Today was beach day. I'm not a huge fan of the beach, as I burn pretty easily. I'm more a walk-along-the-water-in-cuffed-jeans-and-look-pensive sort of girl, but in the name of this project I felt obligated to put some time into bona fide beach-going.I read through all of the bathing suit advice in this month's issue. Most of it was about minimizing body flaws. I feel pretty comfortable in a bathing suit, though. My biggest complaint is probably that my skin is the same color as the sand, so often I imagine myself looking like a floating bikini. Seventeen didn't address this issue, so I just took bathing suit inspiration from a photo of Annalynne McCord that the magazine featured in their "Look Amazing in Your Swimsuit" section. Like her, I wore a ruffled top and frilly bottom. Unlike her, I refused to pose for a photo like I was in the midst of a spontaneous frolic.
I felt pretty comfortable in my bathing suit. If I am going to fuss about my weight, which I assume to be most people's issue with bathing suit season, I tend to do it more in winter clothes. Something about wearing a bathing suit doesn't really bother me, because I feel less constricted when I wear one. In winter clothes, I feel like it is difficult to find clothes that don't pull or stretch or sag uncomfortably across various parts of my body. A bikini merely covers the necessary parts, so I can avoid this issue altogether. I realize this is a matter of perspective, though. I am fairly petite, so I have the privilege of bypassing most typical bathing suit hang-ups.
Because it is May, and I'm in New Jersey, I didn't take any time to swim in the still-freezing ocean. I spent most of my time reading and sleeping on the beach under an umbrella. I finally got the chance to finish reading The Purity Myth by Feministing editor Jessica Valenti. I found it to be a little bit extremist, but definitely well-written, and definitely worth reading, if only for the sake of gaining some perspective into the role of virginity in shaping America's girls and women.
Seventeen suggested that I take some beach time to flirt with boys on adjacent blankets, but the beach I go to is mostly middle-aged Jewish men, so there weren't really any opportunities to apply this advice. After about two hours I went home, in fear of getting sunburned.
Tonight I am doing a little more shopping, then some dinner with my parents, then going all alone to see Conan O'Brein's "Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television Tour." The opportunity to see this show came to me at the last minute, and I wasn't going to turn it down just because nobody wanted to go with me. Not sure if this makes me lame or awesome, but I'm excited either way.
I just wanted to pop by and let you know how much I enjoy your blog. I came upon it a few days ago by clicking a random link off someone's website, subscribed, and since then have read every new and old post. I'll admit that when I can get my hands on a Seventeen, Teen Vogue, or really any magazine (I don't live in the US so they're a bit harder to come by) I devour them like chocolate cake... and I'll also admit that I never considered Seventeen to be "trash," so to speak, like the tabloids the newsstands are packed with. While I knew I was hardly reading an intellectual publication, I did think it was pretty close to a "quality" magazine for the 16-year-old-me. Your posts, however, are enlightening, humorous, and well-written while still being easy to read. I don't know if I can call myself a feminist, but I thank you for opening me up to a new look at the magazine and providing another insight into the world's approach towards this age group.I'll keep reading!
ReplyDeleteKeren
I do have to add one thing though, just as a bit of constructive criticism. Maybe I'm just ultra-sensitive due to my Jewish heritage, but I have to ask -- what's wrong with the fact that your beach is full of Jewish men? The middle-age thing I get (and laughed), but I did feel like your comment that the fact that the guys at your beach are Jewish make it less of an ideal place to pick up boys was a bit unnecessary. I know your remark was meant to be humorous, and I wouldn't go as far as to say I was insulted, but it's something to think about for next time. :)
hey thanks for the feedback. Being Jewish as well, I understand your sensitivity in me describing the men on the beach as Jewish. This was not to imply that Jewish men are not worth flirting with, but that old men are not worth flirting with. By including the descriptor Jewish I hoped to give a little insight into the beach that I go to, which is in a hugely Jewish neighborhood with a distinct sort of culture. I tend to forget though that I'm not just writing for people from my region anymore (which is awesome!). Hope this clarifies my thinking a little. My apologies if you took offense at all.
ReplyDeleteLove your PURITY MYTH juxtaposition. Totally enjoying the blog!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't think people would find it offensive if they knew you were Jewish. Though I believe it was mentioned in an earlier post. I could be wrong!
ReplyDeleteI think you are doing a good thing here. Wish girls like you went to my high school!
ReplyDeleteJamie was very clear when she described the men @ her beach to be "middle-aged" Jewish men. A forty/fifty something y.o. man, no matter what the religion probably wouldn't be appealing to an 18 year old anyway. In any event, Your bikini was cute Jamie!! Hope you put on your sunscreen...LOL..
ReplyDeleteIt's no problem, I didn't take offense... or doubt your intentions, either. I just thought I'd mention it. But I do love your blog, keep it up!
ReplyDeleteYa for Coco!!! I hope the show was as awesome as I imagine it would be. And keep up the good work with the blog.
ReplyDeletei love reading your blog this was such a cool idea!
ReplyDeleteMakes you awesome for sure. Another great post.
ReplyDeleteWant to take this opportunity to express my frustration about the whole pale skin issue. Like a lot of women my age (I'm 36), I was a sun worshiper in my teens. VERY bad. Skin cancer is not attractive. My gripe is that it still seems that tan is desirable and pale undesirable. Or do I have that wrong? Is it mainly my generation (friends and coworkers) who complain about pasty skin?
