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New Survey: Brazilian Women Are Fine With Some Flab

Worldcrunch

ÉPOCA ( Brazil)

SÃO PAULO - We can all agree that Brazil is the country of beautiful beaches, sensual rhythms and slim, gorgeous bodies. Right? Well, at least for that last category, we may have to leave things loose on our definitions.

Once considered worldwide sex symbols of toned slimness, the ladies of Brazil are starting to look at their body images with a different, some would say, more realistic perspective. The Brazilian weekly news magazine Época published the results of a study of attitudes and self-awareness of some 15,000 women over the age of 16, from a range of different social classes. Most of the respondents (72%) claimed to like rounder bodies better than skinny ones. And 59% would be happy to have a fuller shape.

This trend can also be seen in the world of celebrities, where the Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen (see below) had long set the standard for what woman were supposed to aspire toward appearance-wise.

"The model for beauty is no longer that of the fashion shows. That is not considered so attractive or sensual anymore," says Renato Meirelles, CEO of Data Popular research institute, which conducted the survey.

Miss Brazil Plus Size, a beauty contest for overweight women, is an example of the changes in national culture. The most recent winner weighs 98 kilograms (216 lbs). Famous brand C&A invited the chubby chanteuse Preta Gil to be its ad girl, with a new collection based on her look set to be released this month.

In the pop world, singer Gaby Amarantos (see below), who tips the scales at 76 kilograms (168 lbs) and actor Tiago Abravanel are further proof of this change. Gaby sings sexy songs and Tiago will play a Don Juan role in an upcoming prime time soap opera.



source: Wikipedia

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Society

Iran's War On Abortion Rights, A Toxic Mix Of Theocracy And Demographic Panic

Ending a pregnancy has become a major complication, and a crime, for Iranian women who cannot or will not have children in a country wracked by socio-economic woes and a leadership.

photo of a young child surrounded by women in chadors

Iran's government wants to boost the birth rate at all costs

Office of Supreme Leader/ZUMA
Firoozeh Nordstrom

Keen to boost the population, Iran's Islamic regime has reversed its half-hearted family planning policies of earlier years and is curbing birth control with measures that include banning abortion.

Its (2021) Law to Support the Family and Rejuvenate the Population (Qanun-e hemayat az khanevadeh va javani-e jam'iyat) threatens to fine the women who want to abort, and fine, imprison, and dismiss the performing physician, if the pregnancy is not deemed to be life-threatening. The law also bans contraceptives.

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The measures are in line with the dictates of Iran's Supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. He was already denouncing birth control policies by 2018-19, though conservative elements among Iran's rulers have always dismissed birth control as a piece of Western corruption.

Today, measures to boost families include land and credit incentives for young couples, but it is difficult to say how far they will counter a marked reluctance among Iranians to marry and procreate. Kayhan-London had an online conversation with individuals affected by the new rules in Iran.

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