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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.

Overachievers Anonymous, Part II (Completely Reasonable Lists Made by FFG)

Four Embarrassing Situations in which I was Not the Least Bit Embarrassed (mostly occurring before June 2007) 

-once I let out an explosive fart while teaching a large class. The students’ faces registered a mixture of surprise and shock, but my own expression remained impassive. I did not give a rat’s ass what they thought of me. Continue reading

Cruel Observations Made Between Fresno and San Francisco

While pretending to read a book, I gaze at the passengers slowly filing onto the small airplane, watching them adjust to the shallow centre aisle, searching for their place. I am fascinated by how people live their bodies, noting how others occupy space, navigate different air densities, and shift from positions of rest toward movement.  Continue reading