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Daisy Ridley Body Shamed
Captain's Blog Stardate 93799.31
I know this blog is about Star Trek Online but I feel I need to take a moment to discuss something important. Let's hop into a transdimensional gateway and head over to the universe of Star Wars, specifically let's talk about Daisy Ridley. As most, if not all, of you know, she's one of the stars in The Force Awakens, and she was recently "body shamed". Frankly I'm a little sick of this because it seems to be happening too often.
Let's take a step back in time to when the media portrayed most women as thin. That was the idea of sexy. The skinnier you were the sexier you were. I completely understand why parents didn't want their daughters growing up believing that they needed to look like this. It's unhealthy to not have self-confidence simply because your body doesn't match someone else's. It's also unhealthy to be ridiculed because of that.
So there was a movement to show that women of all sizes can be beautiful. To build up their confidence no matter how they looked. I support this 100% and think it's great! Both men and women come in all shapes and sizes and we need to remember that. What I dislike is how this has turned the tables and somehow given people the belief that they should insult women who are thin, and try to shame them! What?!
This has been going on for a while and most recently it happened to Daisy Ridley. A meme was generated in which there is a speech bubble where she says "I can't believe the unrealistic expectations I'm setting for young girls. Who cast me anyway? Don't they know real women have curves?" Are you !@#$ing kidding me? So she is supposed to be ashamed that she's thin? I thought the idea was to give girls confidence, not define their body type. By saying "real women have curves" you are defining how women should look and defeating the purpose.
Part of Daisy's response included "Real women are all shapes and sizes..." which is 100% correct. Perhaps instead of shaming and insulting each other we should support each other. Understand that both men and women are not going to fit a mold and anyone who tells you otherwise is a fool who should be ignored.
So Daisy I applaud you. You are indeed a great role model for all women. Not because you were cast as a leading lady. Not because your character is portrayed as a strong woman. Not because you have a certain body type. You are a great role model because you stood up for yourself and women around the world. So everyone reading this please tell yourselves and the women in your lives to not take crap from anyone. Try to live a healthy life for yourself, and never let anyone make you feel bad about the way you look.
Written by Attilio on March 12, 2016 at 09:59 pm
Comments
March 13, 2016 at 12:30 am
Well put sir, I couldn't agree more. We need more people too look like they do and be happy about it and not what magazines or tabloids or whatever says is the "new ideal", for either gender.
It sickens my heart whenever some woman gets it into their head that most men will like her better if shes super skinny and large in front. And sadly most men are still living in that pattern. We need to wake up and accept people for who and what they are.
March 13, 2016 at 05:16 pm
Brilliant piece. I couldn't agree more and I'll be spreading this advice to anyone who'll listen.
Reply to johnluke1974March 13, 2016 at 07:55 pm
Here, Here!
As a husband of a "slim" wife and the father of a "slim" daughter and a "not so slim" daughter I heartily applaud your blog entry. My younger daughter who is outside the archetype body size for her age has spent many years in a shell due to her desire to avoid having to deal with the childish obsession of 10 yr old girls thinking they are the next Vic's Secret model.
Thankfully she has found a group of friends - boys and girls, ALL shapes and sizes - who care about the content of character and having fun and sharing interests. She has begun blossoming and my wife and I could not be happier for the freedom she has found in it.
As a "fat kid" who lost the weight, but has recently put it back on due to massive steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories taken to help combat bulging cervical discs... I know the social battering you can take. My wife was called "chicken legs" as a high school student.
People are like art hanging in the great museums of the world. EVERY piece has it's own beauty, character and individuality. That is why each piece, each person, is invaluable and the world is diminished when those things aren't celebrated.
March 14, 2016 at 10:02 am
Well, this must not bode well for STO... nothing to talk about... lol.
I wholeheartedly agree with your post, well said.
Kids can be incredibly cruel to each other, and due to our infantile culture, there are a lot more adult-aged kids around. If you watch TV, you'll notice the kinds of products or types of advertisements for products that were once for kids, are now being marketed for adults. Chewy vitamins for adults... really!?! Beer commercials that show 20 and 30 somethings partying like 18 year old kids... really!?!
Maturity and adulthood are not valued as much as they used to be, so we have these ridiculous things to put up with as adults, coming from other 'adults'. However, instead of correcting them and teaching them right from wrong, like we can our children, we are forced to endure their childish behavior because in many cases they could be older (in age only) than we are...
March 14, 2016 at 10:58 am
Bust any bodies chops when I caught wind of their Stupidity and retardation of purposely trying to hurt another's feeling. And I DON'T care if they care faul ball. Because that type of stupid thinking is UNACCEPTABLE behavior. I try to find something beautiful in men and women. But if you have to bust another's bubble to feel good about yourself then I attack you.
Full figured guys and gals are beautiful because they are retaining more soul and greatness. And the haters are jealous because their bitter, small little creatures.
I like to make that type of stupid cry.
March 15, 2016 at 10:14 am
*Shakes head in disgust*
some people are just so small minded...
I'm definately behind Daisy on this one
March 15, 2016 at 01:34 pm
This is exactly the kind of inclusive topics I like to see and see positive responses to in a group of Star Trek fans. I've heard that some people see scifi geeks/needs/trekkies as closed to outsiders and non-inclusive, but this kind of positivity makes me feel better.
Reply to AndrewKoldwellMarch 16, 2016 at 10:28 pm
Well written, I take my hat off to you Sir.
Reply to sidhallApril 21, 2016 at 11:26 am
She is very slender - it's actually easy to tell from some of the scenes in the movie that she runs a lot. Distance running. The way she holds herself, and the slight stiffness in her posture. Take a look at the Boston Marathon - any marathon, actually, at every female runner there and you will see 95% of them share her body type. Stick slim, not an ounce of fat, slightly stiff. Are all of them unreal women too? Or, perhaps, are they just women who are fit and who have physical self discipline?
Reply to KurtMay 02, 2016 at 12:30 am
a great post.
no matter what anyone tells you we unfortunately live in a very real misogynistic society with real warped ideas of reality (warped ideas of reality are great in some situations!!!).
as has been posted, we all come in different shapes and sizes and how we conduct ourselves should be how we are judged. not by the "hollywoodised" ideal.
daisy was absolutely awesome in STTFA and in my mind the gel that held the movie together.
shame? nothing to be ashamed about here. x
LLAP