"Shaping the Physical Form in All Aspects": Molding Its Outlook, Disregarding Prescriptions
Embracing Your Body in the Age of Digital Glamour: A Guide for the Modern Individual
Infusing a fresh and candid voice, author and opinion-leader Jessica Beauplat pens her debut essay, advocating for a critical perspective in the face of the relentless pressure of social media perfection.
Affirming Your Self in a World of Images is published under the Radar series by Écosociété editions. The book tackles issues that have sparked heated debates among today's youth - fast fashion, ethics, web giants, and sexual stereotypes - presenting arguments in a fashion accessible to young minds.
In an exclusive interview with our website, Jessica Beauplat shares her fascination with the human body and its digital representation. "Many of us struggle with our body image. It was both intriguing and enlightening to do some soul-searching and gain insight into the nuances of web culture," the author reflects over a steaming cup of green tea.
Statistics reveal the sweeping impact of these issues on younger generations. According to the 2022-2023 Quebec Youth Health Survey, around 60% of girls and 57% of boys in secondary school expressed dissatisfaction with their appearance. This number was 57% and 53.5%, respectively, in 2016-2017.
Food for Thought
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Jessica Beauplat envisions her work as a perspective-changer, highlighting the manipulation perpetrated by industries peddling the notion that one is never enough: not good enough, not beautiful enough, always needing more. She contends that discerning the mechanisms driving this influence will enable individuals to make informed decisions.
The book addresses various aspects of the body-image relationship, including stereotypes pushed by the fashion industry, self-exposure on social media, gym culture among young boys, pressure on black men to excel in sports, commodification of bodies on platforms like OnlyFans, and showcasing sports performances on social media.
Diverse Role Models
Through interviews with a dozen individuals and countless examples, the author seeks to underscore the positive models that champion self-acceptance and diversity. Notable figures like Quebec-based model Coco Labbée, who speaks candidly about her alopecia, and Jessica Prudencio, a "large, black, queer, and neurodivergent" person, are highlighted as trailblazers in the fight against rigid beauty standards.
Alexia Vinci, a comedian from the Gespeg Micmac Nation, is another figure featured. She has faced professional challenges due to her weight and advocates for fair and inclusive representation of artists regardless of their physical appearance or cultural heritage.
Jessica Beauplat admits that reading about the experiences of others helps her gain self-understanding. The author includes her personal anecdotes in the book, particularly her complicated history with her curly hair. As an Afro-descendant, she initially straightened her hair before appreciating its natural state and then returning to straightening it again.
In 2019, Beauplat wrote and performed a theatrical text at the Montreal Fringe Festival called Don't Touch My Hair (and Other Basic Principles). She found that her story resonated with many people, some with very different hair types than hers. "A man came up to tell me, 'I have hair loss and I refuse to accept it. I wear a hat everywhere. Hearing your story moved me and helped me understand myself.'"
Jessica Beauplat encourages her readers to take care of their bodies. According to her, this can be achieved through movement and mindfulness. She recently joined a running club and believes that the more she moves, the more grateful she becomes for her body's capabilities. "Caring for your body includes taking time to recharge as well. Enjoy a hot cup of coffee, ground yourself in the present moment, light a citrus-scented candle – you feel it in your body too."
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- Jessica Beauplat's work encourages readers to understand the manipulation strategies employed by industries, particularly those related to fashion, health-and-wellness, and mental-health, to promote the idea that one is never enough.
- The book delves into various aspects of body-image issues, discussing topics such as stereotypes in the fashion industry, the pressure on social media, gym culture among young boys, mental health, and the commodification of bodies in industries like fashion-and-beauty and OnlyFans.
- In her book, Beauplat also stresses the importance of self-acceptance and diversity, highlighting individuals like Coco Labbée, Jessica Prudencio, and Alexia Vinci who are breaking barriers and challenging rigid beauty standards.
