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"For two and a half years, Amanda Czerniawski was a sociologist turned plus-size model. Journeying into a world where, as a size 10, she was not considered an average body type, but rather, for the fashion industry, "plus-sized," Czerniawski studied the standards of work and image production in the plus-sized model industry. Fashioning Fat takes us through a model's day-to-day activities, first at open calls at modeling agencies and then through the fashion shows and photo shoots. Czerniawski also interviewed 35 plus-size models about their lives in the world of fashion, bringing to life the strange contradictions of being an object of non-idealized beauty. Fashioning Fat shows us that the mission of many of these models is to challenge our standards of beauty that privilege the thin body; they show us that fat can be sexy. Many plus-size models do often succeed in overcoming years of self-loathing and shame over their bodies, yet, as Czerniawski shows, these women are not the ones in charge of beauty's construction or dissemination. At the corporate level, the fashion industry perpetuates their objectification. Plus-size models must conform to an image created by fashion's tastemakers, as their bodies must fit within narrowly defined parameters of size and shape--an experience not too different from that of straight-sized models. Ultimately, plus-size models find that they are still molding their bodies to fit an image instead of molding an image of beauty to fit their bodies. A much-needed behind-the-scenes look at this growing industry, Fashioning Fat is a fascinating, unique, and important contribution to our understanding of beauty"-- Provided by publisher.

Fashioning fat : inside plus-size modeling / Amanda M. Czerniawski.

"100 women bare all in an empowering collection of photographs and interviews about Womanhood. Vagina, vulva, lady garden, pussy, beaver, cunt, fanny... whatever you call it most women have no idea what's 'down there'. Culturally and personally, no body part inspires love and hate, fear and lust, worship and desecration in the same way. From smooth Barbie dolls to internet porn, girls and women grow up with a very narrow view of what they should look like, even though in reality there is an enormous range. Womanhood departs from the 'ideal vagina' and presents the gentle un-airbrushed truth, allowing us to understand and celebrate our diversity. For the first time, 100 brave and beautiful women reveal their bodies and stories on their own terms, talking about how they feel about pleasure, sex, pain, trauma, birth, motherhood, menstruation, menopause, gender, sexuality and simply being a woman."--From synopsis.

Womanhood : the bare reality / Laura Dodsworth.

Psychoanalysis & women series

Myths of mighty women : their application in psychoanalytic psychotherapy / edited by Arlene Kramer Richards and Lucille Spira.

"Growing up as a fat girl, Virgie Tovar believed that her body was something to be fixed. But after two decades of dieting and constant guilt, she was over it - and gave herself the freedom to trust her own body again. Ever since, she's been helping others to do the same. Tovar is hungry for a world where bodies are valued equally, food is free from moral judgment, and you can jiggle through life with respect. In concise and candid language, she delves into unlearning fatphobia, dismantling sexist notions of fashion, and rejecting diet culture's greatest lie: that fat people need to wait before beginning their best lives."--Publisher description.

You have the right to remain fat / Virgie Tovar.

"Weight, food, and body image are consuming passions for many women in contemporary Western society, often distracting them from the real sources of their dissatisfaction and unhappiness. In this far-reaching collection twenty-two contributors explore how women can empower themselves to eat without guilt, to accept their bodies, and to engage in changing the actual conditions of their lives."--Jacket.

Consuming passions : feminist approaches to weight preoccupation and eating disorders / edited by Catrina Brown and Karin Jasper.

Unbearable weight : feminism, Western culture, and the body / Susan Bordo.

"The Slumflower will be your life guru, confidante and best friend. She'll show you that being alone is not just okay: it's just about the best freaking thing that's ever happened to you. As she says, 'You're bad as hell and you were made with intention.' It's about time you realized. Peppered with insightful Igbo proverbs from Chidera's Nigerian mother and full of her own original artwork, What A Time To Be Alone will help you navigate the modern world. We can all decide our own fates and Chidera shows us how, using a three-part approach filled with sass, wisdom and charm. Learn how to celebrate YOU - decide your self-worth, take time to heal and empower yourself in this messy world. Don't worry about THEM - avoid other people's demons and realize that everyone is protecting themselves from something - no matter how aggressive their method. Feel the togetherness in US - sustain and grow healthy relationships and avoid toxicity in your friendships. Own your story. Create your own narrative. Read this book"-- Provided by publisher.

1 volume (unpaged) : illustrations ; 23 cm

What a time to be alone / Chidera Eggerue.

Girlpower - how far does it go? : a resource and training pack on young women and self esteem / written by Jo Adams ; with support and contributions from Carol Painter.

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Fashioning fat : inside plus-size modeling / Amanda M. Czerniawski.

Womanhood : the bare reality / Laura Dodsworth.

Myths of mighty women : their application in psychoanalytic psychotherapy / edited by Arlene Kramer Richards and Lucille Spira.

You have the right to remain fat / Virgie Tovar.

Consuming passions : feminist approaches to weight preoccupation and eating disorders / edited by Catrina Brown and Karin Jasper.

Unbearable weight : feminism, Western culture, and the body / Susan Bordo.

What a time to be alone / Chidera Eggerue.

Girlpower - how far does it go? : a resource and training pack on young women and self esteem / written by Jo Adams ; with support and contributions from Carol Painter.

Perfect girls, starving daughters : the frightening new normality of hating your body / Courtney E. Martin.

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Active filters:

Fashioning fat : inside plus-size modeling / Amanda M. Czerniawski.

Womanhood : the bare reality / Laura Dodsworth.

Myths of mighty women : their application in psychoanalytic psychotherapy / edited by Arlene Kramer Richards and Lucille Spira.

You have the right to remain fat / Virgie Tovar.

Consuming passions : feminist approaches to weight preoccupation and eating disorders / edited by Catrina Brown and Karin Jasper.

Unbearable weight : feminism, Western culture, and the body / Susan Bordo.

What a time to be alone / Chidera Eggerue.

Girlpower - how far does it go? : a resource and training pack on young women and self esteem / written by Jo Adams ; with support and contributions from Carol Painter.

Perfect girls, starving daughters : the frightening new normality of hating your body / Courtney E. Martin.

Wellcome Collection

Today’s opening times