply to blogging, but anything and everything else. For instance, I remember back in 2020, I think partly due to the covid situation, I did not allow myself enough time for myself, therefore I spent too long working on this blog, on sixth form work and some paid work. Ironically, when I did allow myself more time to rest, my grades went up! Moral of the story! 

Check your Spellings!

This is a word of advice to my younger self, apart from anyone else. Because to be brutally honest, I could not give a shit. All throughout primary school, secondary and sixth form and even on this blog. But if you are here thinking, like I did, that spellings do not matter, considering you are only writing for a very amateur blog, then think again. Because if you were searching for information about a certain topic, then you clicked on a post which was full of spelling mistakes, chances are, you would not have much regard for the post and you certainly would not consider putting in your email address to subscribe to them. Even if apart from that, the content was excellent. But of course, in time, you yourself may get readers who are interested in reading about your topic, outside of the blogging community. Oh, and a word of advice if you are in education, PROOFREAD your work! Unbelievably, it could make the difference of a grade. 

Switch Between Tasks When Blogging

Doing anything for a prolonged period can become tiresome. This way, if you are dedicating a morning or so to your blog, then unless you are on a roll with a particular task, switch between tasks. Otherwise, at least with me, it is easy to lose focus and motivation trying to stick to doing the same thing for a prolonged period. 

Numbers do not Matter

You will hear most people who have been blogging for a while say the same thing, in that the number of views that you get, and the number of followers, does not really matter. However, it is so easy to get bogged down by all of this, which can be exhausting and quite upsetting, considering that inevitably there will be days where your blog will receive less attention compared to other days.  

If you Think of Something Good, then Make a Note of It!

If you are anything like me, disorganised, disordered and sometimes a bit dim, then most of the time you are hating yourself for the fact that you cannot seem to ever be able to focus on one thing at a time. If you are trying to do work, you are thinking about what is for tea, if you are eating tea you are thinking about what you will wear on friday night; and if you are out on a Friday night, then you will be frantically panicking about what work you need to get done, and wondering what to eat when you finally get to leave the club and go to the kebab shop! In other words, you can never focus on one thing at a time. Usually, this is a pain in the ass, but occasionally a load of bright ideas will all of a sudden spring to your mind. Which is wonderful, but only if you manage to make a note of them, and do something about it when you get home!

On a side note, you may have already managed to read this post. But for some strange reason, WordPress decided to delete this post, so here I am posting it again.

Old Money


Can you think of anything much more annoying than this? A new girl showing up dressed head to toe in the most extravert clothing that you can imagine. Bright pink designer sunglasses, some flamboyant printed flairs with a matching top, and to top it all off the most ridiculous, eye-catching, but dirt-cheap looking jewellery. She is exceptionally outgoing, drives this hideous Lamborghini (pink again), and according to rumors, her family owns some enormous swimming pool which looks like it has come straight out of Butlins! To be fair to her, she is rather sweet, but you convince yourself that it is only in a superficial way. Plus, the reason she is so rich is only thanks to her parents, so now she is choosing to work her bum off to ensure she can continue their newly established, prosperous lifestyle. Nonetheless, you are mature enough now to realise that you do not really want to be cracking out 60+ hours of work a week, to have exclusive access to that kind of life. Yet, it would be nice to be able to have something a little more secure than what you have, which does not involve showing off, which seems to go with possessing a lot of money today and does not involve having to work too hard. That way, rather than being far below these people who love to flex their wealth, you will be above them, and you will not even have the need to show off! No harm in turning to nostalgia toward a life that you know that you will never experience… 

What is Old Money?

Old Money refers to money that is accumulated over a prolonged period, which is passed on through generations, in contrast to money, which is accumulated by one individual throughout their lives, often referred to as new money. Those in possession of old money tend to be more discreet about their wealth compared to those with “new money.” There is often a heavy focus on image, top quality education (such as boarding schools, ivy league colleges and if you are in the UK, then Oxbridge) and a strong focus on tradition. Also, those born into families with substantial amounts of “old money” are more likely to have access to the connections required for them to enter careers of their choice. It is “most prominent” in countries where there was not an aristocracy but an “elite social class”, such as the USA. Most recently however, “old money inspiration” has been shared on sites like TikTok, a platform popular with Gen Z and younger millennials.  

The Revival of Old Money

We only need to consider fashion trend cycles to think about why the revival of “old money”, at this moment in time, should not come to us as much of a surprise. This is because when Y2K was in fashion (back in the 00s, not now), “2000s prep” came in, as a “backlash”. These two styles were vastly different, with Y2K, as you guess resembling bright colours and outfits which are out there, and “2000s prep”, offering what I would say would be a more sophisticated style. And whilst “2000s prep” and “old money” are two distinctive styles, there are certainly parallels. Therefore, it should not come as too much of a surprise with old money becoming popular, during the time that Y2K makes a major comeback! Something can also be said about the implications of these contrasting styles, with Y2K resembling more of the new money style, while in contrast old money resembles, well, the style of old money! 

