Embrace: A Documentary Analysis

Words: 1174
Pages: 5

“You have one missed call from, Ashley” my answering machine says to me in it’s apathetic automated monotone voice. It was two days before Christmas and I hadn’t heard from my cousin in years. We had always been unquestionably close so I was ecstatic to finally hear from her. She had travelled with the modeling agency that she had signed with right out of high school, and my family never spoke about her after she left. I always adored yet envied my older cousin Ashley. She had always been beautiful, her body perfectly proportioned, had naturally golden blonde hair, bright blue eyes; She was smart, artistic, well spoken, practically a poster child. I expected the message to contain details from her most recent photo shoot or traveling expenditure. …show more content…
This measuring stick is something that no single woman can live up to because she is simply not real. Nevertheless, some women are able to look past this “measuring stick” and not adopt these “ideal features” but challenge them. I wanted to help Ashley be one of them.
Our deep conversation made me realize that the body is a text of culture through which, we can read culture on the body, and reminded me of a documentary I had recently watched called, Embrace, as seen on Netflix. This documentary follows a woman named, Taryn Brumfitt, and her crusade as she explores the global issue of body loathing, sharing her story of her refusal to succumb to the unrealistic expectations of the “ideal woman,” and her mission to help others do the same. Moreover, I knew that watching this could help
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As I set up Netflix, I noticed out of the corner of my eye how her itty-bitty frail body was sandwiched between a thin fleece blanket and the crevice of their worn in leather couch, it looked as if it could swallow her whole. I pressed play. In 2013, Taryn Brumfitt, a 35-year-old mother of three, made headlines as the mother who challenged back at the “fit mom” image and proudly showed off her post-baby body on Facebook. Most before and after photos you see have a “before” image where the woman appears unhappy with her body because she is overweight, and in the “after” image the woman is several pounds thinner and much happier. Taryn did just this, but switched the order. Her “before” image, Taryn is on stage for a bodybuilding contest, showing off her perfectly tanned bronze skin, bright white smile, protruding ribs, and her toned-to-the-core bikini body. Her “after” image reveals her post baby body in full nude (genitals covered), where her boobs are sagging, her stomach is drooping, folds in her neck, stretch marks on her thighs, pale skin, and yet a genuine smile plastered on her face. Minutes after revealing this before-and-after image, it went viral, reaching over 100 million views, launching her career. Taryn’s story and the campaign are a perfect example of how women can challenge the unrealistic expectations of “the ideal woman,” turning negativity into positivity and ultimately