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Beauty constructs and the media | Bri Pruett | TEDxMtHood


beauty standards changed constantly

beauty standards changed constantly that’s why they make so much makeup so

that’s why they make so much makeup so

that’s why they make so much makeup so if you don’t like the way you can look

if you don’t like the way you can look

if you don’t like the way you can look you can paint another person over you

you can paint another person over you

you can paint another person over you and live as that person I think one of

and live as that person I think one of

and live as that person I think one of the greatest evidences of change even

the greatest evidences of change even

the greatest evidences of change even beauty standards is eyebrows eyebrows

beauty standards is eyebrows eyebrows

beauty standards is eyebrows eyebrows have evolved faster than any living

have evolved faster than any living

have evolved faster than any living organism eyebrows shed some light on the

organism eyebrows shed some light on the

organism eyebrows shed some light on the beauty myths

beauty myths

beauty myths but I think there’s one attribute of

but I think there’s one attribute of

but I think there’s one attribute of beauty that blows it wide open as a

beauty that blows it wide open as a

beauty that blows it wide open as a construct of a fickle mass-media and

construct of a fickle mass-media and

construct of a fickle mass-media and that is but now we celebrate butts right

that is but now we celebrate butts right

that is but now we celebrate butts right we live in a grand Kardashian era but

we live in a grand Kardashian era but

we live in a grand Kardashian era but when I was growing up in the 80s and 90s

when I was growing up in the 80s and 90s

when I was growing up in the 80s and 90s butts were different right butts were

butts were different right butts were

butts were different right butts were flat and square and kind of geometric it

flat and square and kind of geometric it

flat and square and kind of geometric it was a very new wave but time in the 80s

was a very new wave but time in the 80s

was a very new wave but time in the 80s in fact I was watching a movie not too

in fact I was watching a movie not too

in fact I was watching a movie not too long ago moving made in the 80s about

long ago moving made in the 80s about

long ago moving made in the 80s about the 1950s grease y’all remember grease a

the 1950s grease y’all remember grease a

the 1950s grease y’all remember grease a lot of butts of that nature by the way

lot of butts of that nature by the way

lot of butts of that nature by the way turns out not a feminist film

turns out not a feminist film

turns out not a feminist film I was watching that movie pretty sure

I was watching that movie pretty sure

I was watching that movie pretty sure dude confesses to rape right at the gate

dude confesses to rape right at the gate

dude confesses to rape right at the gate and they’re like wah bop a loo bop a la

and they’re like wah bop a loo bop a la

and they’re like wah bop a loo bop a la bet they don’t care

bet they don’t care

bet they don’t care this woman changes everything about

this woman changes everything about

this woman changes everything about herself to get this man to love her

herself to get this man to love her

herself to get this man to love her right and the last scene she’s poured in

right and the last scene she’s poured in

right and the last scene she’s poured in that black lycra sausage casing and I

that black lycra sausage casing and I

that black lycra sausage casing and I watched this movie when I was 12 years

watched this movie when I was 12 years

watched this movie when I was 12 years old and I remember looking at Sandy in

old and I remember looking at Sandy in

old and I remember looking at Sandy in that black lycra and looking at my own

that black lycra and looking at my own

that black lycra and looking at my own quickly developing belly hips thighs but

quickly developing belly hips thighs but

quickly developing belly hips thighs but thinking how am I gonna get my body to

thinking how am I gonna get my body to

thinking how am I gonna get my body to look like that body how am I gonna get

look like that body how am I gonna get

look like that body how am I gonna get what sandy gets how am I gonna get a gay

what sandy gets how am I gonna get a gay

what sandy gets how am I gonna get a gay man to love me y’all

don’t worry I figured it out he just

don’t worry I figured it out he just Sparkle and be yourself and it’s not

Sparkle and be yourself and it’s not

Sparkle and be yourself and it’s not like I couldn’t wear a black lycra

like I couldn’t wear a black lycra

like I couldn’t wear a black lycra bodysuit

bodysuit

bodysuit right that’s kind of the point of lycra

right that’s kind of the point of lycra

right that’s kind of the point of lycra but he’s 1995 there were not options

but he’s 1995 there were not options

but he’s 1995 there were not options that’s sexy for plus-size women in fact

that’s sexy for plus-size women in fact

that’s sexy for plus-size women in fact there were one there’s one plus-size

there were one there’s one plus-size

there were one there’s one plus-size option at my home mall the Clackamas

option at my home mall the Clackamas

option at my home mall the Clackamas town center and that was lame Bryant

town center and that was lame Bryant

town center and that was lame Bryant Lane Bryant is a store you shop out when

Lane Bryant is a store you shop out when

Lane Bryant is a store you shop out when you want to look like a substitute

you want to look like a substitute

you want to look like a substitute teacher it’s gotten better but back then

teacher it’s gotten better but back then

teacher it’s gotten better but back then it was a lot of business casual just the

