Mormon Women Bare All is a new project headed by Katrina Barker Anderson, a member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She invites other female members of the church to pose nude in order to challenge the conservative views posed by the Mormon religion on the female body. Baker hopes that taking a positive, body-affirming stance will make an impact on the severe views of the LDS.
Baker explains that the Mormon religion further complicates the already-intricate relationship women have with their bodies, which are simultaneously sexualized and policed. She says, “We must both attract and protect against male desire. Even though Mormonism teaches us our destiny is to become like our embodied Heavenly Parents, the hyper-focus on modesty leaves many of us feeling disconnected and ambivalent about our bodies.”
The end result is a powerful reinterpretation of the conjunction between religion and sexuality.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Positive-body Stance
- The trend of taking a positive, body-affirming stance can disrupt conservative views posed by religious organizations on the female body.
- Body-positivity Movement
- The body-positivity movement can challenge the hyper-focus on modesty and result in a powerful reinterpretation of the conjunction between religion and sexuality.
- Feminist-movement
- The feminist movement can challenge conservative views posed by religious organizations on the hyper-sexualization and policing of women's bodies.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Fashion and Beauty Industry
- The fashion and beauty industry can promote body positivity and inclusivity as a way to disrupt beauty standards set by conservative religious organizations.
- Publishing Industry
- The publishing industry can promote works that celebrate the body and challenge the hyper-focus on modesty set by conservative religious organizations.
- Art Industry
- The art industry can challenge conservative views on the female body through the celebration of nude and female form in different art media.
