Being Geek Chic is the yammerings of a Midwestern nerd named Elizabeth Giorgi. My vision impairment is real, which is frustrating because I really would like to see a 3D movie.
Send questions, requests and ideas to [email protected]. Please put your complaints on a napkin and toss it.
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Note
27th September 2010
Lady Geek of the Week: Katherine Schwarzenegger
You might know of Katherine Schwarzenegger simply because of her famous parents, but she’s carving a path for herself as a self-help author with an important message. Her new book, “Rock what you’ve got” is aimed at teen and tween girls struggling with self-esteem who are obsessed with being thin, “sexy” and all words synonymous with beautiful.
Sure, she’s a pseudo-celebrity by her parental association, so she’ll probably sell books based on that alone, but her message is an important one that women of all ages should embrace: No matter your size, you’ve got to find and love your “inner and outer beauty.”
In her own words:
I think most fashion designers view models as being a hanger for clothing. Having a curvy woman wear something gives it attitude. I get that designers don’t want the model to have personality because they want you to focus on the outfit, but that’s really ridiculous. You don’t want to applaud women who have eating disorders or tell them to “keep it up.” It’s a bad message.
It’s a message we’ve heard before in a plethora of ways, however, it’s important that people who get face time from the media actually tell the truth about these issues and help to re-shift our collective ideas and standards of beauty. Schwarzenegger admits that she’s a fitness geek, largely because of her father’s influence, and discusses at length how getting into a lifestyle that is healthy is key no matter what size.
If you’re still a nay-sayer and don’t think that book can stand on its own, then check out what the initial reader reviews are saying:
I wish there had been a book like this around when I was a teenage girl, but it’s here now and as someone who’s long past those awful, insecure years, I still found some nuggets of truth in Katherine’s wonderful new book. It’s one thing for your mom to tell you that you’re beautiful, and you’re very lucky if she does, but it’s even better when you hear it from a girl you would perceive as having it all. Famous and successful parents, beauty(yes, Katherine is a gorgeous girl) money and fame, didn’t prevent from feeling like she was fat, ugly and stupid.
AND
This book is so great for my daughters, and for me! I have already dog eared several pages and I’m only half way done! Katherine’s approach is so real and I feel that she speaks her mind about her body issues. I’d recommend this book for my sisters, my daughters, for any woman, any age that needs to ROCK what they’ve got!
So Katherine, here’s to you for taking on this issue and for getting the discussion started. For your intelligent writing and honest chronicles of your struggles, you’re our Lady Geek of the Week.
