Caldwell College Celebrates Body Pride Week with Packed Line-up of Activities
The Student Development Center, the Women's Studies Program and Women's Center hosted a number of events for Body Pride Week during the week of February 25, which was National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. "We were able to offer an exciting line-up of activities and we brought in some wonderful, engaging speakers who were able to educate our students about the ways in which males and females grapple with body image concerns," said Robin Davenport, Director of the Student Development Center. Davenport said Psychology Professor Rita Wolpert's showing of the film, Killing Us Softly: Advertising's Image of Women, "highlighted the power of the media in influencing the way we view our bodies."
Davenport said that throughout the week, students had the opportunity to learn about healthy "mindful" eating and gain an appreciation of their bodies through yoga and martial arts. "It was heartening to see students write positive statements about their bodies after seeing their Polaroid shots, and many students and staff found it to be very "freeing" to step on the Scale of Fortune and receive a positive affirmation rather than a weight reading." Davenport said one highlight of the week was the live off-Broadway performance by Margaux Laskey. "Her show, Size Ate: One Woman's Search for the Perfect Fit, focused on how a person can become obsessed with obtaining the perfect body and how it is possible to attain self acceptance. The show received rave reviews from students and staff."
Sade Grier, a freshman at Caldwell said the program was awesome "It made me feel better about myself."
Sandra Gilot, Assistant Director of Residence Life said she very much enjoyed Margaux's show. "There is such a relatable quality to the show-that you don't necessarily have to be suffering from anorexia or bulimia to understand what she went through. And who hasn't said it "Pretty Hurts" in some way or another. Believe me I don't wear stilettos for the pure joy of it."
The performance seemed to elicit a lot of positive dialog. "We're hoping we can bring the show back to Caldwell College next spring," Davenport said.