The pain and terror of Black women and femmes is less important than the machinations of white women and this colors The Perfection. This essay contains spoilers for Netflix’s “The Perfection.” It also contains discussions of sexual abuse. “The Perfection” is the newest entry in a long line of female-centric revenge films served up with...
Author: Donyae Coles (Donyae Coles)
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Say No to Forced Affection and Respect Children’s Bodies
It is important that even children understand this because rape culture doesn’t just bloom when you become college age. Picture this: Generic holiday movie. Old family member, bending a wrinkled cheek down to an elementary school age child. Well-meaning parents pushing them forward with, “Give great so-and-so a hug!” Usually played for laughs because this...
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Comfortable Allies Are Not Allies
If your allyship only extends as far as your comfort, you are not an ally. John Brown was an abolitionist who died in 1859. He was hanged after a failed attempt to attack a federal arsenal to provide arms to a future slave rebellion. He was a flawed human being but he lived by his principles...
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The Body Positivity Movement Both Takes From And Erases Fat Black Women
It’s time to focus on the people who built movements, not just the ones who conveniently profit from them. Édouard Manet’s “Olympia” depicts a nude white woman laying in bed upon a pile of pillows while a Black maid serves her. Olympia is, of course, the focus of the painting. She’s white and stands out...
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It’s Time For Victoria’s Secret to Showcase Fat Bodies
Victoria’s Secret is making a choice on how they want their brand to be perceived and it is as one which equates being thin with being beautiful. Victoria’s Secret is synonymous with sexy for many people and while the company is actively featuring more Black and Brown models for their upcoming annual fashion show, the...
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N.K. Jemisin’s Third Hugo Win Should End the White Boy Era Of Sci-Fi
The gatekeepers of publishing keep marginalized people from getting their work out there. Jemisin is proof that this practice needs to end. N.K. Jemisin just won her third Hugo award in a row accomplishing something that no other author in history has done. This wasn’t a fluke, this wasn’t a one off, Jemisin is proving...
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The Radical Act of Beyoncé Claiming Her FUPA
Beyoncé addressing this post-baby body reality is an important moment. I am not a rabid Beyoncé fan. I like Lemonade and a few more of her songs, but it would be a stretch to call me a “fan”. However, reading her statement in Vogue’s September issue, I felt a kinship with her that I had...
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‘Insatiable’ is Hoping We Don’t Notice That it’s Fatphobic Trash
We can’t look at Patty and feel empowered by her character when she is a walking testament to everything we are told is wrong with us. Netflix loves revenge stories, especially super problematic revenge stories that push harmful stereotypes and reinforce dangerous narratives. 13 Reasons Why has had a controversial run on the platform, and...
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Six Queer BIPOC Voices in the Body Positive Movement
Body positivity, as a movement, was meant to give space to bodies that an oppressive society says are not worthy of love and acceptance. The body positive movement has a lot of problems—not in the general message that we all deserve the space to love our bodies as they are, but in representation. The movement...
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Dear Fat Feminists: Roxane Gay Doesn’t Owe Us Anything
Even though we share some common lines, I don’t know what it is to live in Roxane Gay’s body. Roxane Gay had weight loss surgery (WLS) and I have many opinions and feelings about that but it is also none of my goddamn business what Roxane Gay does to Roxane Gay’s body. And that’s a...