The Problematic Whitewashing of Eating Disorder Recovery
BIPOC, Special TopicsThe image of recovery, particularly online, has such a pristine filter on it. Take a look at the recovery tag on Instagram or Tumblr and you will see some very positive things, but it can also be intimidating and even discouraging. Some may…
Olympic Fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad Gets a Barbie
BIPOC, Body Image, Special TopicsMy body began to shake. It started at my core and radiated slowly outwards, like those concentric circles you might see in…
On Rejecting Colonization and Reclaiming My Brown Identity
BIPOC, Special TopicsWe are nearing the end of Hispanic Heritage Month (also known as Latino Heritage Month), and although this month purports to celebrate and honor brown culture, it is a time that evokes feelings of dissociation for me. Yes, I am of Mexican-indigenous…
5 Key Takeaways from the 2017 LGBTQ People of Color Mental Health Conference
BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Special TopicsLast week, I had the privilege of attending In My Mind: A LGBTQ People of Color Mental Health Conference organized by DBGM. Held once a year in New York City, the conference centers the voices of LGBTQ+ people of color, particularly trans…
Serena Williams’ Inspiring Letter to Her Mom is a Win for Body Positivity
Athletes, BIPOC, Body ImageAfter giving birth to her first child, tennis star Serena Williams has posted a letter to her mother publicly on the social platform Reddit. In the letter, Williams writes about the admiration she holds towards her mother now that she has become…
How to Address the Troubling Lack of Diversity Among Eating Disorders Professionals
BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Men, Special TopicsMany of us from minority communities, whether it be our race/ethnicity, sexual orientation/gender identity, foreign/immigration status, or any other such factor, share an unfortunately common experience moving through the world: being the only…
The Unexpected Expectation of Going to the Gym During Ramadan
BIPOC, Special TopicsRamadan is like a Spiderman movie.I wait anxiously all year for its release. Once it arrives, it ends way too quickly. Afterwards, however, I am happy knowing that, inevitably, there will always be next year.If you’re not a Spiderman fan (but...but...James…
Unlearning “Perfect” As a Woman of Color in a Racist World
BIPOC, Special TopicsPerfectionism is often a trait of many folks who are in recovery from eating disorders, including me. My childhood traumas left me feeling flawed, inherently bad, and not good enough for anyone. I believed that if I was a “good girl” and…
‘I Want Black Disabled Girls to be Seen and Heard in Mainstream Media’
Activism, BIPOCIt’s no secret that disabled people are underrepresented or misrepresented in mainstream media. Just last year, Variety reported that 95% of disabled characters in the nation’s top 10 television shows are portrayed by able-bodied actors. Many…
Brazilian Illustrator Marcela Sabiá is Challenging the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health, Body Image & Disability
Activism, BIPOC, Body Image, Special TopicsMarcela Sabiá is a 26-year-old Brazilian illustrator who loves dogs, astrology, and creating art that makes the world a better place. She first started creating art professionally in 2015, and now, nearly three years later, she boasts an Instagram…