Thank you. If only there had been blogs when I was reading Seventeen (in the 90s!!)... I actually stopped reading Seventeen and all other similar magazines after reading an article about being comfortable in your not size 0 body, only to turn the page and find 5 full page spread of size 0 girls parading around the beach! I'm now 28 and still feel great about my size 6! Looking forward to more posts -- JD
ReplyDeleteI found your blog from IHeart daily. This is the first, and only post, I have read so far. I love seventeen. I'm completly confortable in swimsuits, too. I was suprised by the tanning spread in the may issue.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog from IHeart daily. This is the first, and only post, I have read so far. I love seventeen. I'm completly confortable in swimsuits, too. I was suprised by the tanning spread in the may issue.
ReplyDeleteI saw your blog because it was linked on Jezebel, and it's been an interesting read. I would like to say that going to a show by yourself is AWESOME. One of the best decisions I've made was flying to NYC from CA to watch Cate Blanchett in A Streetcar Named Desire all by myself. Definitely don't be afraid to do things alone... it can be very empowering.
ReplyDeleteSince you seem to have a decent awareness of social privilege issues, I thought I'd point out that using 'lame' as a negative quality is ableist language.
ReplyDeleteI'm very much enjoying your blog, and very glad to see an 18 year old with so much awareness of social privilege issues!
Found your blog recently, and I agree with the general comments of it's awesomeness. I'm a university grad as well who dabbled in gender studies, and a lot of the stuff you touch on we covered in my sociology/gender courses, which I think is phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteI also find it interesting how often you've mentioned being Jewish - have you considered that this as self identification as one of the 'other' groups? You've made comments that you consider Hispanic women to be white (I wonder if Hispanic women would agree with you), and yet you seem to identify Jewish people being a separate entity which necessitates labeling. Just a thought I've had while reading your blog, which is fantastic as it very obviously gets people thinking, and in an intelligent way.
One of the best things about gender/sociology/anthro/etc. courses is that they get you to consider the perspective from which you stand and view the world, and how it affects your perceptions and role, which your blog also does. I think that your blog is an excellent demonstration of the kind of creativity and intelligence which teenagers can contribute, i thoroughly enjoy it and encourage you to keep it up!
Awesome... going to Conan's show makes you awesome. Good for you! Hope you enjoyed it. I wanted to get tickets for his Upper Darby show, but it sold out.
ReplyDeleteHey, just found your blog. I wish I was as smart/creative/generally great as you in high school--I love this project. I'm a Gender Studies major at Muhlenberg College (no one's heard of it, don't worry), and I wanted to know what you thought made The Purity Myth an "extremist" book. I consider Jessica Valenti to be a pretty tame, non-radical feminist (pop feminism is the slang I'd use for her particular brand) and she's actually gathered criticism from most feminists for her relatively "safe" approach. But this is a generalization.
ReplyDeleteAlso, do you consider yourself a feminist? Sorry if you already answered this in a previous post.
--Chelsea
(i have no blog but I don't want to be "annonymous, because it's creepy.)
Hi! Loving your blog - came across it on twitter and have RT'd the hell out of it. Question: What exactly did you dislike about The Purity Myth? I am a big Jessica Valenti fan but I haven't finished The Purity Myth yet.
ReplyDeleteAlso (and sorry if you've addressed this already, I've only read this far), it'd be cool to read something about sexual orientation on here. We both know that Seventeen is blatantly heterosexist.
Thanks and good luck!
Coco is finishing his tour right here in Atlanta tomorrow night and I am going ON MY OWN. I went to a concert alone once because nobody wanted to go with me; this time it was because nobody wanted to pay for a ticket! I think we should, as a society, show young ladies that sometimes it is okay to do things on your own. Watching movies alone is fun. No need to worry about what someone else wants to see! Same with eating out. You wanna try somewhere but none of your friends want to? Just take a nice good book to read and enjoy! It's okay to be alone in public! (the more you know)
ReplyDeletePaleness is Pleasant!
ReplyDeleteI'm of Irish descent, and I wanted applaud you for being comfortable enough with yourself to sit on the beach, let alone publicize this project. I'm 21, and only JUST discovered the joys of not giving a flibbertygibbit what Tanny McSorostitute thinks of my melanin levels. Keep on being awesome, Jamie. You've bolstered my faith in our generation.
Pale Pride FO' LIFE
-Clare
As a...um...bigger girl, I notice that these magazines only show thin people "overcoming confidence issues". I very much dislike how Seventeen sections the "curvy" girls into their own "special" fashion segments and forget completely about "curvy" girls when talking about flirting or swimsuits and such other "normal" teenage things.
ReplyDeleteI just got linked here from Feministing.com, the blog that Jessica Valenti co-founded. Like two of your previous commentors, I'd also like to know what you didn't like about The Purity Myth and why you consider it "extremist".
ReplyDelete(Here's the post that links to you: http://www.feministing.com/archives/021515.html)
Going to Conan O'Brien's show alone makes you AWESOME! I have traveled the world solo, and I find it empowering. I think a lot of women miss out on amazing experiences because they feel they shouldn't do things alone. Good for you for not sitting at home!
ReplyDeleteJamie, a friend on Facebook linked to this blog (via Bust) and I absolutely love it. As someone who doesn't fit into the traditional mold of "American girls" (overweight, shy, etc.) Seventeen and similar magazines portray, I find it all fascinating.
ReplyDeleteLooking back, I wonder why I even wasted time reading Seventeen and other magazines, because not only did I not relate to them 90% of the time, I was basically being insulted indirectly by the editors of the magazine for not subscribing to this mold.
And, side note, Team Coco! I saw him at Michigan State and had such a blast.