What does "Body Power" mean to you?
Exploring the agency and ownership of our bodies.
In honor of "Body Power" week at Diem, we posed this question to the Diem team and community with the goal of crowdsourcing a diversity of answers. Our assumption was that the (purposeful) vagueness of the term "Body Power" would conjure up many different meanings for different people.
It turns out we were wrong.
People said that "Body Power" made them think of feeling "freer within their body as they aged" to "freedom over their reproductive choices" to "freedom of expression via clothing" to "freedom from cultural expectations" to "freedom to alter the body they were born with—from hair colors to plastic surgeries."
In other words, every person we asked (that did not identify as a man) said that, to them, Body Power means true ownership of their body and a sense of freedom.
I guess this isn't all that surprising. Women's bodies have been controlled by other humans—most notably men, societies, and governments—for as far back as we can remember. Our bodies have also been suppressed by beauty standards, gendered stereotypes, and domestic expectations. Historically speaking, we have not fully owned our body's power all that much.
And we still have a long way to go. The female body is still constantly taken advantage of—from how it is consistently sexualized by the male gaze, considered a reproductive vessel without rights, and taken advantage of by corporate tech platforms for profit.
On that note, our "Body Power" content series with The Power Outlet is our first attempt at tackling what it really means to feel agency when it comes to our own bodies. This week, we're covering the harmful myths surrounding bisexuality, sexual means of validating the trans identity, what it's like to be diagnosed with cancer as a teen, and lots more. This is the first segment of our larger content series where we'll (candidly) cover themes like beauty and power, gender and religion, motherhood and identity, sex and power, gender and finance, and the terms we call women.
We also have a few exciting live “Body Power” Sessions happening in the Diem app this week, including Taylor Majewski in conversation with Abby Epstein about her new documentary with Ricki Lake, The Business of Birth Control tomorrow (Wednesday) at 8:30am PT | 11:30am ET | 4.30pm GMT. Then Amy Fraser will be in conversation with (viral) valedictorian Paxton Smith on Sunday 1pm PST | 4pm EST | 9pm GMT where they’ll be talking abortion and reproductive rights.
What does “Body Power” mean to you? Let us know in Diem, here.
Things we're reading this week...
The Cost of Being a Woman. American healthcare is pricing women out big time. Currently, in America, hospitals are closing maternity wards. Addyi, the female viagra, costs $200 and is not covered by health insurance (Viagra is). Where does it stop? (Men Yell at Me by Lyz Lenz)
Why Bi-Erasure is a Health Threat. Very few studies exist solely for bisexual people, especially compared to studies for the larger LGBTQIA+ community and fellow members who identify as anything other than cisgender and straight. Writer Delilah Gray writes about her experience as a bisexual person, harmful myths surrounding bisexuality, and the very real mental health threat to bisexual folks. (The Power Outlet)
We Need to Act on the Social Media Harming Girls. Over the last few months (actually, the last few years), it's been well-documented that social media is definitively harming the mental health of teen girls. But how much proof do parents, regulators, and legislators need before intervening to protect vulnerable young people? (The Atlantic)
To Every Woman Who Spent Her Twenties Apologizing. "But it’s these particular spineless sorries—the ones where there is nothing to be sorry for; the ones where I’m sorry every time I ask for something, be it help or for a boundary to be respected; the ones that are symptoms of me squishing myself inward to take up less space—that have been the constant hum of my twenties," writes Rainesford Stauffer. Phew, this is a good one. (Catapult)
Could Cuckolding Affirm My Trans Identity? "As I begin to understand my gender identity more deeply, I wonder what cuckolding could do in terms of healing the dysmorphia I’ve lived with my entire life," writes Meggie Gates. This one was fascinating. (The Power Outlet)
What we’re talking about in Diem…
How to build a 2022 PR Strategy… Join Amy Fraser as she Spotlight’s Host and PR Vega founder, Priscilla Vega on how to build a PR strategy for your business. TODAY at 1pm PT | 4pm ET. Join in Diem, here.
How to smash the menopause taboo… Join Amy Fraser as she Spotlight’s Elektra Health co-founder and Host, Alessandra Henderson. They’ll be talking about menopause stigma and building a women’s health company. TODAY at 2.30pm PT | 5.30pm ET. Join in Diem, here.
The Business of Birth Control… Join Taylor Majewski in conversation with filmmaker Abby Epstein re: her new documentary with Ricki Lake, which takes a fearless look at re-examining the Pill. WEDNESDAY at 8.30am PT | 11.30am ET | 4.30pm GMT. Join in Diem, here.
Cannabis for stress-free holidays… The holidays can be as much fun as they are stressful. Join Host, June Johnson as she shares products that can help manage travel woes, anxiety & stress (+ a CBD gift guide for your loved ones!) WEDNESDAY at 11am PT | 2pm ET. Join in Diem, here.
Fundraising for your start-up… Join Author, Investor and Host, Fran Hauser in conversation with Amy Fraser, she’ll be sharing knowledge on fundraising for your start-up. Thursday 2pm PT | 5pm ET. Join in Diem, here.
Let’s talk abortion and reproductive rights… Amy Fraser will be in conversation with (viral) valedictorian, Abortion Activist & Host, Paxton Smith on Sunday 1pm PST | 4pm EST | 9pm GMT. Join in Diem, here.
Plus so much more knowledge that’s waiting for you to discover! Hop on your rocket ship and join us in the Diem Universe via App Store or Google Play.
That’s all for this week! Catch you next time.
Emma
co-founder, Diem