it was a lot of business casual just the

it was a lot of business casual just the name Lane it’s not like a fun girl’s

name Lane it’s not like a fun girl’s

name Lane it’s not like a fun girl’s name right hey do you want to go to a

name right hey do you want to go to a

name right hey do you want to go to a party at lanes house Lane Bryant that

party at lanes house Lane Bryant that

party at lanes house Lane Bryant that girl who Yelp’s her favorite teachers no

girl who Yelp’s her favorite teachers no

girl who Yelp’s her favorite teachers no I’m good I don’t wanna go to that party

I’m good I don’t wanna go to that party

I’m good I don’t wanna go to that party there’s a lot of Cardigan to sets a lot

there’s a lot of Cardigan to sets a lot

there’s a lot of Cardigan to sets a lot of Blazers at that time and that’s what

of Blazers at that time and that’s what

of Blazers at that time and that’s what I wore to middle school I looked bizarre

I wore to middle school I looked bizarre

I wore to middle school I looked bizarre if I missed the day of school kids would

if I missed the day of school kids would

if I missed the day of school kids would be like hey where’s Bree I think she had

be like hey where’s Bree I think she had

be like hey where’s Bree I think she had a job interview

a job interview

a job interview I think she’s temping HR was an HR look

I think she’s temping HR was an HR look

I think she’s temping HR was an HR look very Karen from accounting looked very

very Karen from accounting looked very

very Karen from accounting looked very weird not only that but when I go to the

weird not only that but when I go to the

weird not only that but when I go to the mall with my friends I’d have to leave

mall with my friends I’d have to leave

mall with my friends I’d have to leave them at the Abercrombie & Fitch end of

them at the Abercrombie & Fitch end of

them at the Abercrombie & Fitch end of the mall and go to the weird end of the

the mall and go to the weird end of the

the mall and go to the weird end of the mall with like the orthopedic shoes and

mall with like the orthopedic shoes and

mall with like the orthopedic shoes and the summer sausage kiosk and I was 12

the summer sausage kiosk and I was 12

the summer sausage kiosk and I was 12 and my body was literally separating me

and my body was literally separating me

and my body was literally separating me from people it was isolating I started

from people it was isolating I started

from people it was isolating I started to feel different and I started to want

to feel different and I started to want

to feel different and I started to want to cover myself up in fact I skipped the

to cover myself up in fact I skipped the

to cover myself up in fact I skipped the swimming unit and P in PE because I

swimming unit and P in PE because I

swimming unit and P in PE because I didn’t want anybody to see me in a

didn’t want anybody to see me in a

didn’t want anybody to see me in a swimsuit I was 12 and I loved swimming I

swimsuit I was 12 and I loved swimming I

swimsuit I was 12 and I loved swimming I was great at it – I never drowned at all

