As Valentine’s Day approached, so did the love and self-acceptance in the air. “Love your Self-ie,” a Harper Wellness body positivity-focused event, was held in Avantè Concourse on Feb. 13th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It featured a photo-op station, information tables, and activities designed to boost the body positivity of everyone who attended.
Sara Lucas, Scheduling Coordinator of Access and Disability Services, hosted a table about body positivity and defined the true meaning of the movement.
“Body positivity is really about believing that everybody, no matter what [their body] looks like- its size, its height, its ability level, its color- is deserving of respect, care, and fair treatment,” Lucas said.
Lucas surveyed Harper College faculty last year to determine whether they faced weight bias as part of an initiative to shift people’s perceptions of body image and positivity.
The information was displayed on a poster to facilitate comprehension among the event attendees. It included data on the number of faculty members surveyed, statistical charts, and authentic testimonies from faculty members.
Results showed that 27.3% of the participants agreed that people treated them differently due to their weight and 11.9% of respondents said they had experienced bullying or teasing while working at Harper.
Tables were lined up against the windows in the Avante building across from the Subway, allowing passersby drop in for a conversation.
Beth McPartlin, Manager of Harper Wellness, discussed the event’s significance in connection to societal norms and social media influence.
“We know based on research, especially [for] 18-24 year-olds, they often struggle with body image. So we want to celebrate our bodies and all that they have to offer, but we also know that our society is very fatphobic,” McPartlin said. “And so with the acceleration of social media, that can often have a negative impact for our young college students.”
Kisaa Naqvi, Student Aide and Wellness Promotion Assistant at Harper Wellness, enjoyed the event and found it necessary for students like her.
“I really like this event, mainly because I love Valentine’s Day, and I love the fact that we’re doing this event to promote body positivity, as a girl, as a woman,” Naqvi stated. “In this society, I know how women feel about this kind of stuff, as well as men; it impacts a lot of people.”
For more information on upcoming events, check out the Harper Events page, follow Harper Wellness on Instagram, and stay posted on Harbinger’s Instagram, Harbstudentnews.
