My name is Tonya Mulholland, I’m a returning student and in my second semester at UMassD. I’m a WGS major. I currently live and work in East Germany. I teach English to business professionals. Since moving abroad, my husband and I have been to 40 of the 44 countries in Europe. We are hoping to hit a few more before returning to the states mid summer.
One of the blog sites that I connected to was AdiosBarbie. An article written by Jennifer Landis titled: The “F-Word” I don’t use around my daughter- it’s not what you think. She writes about how damaging the word “fat” is when describing ourselves or others in front of our young impressionable children. It struck a chord with me because my mother was obsessed with her weight my entire life. She often told me things like “too much chips makes too much Tonya”. That message definitely played a role in my own obsession about my weight as a young adult.
Once I had my own children I made the conscious decision not to use weight to define myself, others, or them. Unfortunately they still got negative body image messages from their peers and the media, but in our home they were loved and respected despite how they looked. My Mother is still obsessed about weight and still compares herself and others according to their body size. It’s a shallow dangerous trait that perpetuates unhealthy eating and can lead to psychological scarring, as well as eating disorders. The Adios Barbie blog spreads body positivity and acceptance.
The city that I live in Germany has been voted the greenest city in the state in which its located. They are very big on recycling and reducing their carbon footprint as much as possible. Climate change and global warming are key issues that are at the forefront among city officials in Halle. Student have also made it their mission to bring the issue of climate change into the public eye. Two Friday’s per month kids from the middle schools, high schools and universities leave school and march for climate change awareness. They call their movement “Friday’s for future”. They are peaceful demonstrators who march with messages advocating for change in how lawmakers look at and deal with climate issues.
Back in October 2019, our city’s Mayor (Burgermeister) led the city on a hike into the woods where a few hundred people planted new trees. The issue of global warming and climate change is a big subject of focus among city leaders in Halle Saale Germany.
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Hi! It is truly amazing how far your city has gone to become ‘green’. It’s incredibly inspirational to hear. I also agree with you about the “F” word. It is incredibly damaging and can lead to so many security issues down the road
Oh wow! I am so impressed by your city’s efforts to become more green and those kid’s marching for awareness twice a month are just so motivating!
When it comes to climate change my community is completely opposite of yours. Growing up only the “rich” families used trash disposal services, everyone either had a pile in their back hard at the tree line where they put food waste and recycled everything else! Well in the ten years I was away, the counties have stopped doing recycling. There was only one trash disposal service when I was growing up-now there are three! If you want to recycle you have to drive 34 miles to the nearest recycling station, and most of my community is too poor to own a vehicle or to be able to afford to make the weekly trips out there. I applaud your community and hope your time exploring Europe is treating you and your family well! It must be such a wonderful experience.
Hello, Tonya,
How exciting to live and move around so many European countries! I’ve been to a few – Italy, France, Netherlands, Scotland, Wales, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Switzerland and Spain. Some were only for a few days, but it’s always so rewarding and educational. I love that you live in a city that’s green and is making a change. I do my part living in Southern California, but when I ask my friends why they don’t recycle, they don’t have an answer. Laziness? It seems Americans care little about the planet, much less than Europeans and far less than your city. I wonder what we could do to make more people care?
Thanks so much for your post. I especially like your header image. Well done!
Hi Tonya. I identified a lot with what you were saying regarding the “f-word” article. Ever since I was a little kid, my parents would always tell me “a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips!” This sincerely gave me a complex I carried with me my whole life. I’m so glad that you are conscious of things like this and are raising your daughter in a more body-positive way. It seems like you’re very conscious of the world we are raising kids in overall, which relates to the story you shared about the kids in school taking a stand. I think it’s cool that not only are the kids involved, but that the government and school support it. That would never fly in my small town of Pennsylvania. I am excited to continue to hear your unique perspective from all the way across the world!
Hi Tonya!
I loved reading about how you changed something that was traumatic for you as a younger person into something that is useful and beneficial to not only you, but your children. As someone who has also suffered from emotional trauma, I know how difficult it can be to overcome these mental / emotional challenges and to rise above, so I commend you for that. I agree that we need to stop using hurtful words and perpetuating toxic self image through these words, and it’s important that we raise the new generations to come to be conscious in this way as well.
I also found reading about your hometown’s view on climate change very inspiring. Climate change is a very real threat that can longer be ignored, and we need to take action!
Hello Tonya! I was first interested when I read where you are currently living and working. I too some what touched on the Earth’s well being in my own blog. I think it is amazing what your city is doing, especially involving young children in the act. I sure hope that other countries, like the states especially will follow up Germany’s foot steps. It is a great way to involve everyone and keep all accountable for their actions. Thank you for sharing your knowledge! On the other hand, I feel as though a mother’s/ parents words will always have a impact on their children most importantly when they talk about themselves or other people in a non-uplifting manner. I still can recall many things my mother would say to me growing up about not being girly enough, or because i wasn’t wearing earrings and wore sneakers I was dressing “like a boy”. I praise you for realizing the toxicity in that habit your mother has and trying to prevent that in your own children’s lives. Social media is having a large impact on young children, teens and even adults on body imaging! I’m interested to hear more from you.
Hello Tonya. Really enjoyed reading your post. It must be so cool and interesting to live in another country. Especially a country so different from the United States. I’m quite jealous as I have always wanted to travel abroad but for a number of reasons have been unable to.
I myself have struggled with an eating disorder that developed in high school, when I began binging and purging, and eventually started starving myself to the point where I lost about 50lbs. It was tragic because I felt simultaneously great about myself but had constant anxiety about weight loss. My family and friends all complimented the way I looked but they didn’t realize the amount of strain it put on me mentally. And now as an adult I struggle to find healthy ways to lose weight. This probably could have all been avoided had society that told me that being thin was the ideal and that if I was fat I was worthless and unlovable. I’m happy you are doing your best to raise your daughter without putting these toxic ideas into her head. I look forward to getting to know you more throughout the class.