was great at it – I never drowned at all

was great at it – I never drowned at all but it was isolating because I was

but it was isolating because I was

but it was isolating because I was cursing my body at that time firfer for

cursing my body at that time firfer for

cursing my body at that time firfer for keeping me away from my friends the

keeping me away from my friends the

keeping me away from my friends the weird end of the mall from keeping me

weird end of the mall from keeping me

weird end of the mall from keeping me out of the pool from keeping me out of

out of the pool from keeping me out of

out of the pool from keeping me out of the central Danny and Sandy romance that

the central Danny and Sandy romance that

the central Danny and Sandy romance that I thought wasn’t for me left alone

I thought wasn’t for me left alone

I thought wasn’t for me left alone this perceived rejection I lost weight I

this perceived rejection I lost weight I

this perceived rejection I lost weight I gained weight I hated myself I harmed

gained weight I hated myself I harmed

gained weight I hated myself I harmed myself try to get very small right try

myself try to get very small right try

myself try to get very small right try to suck in my gut all the time it’s like

to suck in my gut all the time it’s like

to suck in my gut all the time it’s like cramps slowly through changes felt in

cramps slowly through changes felt in

cramps slowly through changes felt in the world through changes I enacted in

the world through changes I enacted in

the world through changes I enacted in my alone life things got a lot better

my alone life things got a lot better

my alone life things got a lot better today 2017 I wear a bikini to the beach

today 2017 I wear a bikini to the beach

today 2017 I wear a bikini to the beach and swim whenever I want I go to the

and swim whenever I want I go to the

and swim whenever I want I go to the mall and I cram this fat backyard into

mall and I cram this fat backyard into

mall and I cram this fat backyard into clothes I find at any store I want I got

clothes I find at any store I want I got

clothes I find at any store I want I got this shirt at Baby Gap I think it looks

this shirt at Baby Gap I think it looks

this shirt at Baby Gap I think it looks pretty cute I don’t try to get small I’m

pretty cute I don’t try to get small I’m

pretty cute I don’t try to get small I’m a stand-up comedian I stand front and

a stand-up comedian I stand front and

a stand-up comedian I stand front and center on stage and I tell audiences all

center on stage and I tell audiences all

center on stage and I tell audiences all over the country that shame is for

over the country that shame is for

over the country that shame is for suckers that no one in this house should

suckers that no one in this house should

suckers that no one in this house should feel ashamed about the size of their

feel ashamed about the size of their

feel ashamed about the size of their body or what their body looks like just

body or what their body looks like just

body or what their body looks like just the smells everything else celebrate it

the smells everything else celebrate it

the smells everything else celebrate it yes and whatever beauty standard is

yes and whatever beauty standard is

yes and whatever beauty standard is leaving you out today

leaving you out today

leaving you out today may it be thinness whiteness a focus on

may it be thinness whiteness a focus on

may it be thinness whiteness a focus on youth on able bodies or binary gender

youth on able bodies or binary gender

youth on able bodies or binary gender presentation you too can rid yourself of

presentation you too can rid yourself of

presentation you too can rid yourself of these ideologies by using my three-step

these ideologies by using my three-step

these ideologies by using my three-step method are you ready for these Oprah

method are you ready for these Oprah

method are you ready for these Oprah style action items folks okay step one

style action items folks okay step one

style action items folks okay step one fix your feed right start with the stuff

fix your feed right start with the stuff

fix your feed right start with the stuff that’s under your control the average

that’s under your control the average

that’s under your control the average person may see thousands of ads every

person may see thousands of ads every

person may see thousands of ads every day images messages every day via mass

day images messages every day via mass

day images messages every day via mass media at least take control of your

media at least take control of your

media at least take control of your social media you see there’s this

social media you see there’s this

social media you see there’s this beautiful word that the internet created

beautiful word that the internet created

beautiful word that the internet created it’s melodious and it will be etched

it’s melodious and it will be etched

it’s melodious and it will be etched into the scrolls of eternity it is

into the scrolls of eternity it is

into the scrolls of eternity it is unfollow

unfollow

unfollow right get rid of the language and

right get rid of the language and

right get rid of the language and messages that other you and replace it

messages that other you and replace it

messages that other you and replace it with the beauty you want to see my

with the beauty you want to see my

with the beauty you want to see my Instagram feed today is only plus-size

Instagram feed today is only plus-size

Instagram feed today is only plus-size models drag queens and professional

models drag queens and professional

models drag queens and professional basketball players and it’s my favorite

basketball players and it’s my favorite

basketball players and it’s my favorite place in the world after curating your

place in the world after curating your

place in the world after curating your social media you can turn your attention

social media you can turn your attention

social media you can turn your attention to the messages in your immediate

to the messages in your immediate

to the messages in your immediate vicinity I’m embedding that some of your

vicinity I’m embedding that some of your

vicinity I’m embedding that some of your loved ones uphold beauty standards that

loved ones uphold beauty standards that

loved ones uphold beauty standards that other you to your face but did you know

