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The teenage Twitter feminist: 'I finally feel comfortable in my own body' The teenage Twitter feminist: 'I finally feel comfortable in my own body'
(10 days later)
I was about to have a shower when I looked at myself in the mirror and realised how much I don't hate myself. At 15, I finally feel comfortable in my own body, which is – quite an achievement for me because a year or so ago I would sometimes feel physically sick looking at myself.I was about to have a shower when I looked at myself in the mirror and realised how much I don't hate myself. At 15, I finally feel comfortable in my own body, which is – quite an achievement for me because a year or so ago I would sometimes feel physically sick looking at myself.
It seemed to me that I was totally failing as a girl because I was not a size eight or because I had body hair. I constantly worried about what people would think of me if they saw a roll of my fat or some stubble from shaving my underarms.It seemed to me that I was totally failing as a girl because I was not a size eight or because I had body hair. I constantly worried about what people would think of me if they saw a roll of my fat or some stubble from shaving my underarms.
I know now that people just don't really care if I am a size smaller or if I don't wax my bikini line, all that matters is how I feel about myself. Of course there are always times when I don't feel as confident and sometimes I have a little breakdown, but I have amazing friends and the feminist community helps me through it.I know now that people just don't really care if I am a size smaller or if I don't wax my bikini line, all that matters is how I feel about myself. Of course there are always times when I don't feel as confident and sometimes I have a little breakdown, but I have amazing friends and the feminist community helps me through it.
The problem is, most girls my age feel how I used to feel. Should we feel this way? Why do we feel this way? And mMost importantly, how can I make it stop? This is why I am a feminist. I want to be allowed to love myself for who I am.The problem is, most girls my age feel how I used to feel. Should we feel this way? Why do we feel this way? And mMost importantly, how can I make it stop? This is why I am a feminist. I want to be allowed to love myself for who I am.
I have found a great community of feminists on Twitter and through the London Student Feminist Network. Of course I could not talk about my feminism without talking about the Twitter Youth Feminist Army,. I would not be the same without them. I have met so many amazing friends, learned so much and been given so many amazing opportunities because of the Twitter Youth Feminist Army.I have found a great community of feminists on Twitter and through the London Student Feminist Network. Of course I could not talk about my feminism without talking about the Twitter Youth Feminist Army,. I would not be the same without them. I have met so many amazing friends, learned so much and been given so many amazing opportunities because of the Twitter Youth Feminist Army.
This is why I am trying to spread the word of feminism: it has given me some life-changing personal experiences and is working towards a better world for everyone, hope for the future.This is why I am trying to spread the word of feminism: it has given me some life-changing personal experiences and is working towards a better world for everyone, hope for the future.
• This is an abridged version of a blogpost at Jellypop• This is an abridged version of a blogpost at Jellypop
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