The "Right" Body Type for a Belly Piercing

Today, I got my first body piercing. I went to Monarch Piercing in Hixson and had a very positive experience. I now have a pretty little opal on my navel that I am quite content with.

Before getting this done, I did what any adult seeking to permanently alter their body would do; I did research. I googled what the pain would feel like, how to care for it, and some questions I was not proud of. I googled "Is it okay to have a belly button piercing when you don't have a flat stomach?". Now, if any of my friends were to do this I'd tell them that was a ridiculous question, do what the hell you want! However, we aren't always kind to ourselves. And that is why I'm writing this blog. To provide assurance to not only myself, but to other doubters.

When I clicked search, I was inviting negative thoughts into my head. I read countless articles and discussion boards. Everyone as their own take on how YOUR body should look in order to have a piercing. Stomach flab? That's okay, as long as you aren't obese. Size 16? It should be illegal for you to have a piercing! Totally flat stomach? What's wrong with you, men like women with a little meat on their bones. Like my grandfather said, "Opinions are like asses, everyone has them".

Look, I know none of this is new. But my point is, that when I fell down my rabbit hole of self depreciation I had trouble finding anything that told me I was beautiful the way I was. I am a size 14, 18 year old woman. I have big boobs and big thighs. And yes, there is pudge on my tummy. But, I wanted that piercing so I got it. And I don't regret it. And I will flaunt it. This is my message to you, reader. Do what makes you happy, express yourself, and don't let other's opinions of what should be seen get you down. Go get that piercing, whether you are a size 10, 0, or 18.

The F-Word and Why We're Afraid to Use It

I want you to close your eyes for a minute and think about what a feminist might look like to you. Do you picture a hairy woman? Maybe a 70's bra burner.Or possibly a modern woman who has sworn off men. These all are fanciful stereotypes. Some people who label themselves to be a "feminist" feed some ugly stereotypes and are foundations to bitterness towards others who consider themselves feminists. Being a feminist isn't some radical concept. The definition of the term "feminism" according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is  "the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes".
Most people are afraid of the word "feminist" because of all the negative connotations with it. Like most advocacy groups, we have our extremists.  There are those "feminists" who post a whole chain about hating men and claiming that women are vastly superior. This can not be farther from the idea of love and equality we are trying to communicate. Most common people are so deterred by the ones that show examples of hate rather than love that they might believe in sexual equality, but do not want to be associated with this term. Some are so blinded by the radicals that they will shut down any woman or man who wants to explain or make a statement regarding this subject.
Its common for people who have not exactly probed the whole feminist/women's right things. We don't want to smash a race of men from existence and we don't want to dominant men. We want both sexes to be equal. Is that a bad thing?