Author Archives: feministfiguregirl

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About feministfiguregirl

I am a 51-year-old professor named Lianne McTavish who receives as much satisfaction from working out at the gym as from publishing my academic research. About eight years ago, I decided to combine my two primary identities (scholar/gym rat) to create "Feminist Figure Girl," a fictional character who both analyzes and participates in bodybuilding. I competed in my first figure show in June of 2011, and then wrote a book inspired by the process, published by SUNY Press in February 2015. In this blog I will write about and consider my ongoing research on the body, while regularly making fun of myself. I recommend that you start reading my first post from August 2010 (available on the home page), instead of backwards from the most recent one, in order to get the full FFG effect.

PDDS Goes to Emerg (and then writes about it for FFG)

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Jody front pic7:45 pm
Sitting in the waiting room after a tough legs workout, I am quite hungry. I dig around in my backpack until I locate a well travelled banana. Settling back in the hard chair I begin to peel it, letting my curious gaze flicker around the room, taking in each individual’s appearance, trying to imagine their stories. Unfortunately, my eyes settle on a button-challenged security guard whose pale, hairless chest has been deliberately exposed. He eyes my banana before sending a wink in my direction. Not wishing to make his pathetic porno fantasies come true, I pack up my bag and relocate to the opposite end of the room before continuing my meal. Continue reading →

The “Fat” Female Body (in Pursuit of Happiness)

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598443_10151099828966916_1733465844_nI have a confession to make, and then an apology. Lately, I have been more contemplative than pissy. I have been a honey creative writer, not a honey badger. That sucks for you. The good news is that I am building up to a rant. This post is not exactly a full-on rant, and for that I am sorry. My wordpress statistics indicate that you like FFG best when she is angry. So from now on, I will do more to please you. Tossing thoughtfulness aside, I will curse, swear, and fulminate. After all, I can improve. Or can I? Continue reading →

Cultures of CrossFit: The Good, the Bad, and the Zombies

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Renaissance CrossFitter

Renaissance CrossFitter who is equally ready for Zumba.

As promised, here is a discussion of CrossFit by Fitbabe and myself. To be clear, it is not a rant against CrossFit, and CrossFitters who assume as much, immediately responding to our arguments in a defensive way, might want to ask themselves these questions: Why am I so invested in this practice? What does it really mean to me and my identity? Does the CrossFit method encourage blind devotion and mechanical responses—both physical and emotional—in its hardcore followers? As a non-practitioner, I am more interested in broader questions; I primarily want to think about why CrossFit is suddenly so popular, especially in the United States. Fitbabe is the fitness expert at feministfiguregirl.com, and she will address  some of the physiological aspects of CrossFit. Continue reading →