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Sexism In Media

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Sexism in Media Blog: Lady Gaga, Nicole Coughlan, and Kelly Clarkson next to a sign reading "stop talking about our bodies"

One of the PR tools we use is Qwoted, which we highly recommend. Why we love this tool could be a whole blog of its own, but we recently came across an expert request that inspired this one instead.

Redefining 'News' vs. 'Gossip'

The request read: “Need experts to weigh in on Kelly Clarkson weight loss (injectible and a diet)”

To be fair, context was provided that the article’s goal was to shed light on what weight loss drugs are safe, who can access them, etc., which is a fair topic to discuss. But why do we have to use Kelly Clarkson as clickbait for your article on weight loss discussions?

We are sick and tired of women’s bodies being used for headlines. This isn’t just on the writers either, stop clicking on them. The fact that it’s even up for discussion, for the public to rip them apart, is exhausting.

And Kelly Clarkson is far from the only example. Who’s a woman that people LOVE to tear down the bigger she gets? You guessed it: Taylor Swift. After a few poorly angled shots from one of her concerts, pregnancy rumors and gossip immediately ensued. And when we say gossip, we mean it. Don’t call that shit news.

A woman’s body and personal choices are none of your business, and not for your entertainment. Lady Gaga is currently going through similar pregnancy rumors, which Swift called invasive and irresponsible. Very well-put.

It’s not all talk. These bullshit headlines and the misogyny they inspire have real-life consequences. Recently, when a woman spoke out about not being hired for a corporate job over her appearance, career experts said this is all too common. Smile. Don’t be rude. Wear your hair down. Dress appropriately. Prepare for everything but your intelligence and qualifications to be dissected.

Are you tired yet? We are.

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Meet our first speaker spotlight: Dr. Karen May, DC, CCSP, CCIP.

Dr. May owns and operates Momentum Health Centers, and she's joining us for Uncomfortable Community Conversations: The Pause on September 24th to talk about something we don't talk about enough — her own experience with perimenopause.

Her career has spanned from elite sports medicine, including a stint as team physician for USA Bobsled and Skeleton as well as caring for pregnant moms and newborns and helping women navigate life’s transitions, always grounded in a belief in food as medicine and the body’s own capacity to heal. In 2017, that expertise was tested when a rare surgical complication left her fighting nerve damage in her own body. 

Drawing on decades of clinical practice and training, she rebuilt her health from the ground up — and has since helped thousands of people do the same. With over 20 years in holistic health care, she speaks today as both physician and peer: a woman navigating her own perimenopausal years while running a business and raising a family.

Join us for The Pause on September 24th. Link in bio.
FUN FACT FRIDAY: It’s only fitting for us to own a building where a trailblazing female operated her businesses in 1906. The Phillips family represented one of the longest-running retail tenures in Grand Rapids history; L.E. Phillips Jewelry in the 1365 Plainfield Ave. building from 1906 until 1973. 
Dr. Eva Phillips, a certified and licensed optometrist ran her practice out of the jewelry store’s secondary parlor and was an equal partner in the jewelry store. 

Together, they offered a unique one-stop shot which expanded to include appliances, record players, and more. The couple operated the shop through two World Wars and the Great Depression, acting as the neighborhood matriarch and patriarch. 

@crestongr @crestoncorridor @crestongrandrapids @citygrandrapids @grandrapidspubliclibrary
Have you tuned into The Happy Hour Hustle Podcast yet?
If not, a) you’re missing out and b) you need to follow immediately. Hosted by @bodespeaks, episodes drop every other week, and feature some pretty bada$$ guests if we do say so ourselves.

This week, Kim sits down with @kelsey_orchard , VP of Marketing and Communications at @fifthwheelfreight to chat building a personal brand, Gen Z entering the workforce, misconceptions about logistics, spotting fake LinkedIn profiles – oh and why your GPA doesn’t matter anymore.

Grab a watermelon margarita, sit back and enjoy for lots of laughs and real talk.

Listen now at the link in bio.
National Perimenopause Month starts today. We have a LOT to say, and we’re not going to be quiet about it, especially this month, so buckle up.

We were not prepared for perimenopause, much like our periods, sex, or anything else to do with our bodies. God forbid we talk about it openly.

We were taught to be ashamed, keep quiet, and to accept that it is just part of being a woman. We reject that narrative. In fact, like @bodespeaks, we want to bring it up in every conversation. 

When we normalize perimenopause and the conversation around it, we stop isolating, and we’re all more prepared.
Join us for Uncomfortable Conversations: The Pause on September 24th — a powerful conversation hosted alongside the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan 
Women’s Business Council, featuring some kicka$$ experts who will give you the real talk on perimenopause (more to come on them later).

Register at the link in bio.
You asked, we delivered.

Introducing the Women's Owners Network - a new program built for what comes first, joining our proven Fellowship model to support Michigan women at every stage of business ownership.

Whether you've got a team of 10 or it's just you and your laptop, you deserve a room full of women who get it.

Six months of leadership, finance, operations, capital access, paired with real support for the isolation, emotional volatility, and decision fatigue that come with owning your own business.

You'll have your own board of directors in your corner, including @bodespeaks plus a group of mentors, instructors, and coaches who've been exactly where you are.

Applications due October 1. Apply now at the link in bio.
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