Women's News: Body image in the age of Ozempic

Hello to everyone and a big welcome to our new subscribers! Here’s what’s on the rise this week:

Spotlight

The era of body positivity may be in jeopardy as experts see signs that society is once again idealizing thinness in women, spurred by the popularity of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic.

• In a 2023 report, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons described an increased demand for what it calls the "ballet body," a figure “known for its emphasis on a harmonious, proportionate and elegantly contoured body shape.”

• Body shape trends have cycled for centuries, often reflecting deeper political, racial, class, and gender issues, from Victorian imitations of illness to recent Kardashian-inspired beauty standards.

• Now, nutrition experts worry the resurgence of the thin ideal could pressure women, especially those without access to surgery or drugs, into unhealthy habits. Others, however, see the social media age as an opportunity for trending figures, body positivity, and fat acceptance to coexist. Read more here.

World

• Claudia Sheinbaum was officially inaugurated as Mexico’s president, becoming the first woman and the first person of Jewish heritage to hold the position.

• An 81-year-old South Korean woman attempted to become the oldest-ever Miss Universe contestant. Choi Soon-hwa won a “best-dressed” award at the Korean pageant but fell short of the crown.

U.S.

• Thousands of women of color—who experience the highest rates of violent crime yet are often least protected by policing—marched in Washington D.C. for criminal justice reforms that focus on prevention, rehabilitation, and economic mobility. 

• According to the Wall Street Journal, young women today are more likely than men to achieve independent adulthood, with more men in their 20s and 30s living at home and fewer in the workforce.

• Hurricane Helene brought devastation to southern states last week, leaving over 150 people dead. 

  • A 2014 study found that Hurricanes with female names historically result in more fatalities because people perceive them as less threatening and thereby take fewer protective measures. 

  • Regardless, our hearts are with all those impacted by Helene.

Business and Tech

• Lina Khan ended her term as chair of the Federal Trade Commission, during which she revamped antitrust enforcement and filed numerous lawsuits against major corporations.

  • Her position is not time-limited, so she will remain in the role until she is replaced (a decision likely in the hands of the next president). 

• Sima Sistani, CEO of WeightWatchers, stepped down effective immediately. She will be replaced by interim chief executive Tara Comonte, a former Shake Shack executive and member of the WW board.

• Levi’s is launching an exclusive ad campaign with Beyoncé after the reference to the denim brand on her new album, Cowboy Carter, boosted the company’s sales.

• Bonus: Meet Judy Faulkner, the 81-year-old CEO of Epic Systems, a healthcare records company that generates $4.9 billion in revenue.

Election Watch

Politics

• In North Carolina, Kate Barr is running for state Senate as a “losing candidate” to raise awareness about gerrymandering, which guarantees election outcomes by drawing district boundaries to favor one party.

• New polls suggest a surprising number of Republicans will vote for abortion rights in November, with 50% of GOP voters in Arizona and 54% in Nevada planning to support their states’ pro-abortion measures.

• A Georgia judge ruled the state’s six-week abortion ban unconstitutional, meaning the procedure can resume up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Healthcare

• Kentucky is dealing with a devastating link between motherhood and addiction. About half of maternal deaths in Kentucky involve substance use, faced by women who often become pregnant unexpectedly and lack sufficient support in the Red, post-Roe state.

• In Louisiana, a law has gone into effect that classifies mifepristone and misoprostol—the drugs used in medical abortions—as controlled substances, making it a crime to use them without a prescription.

• A new Pew Research Center poll found that the majority of American Catholics support removing the church’s ban on birth control and allowing women to be priests, along with several other progressive policies regarding marriage and sexuality.

Sports

• Gotham FC became the first National Women’s Soccer League team to visit the White House. President Biden celebrated the squad’s 2023 championship win and asserted that “everyone” watches women’s sports.

• The WNBA playoffs are in full swing. The top-seeded New York Liberty defeated the Las Vegas Aces 87-77 in Game 1 of the semifinals, while the Connecticut Sun upset the Minnesota Lynx.

• For the first time, players of the soccer video game popularly known as FIFA can take on a Women’s Career role, managing or playing for women’s teams.

Culture

• Oscar-winning actress Maggie Smith passed away at age 89. She was beloved for her roles in the Harry Potter franchise, Downton Abbey, and countless other films and theatre productions over her six-decade-long career.

• If you’re considering a career pivot, take inspiration from Mariel Colón, the former defense lawyer of drug kingpin El Chapo who is now launching a music career. Her latest music video features the famed cartel leader’s wife.

• All the top-billed acts at New York’s All Things Go music festival were queer women, a reflection of their growing dominance in mainstream pop music.

Further Reading