Obviously, the stigma is a problem, but that doesn't mean that women don't need productive ways to cope with it. If you live in a very conservative/religious household, or attend a conservative school/college, hiding one's condoms may be essential to avoid parental or school sanctions.
Even I, as a student at a very…

Most of us around here aren't really that into the implied endorsement of misogyny and transphobia for consumerism-fueled 'laughs'. So, no.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised if the presence/absence of body hair actually made a difference to the quality of medical care that women receive (as we know body weight does for women). :-(

Good call.
(I'm a cis woman with PCOS, btw — if *only* leg hair were the only thing standing between me and the successful performance of femininity. What does Veet have to offer my un-epilatable beard hair and testosterone-sculpted jawline?)

The real issue, though, is that even "weight-loss lifestyle changes", when maintained, do not prevent regain in the vast majority of people — metabolic adaptation ensures that lost weight (plus more) is regained (and thank goodness, or the species would have died out long ago, too). So the alcoholism analogy fails; it…

Yes, by far. Weight-cycling is thought to be the explanation for why fat people in Western societies experience somewhat elevated rates of conditions like hypertension, and it can do a great deal of damage to one's heart, regardless of the method by which the weight is lost. Weight stability should be the goal.

Yes, reducing systematic oppression to "feelings" is a long-standing way of negating the agency of marginalized people and 'shutting them up', so that they don't threaten the privilege of those who benefit from the system.

Which is great. Ideal, really.
Except that even the things you mention — friendships/relationships and career/employment — are strongly impacted for women with bodies significantly outside of beauty norms. It was really only when I was finally leaving university and in a position of having to find a job and thinking…

The thing I find with PCOS is that *so many* things we experience — very high body-weight, all-over body hair, facial hair, acne, masculine features, stretch marks, depression, diabetes, infertility — serve as barriers to social acceptability, that it feels like there's no point in obsessing over any particular thing,…

I was okay with my body when I weighed more (~350lb), but since I (inadvertently) lost a lot of weight, I struggle with hating it almost constantly. I can't dream of affording the reconstructive surgery that would make it even vaguely socially acceptable. I can't even get into clothing without compression garments,…

"Just drink the regular thing!"
Look, I'm no great fan of artificial sweeteners, but, as a diabetic, I do like occasionally having a drink option other than plain water or black coffee. You know, we're part of the reason diet slurpees, in spite of their consistency issues, even exist — the diabetic community requested…

"Lindy made blanket argument regarding any and all TV outlets that portray pretty people because it hurts those with low self esteem."

LOLWUT? The almost-complete dominance of a very narrow set of visual standards for women in the media doesn't (just) "hurt those with low self esteem" — it destroys millions of women's…

I'm a fat woman, and the same thing happened to me, though fortunately I didn't have to move for the job. I'd been doing this computer-support job from home for a couple of years, with praise and no complaints, but hadn't met the boss in person. I met her one day, and the next week I was "let go", just before…

I guess it's good that the victim of this is out of the closet, as his full name is in this story. (Also, who knew that a Scot would name their child Scott?)

Yes. When you're a fat woman, everything you wear is always perceived as 'wrong' in some way, because our culture perceives fat bodies, especially fat female bodies, as themselves fundamentally flawed.

This could be great news for people with diabetes (uh, as an extract, not drinking tequila nonstop). But I'm kind of appalled that the authors of the study have roped "obese people" in by highlighting the substance's apparent appetite-suppressing qualities. How can someone be doing research of this sort and not be…

Well, I'm not in America, but, yeah, you never know.

Yes, there are payment plans and special lines of credit just for plastic surgery. Many young women choose to take on this debt as an investment, given the significant role that physical appearance places in hiring, promotion, and life-partner attainment. (Source: I've looked into it, because I know full well that if…

I could have written all of this — except I'm nearing 40 now. :-( I doubt it's "too late" for you (I wish I was as sure in my own case), but I would say it's fair to be selective about what you reveal regarding your inexperience to potential partners (I'm learning this the hard way).