other you to your face but did you know

other you to your face but did you know you can tell those people to be quiet

you can tell those people to be quiet

you can tell those people to be quiet which brings me to step two ask your

which brings me to step two ask your

which brings me to step two ask your people to watch your mouth it sounds

people to watch your mouth it sounds

people to watch your mouth it sounds scary but it can be very simple as this

scary but it can be very simple as this

scary but it can be very simple as this mom your beauty standards are not my

mom your beauty standards are not my

mom your beauty standards are not my beauty standards when you use language

beauty standards when you use language

beauty standards when you use language that others me makes me feel left out

that others me makes me feel left out

that others me makes me feel left out since we’re friends and our family I

since we’re friends and our family I

since we’re friends and our family I knew you’d be willing to hear me out and

knew you’d be willing to hear me out and

knew you’d be willing to hear me out and try your best thanks for listening see

try your best thanks for listening see

try your best thanks for listening see you at brunch button it up at the end

you at brunch button it up at the end

you at brunch button it up at the end and that’s an example of a very healthy

and that’s an example of a very healthy

and that’s an example of a very healthy request but you can be rude I give you

request but you can be rude I give you

request but you can be rude I give you function I know I’m like Oprah but a

function I know I’m like Oprah but a

function I know I’m like Oprah but a villain once you’ve addressed your

villain once you’ve addressed your

villain once you’ve addressed your social media and your well-intentioned

social media and your well-intentioned

social media and your well-intentioned haters you can start cutting body

haters you can start cutting body

haters you can start cutting body policing and unrealistic beauty

policing and unrealistic beauty

policing and unrealistic beauty standards from your own brain and look

standards from your own brain and look

standards from your own brain and look I’m not a therapist I can’t provide a

I’m not a therapist I can’t provide a

I’m not a therapist I can’t provide a lot of help not a professional therapist

lot of help not a professional therapist

lot of help not a professional therapist or even that good of a listener but I

or even that good of a listener but I

or even that good of a listener but I can tell you to start talking

can tell you to start talking

can tell you to start talking differently to yourself which brings me

differently to yourself which brings me

differently to yourself which brings me to step 3 do stand-up comedy

to step 3 do stand-up comedy

to step 3 do stand-up comedy hear me out what when I started stand-up

hear me out what when I started stand-up

hear me out what when I started stand-up comedy I did the thing that a lot of

comedy I did the thing that a lot of

comedy I did the thing that a lot of comedians do when they first start which

comedians do when they first start which

comedians do when they first start which is to open with a joke denigrating the

is to open with a joke denigrating the

is to open with a joke denigrating the way I look right but man I didn’t work

way I look right but man I didn’t work

way I look right but man I didn’t work for all this body piece just a trash

for all this body piece just a trash

for all this body piece just a trash talk myself to a bunch of strangers so

talk myself to a bunch of strangers so

talk myself to a bunch of strangers so then I tried something different tried

then I tried something different tried

then I tried something different tried telling jokes that made me feel big and

telling jokes that made me feel big and

telling jokes that made me feel big and sexy and powerful and it was great and

sexy and powerful and it was great and

sexy and powerful and it was great and the thing about being Santa comic is you

the thing about being Santa comic is you

the thing about being Santa comic is you repeat these jokes over and over again

repeat these jokes over and over again

repeat these jokes over and over again so every night I was saying these words

so every night I was saying these words

so every night I was saying these words to myself and and hold

to myself and and hold

to myself and and hold these words in my mouth and the message

these words in my mouth and the message

these words in my mouth and the message sunk into my bones it works now on the

sunk into my bones it works now on the

sunk into my bones it works now on the off chance that you do not want a life

off chance that you do not want a life

off chance that you do not want a life of open mikes

of open mikes

of open mikes chicken fingers and listening to 23 year

chicken fingers and listening to 23 year

chicken fingers and listening to 23 year olds find themselves don’t do stand-up

olds find themselves don’t do stand-up

olds find themselves don’t do stand-up comedy but do use the lesson that I

comedy but do use the lesson that I

comedy but do use the lesson that I learned from stand-up comedy which is to

learned from stand-up comedy which is to

learned from stand-up comedy which is to be impeccable with the words you use

be impeccable with the words you use

be impeccable with the words you use when you speak on your body your shell

when you speak on your body your shell

when you speak on your body your shell the bark of your tree because ultimately

the bark of your tree because ultimately

the bark of your tree because ultimately when you strip away the Kardashians and

when you strip away the Kardashians and

when you strip away the Kardashians and the pop culture and the lycra and the

the pop culture and the lycra and the

the pop culture and the lycra and the business casual what you’re left with is

business casual what you’re left with is

business casual what you’re left with is your body which is a vehicle to your

your body which is a vehicle to your

your body which is a vehicle to your dreams so let’s talk about where you’re

dreams so let’s talk about where you’re

dreams so let’s talk about where you’re going thank you

going thank you

going thank you [Applause]

”

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