To start, my name is Nancy, I'm 27 and living in Mahopac, NY. Mahopac is this small town about 50 miles north of New York City.
What do I rebel against personally? (Start thumping that tub!) I rebel against the notion that women have to be anorexic mannequins to be attractive. One of the most important things women can do to improve the quality of women's lives is to reject the ideal set forth by our society at this time. Me, I'm 5'9", a size 16/18 and you know what?? I am sexy, attractive and have no problem finding men. So much for looking like Kate Moss.
If we reject that body ideal we can start to love ourselves and our sisters (no need to be catty any more - "Oooh, she thinks she's great but look at that ounce of cellulite on her thigh.") no matter what our size, shape or color. Embrace your uniqueness! Accentuate the positive. Stop spending lots of money on things to make you thinner, younger, sexier, etc. The advertising plays on your insecurities to make some man a lot of money.
If we're happy with ourselves we can then go out and get busy! If we're not wasting time trying on 50 outfits to figure out which one we look thinnest in, we can be out changing the world. If we're confident, we don't get emotionally abusive men something to use against us. ("You're so fat no other man would ever want you. You're damn lucky I stay around.")
Confidence gives us a chance to keep searching til we find that man (or woman!) who will love us for who we are (intelligent, vibrant, talented, creative, beautiful) and treat us with respect, care and honor.
One last comment before I wander off.... I really hope that larger women don't go around hating thin women. Having confidence means you don't need to tear down your sisters. Thin, slim hipped, small breasted women are every bit the woman that a curvy, big breasted, round hipped woman is. Don't hate the women who naturally fit the 'ideal'. Re-educate the women who spend their entire lives worry about and working on becoming the ideal - all the while being miserable and hating themselves. It tears me up to hear my thin friends being depressed about "being fat" and constantly comparing themselves to images in magazines.
It's time we took control of our lives and self-image. Don't let the media dictate.