Adventist Voices by Spectrum: The Journal of the Adventist Forum

The Podly Women return for part two of their conversation on modesty culture and beauty standards. In this episode, they unpack the beauty standards women are taught to chase and the ideals we all feel beholden to: the “prepubescent” look and where that trend comes from, the convergence of complementarianism and the “soft” aesthetic, aging gracefully, sacred bodies, and, yes, even the fascism of it all. Along the way, they ask the larger question: Is a woman’s purpose to be small and beautiful, or are we meant for more? Taglines: What happens when beauty standards, modesty culture, and theology all conspire to make women small? What if women were made for more than being small, pretty, and palatable? A conversation about sacred bodies, aging, beauty, control, and the systems that are telling women to disappear. The fascism behind beauty standards. Panel: Ezrica Bennett, a writer and graduate student at Claremont School of Theology, Oakwood University grad.  Natalie Bruzon, journalist, editor, and mom of two young kids, Union College grad.  Trudy Morgan-Cole, noted historical fiction book author and recently retired educator, Andrews University grad.  Ella Quijada, a writer and undergraduate studying science at Southern Adventist University