The Appeal of Old Money

Another reason old money became popular when it did, is due to its appeal during covid times. For instance, during covid many people had their usual social activities disrupted, meanwhile some have been forced to take time off work. Naturally, this will lead people to seek out other activities to take part in, and what could be much nicer than a game of golf in the sunshine? That is of course providing one has the money, lives in an area green and grassy enough to have a golf course, and of course is not working so much throughout lockdown that they do not have the energy available. Furthermore, the whole style of old money, whether you were able to play golf or not, may have been appealing to those during lockdown, considering that it is a lifestyle miles away from the lives which most of us lead. Therefore, as an escape from the resent and anxiety most will have felt during this period, it is not surprising that they may have looked toward the lifestyle associated with “old money” as an escape, whether conscious of this or not.  

Dark and Light Academia

I have also noticed that a few sources have linked “old money” to “dark” and “light academia”. While the aesthetic of academia focuses on the aesthetic appeal of high-quality education, I would say the reason for the association would be because for most of us, pursuing a good education can feel rather strenuous. And for me personally, while I am enjoying the course I am taking at university, a large motive for working hard and for choosing to take the course in the first place is that it is more likely I will have some stable, decent paying job at the end of it. Yet, would it not be nice if we really were able to just read, and learn, primarily as a pleasure, rather than doing so in the hope of being more likely to end up with a semi stable career. This way, as with dark/light academic, I would say old money can be linked to a desire to be in a privileged enough position, to learn for the joys of it, rather than merely learning for the sake of hopefully establishing financial stability in the future. 

The Economic Appeal

So now we can understand how we, poor, anxious, and most likely living in some polluted town or city, would find the whole essence of old money appealing. Nonetheless, there is no one who is going to find more delight in old money than the lovely people who possess it themselves! As already mentioned, those in possession of old money do not tend to hold the urge to make a show of themselves. Therefore, with less interest in pursuing material items, including flashy cars, posh penthouses and hanging out in the glitziest of hotels, they are more likely to choose to spend their money smartly. This is known as non-conspicuous consumption. Understandably, the average Tesco goer may be wondering how this may be relevant? Nonetheless, spending on education, which has increased 3.5 times for the top 1% while it has remained flat for middle income spenders, enables those at the very top to maintain their social standing. This is by ensuring that their children are equipped with the appropriate skills for the top paying firms; meaning that as a result, their middle-class university educated counterparts would just not make the cut for. And what could be a better option than education, when the cost of it has gone up significantly in recent decades? Moreover, those with “old money” are also spending more than ever on “security and privacy”, which includes purchasing homes which are hidden from google street view! Henceforth, they really are choosing to be a world away, and a cut above the rest of us!  

Why this has Happened?

In the past, only those at the very top were able to afford the most expensive goods. Yet in recent years, mass consumption has allowed those from the middle classes to access similar material goods. This way, the super wealthy need to find new ways to distinguish themselves. And what is better than spending more on education to ensure that the top jobs can continue to be exclusive to those within their social circle! Furthermore, I guess the thought of no one being able to look up your house (or mansion) on google maps does sound cool! Another element included under inconspicuous consumption is cultural capital, where people in the relevant social socials are aware of exclusive behaviors enabling them to win over someone outside these circles. Which can be as simple as knowing the appropriate small talk. 

Everything Else Wrong with Old Money

It should not come as much of a surprise that the style of old money has been described as having the “absence of flesh, the absence of blackness and the absence of extravagance.” Most of us recognise that this is a problem continuously in the fashion industry, but moreover the initial accumulation of old money was very exploitative for people of colour, and highly dependent on the slave trade. For instance, Beckford’s experts estimated Britain’s debt to Africans in the continent and diaspora to be in the trillions, which had fueled British and European industries to initially thrive in those early days. And while I am not here to change anyone’s political standpoint, I will leave you to sit with the fact that the richest 400 Americans have enjoyed a 40% rise in wealth since the pandemic. 

Summary

To sum this up, I hope that this post has made you aware of some of the problematic implications concerning old money. Nonetheless, while it is important to understand the numerous issues associated with this: from a historic, political, and economic perspective; there is no harm in dipping our noses into it, when concerning fashion and lifestyle, as a form of enjoyment and escapism. Which is something that we all need. 

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22638568/old-money-aesthetic-dark-academia-prep-tiktok-pinterest-instagram

https://aeon.co/ideas/conspicuous-consumption-is-over-its-all-about-intangibles-now

https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Old_Money

https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-millennials-reviving-old-money-aesthetic-fashion-decor-sports-2021-10?r=US&IR=T