Birth Quote by Nan Goldin
![“One of the things I love so much about Valerie [Belin] is that she inhabits her body so completely. She has no self-consciousness about having stretch marks or having given birth. It's just so amazing that she has nothing to hide. Whereas all these other women see every little - supposed…” quote by Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/478/nan-goldin-6289_birth_one-of-the-things-i-love-so-much-about-v_1494315.jpg)
“One of the things I love so much about Valerie [Belin] is that she inhabits her body so completely. She has no self-consciousness about having stretch marks or having given birth. It's just so amazing that she has nothing to hide. Whereas all these other women see every little - supposed - imperfection - anything irregular is seen as an imperfection.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Ballad of Sexual Dependency, 1990
The speaker admires Valerie’s confidence in her body, noting her lack of shame about natural marks and motherhood, contrasting with societal pressure on women to hide imperfections.
In simple terms: Valerie is comfortable with her body, unlike many women who feel self‑conscious.
Key Takeaway
Accept and celebrate your natural self.
Themes
body positivity
self‑acceptance
beauty standards
confidence
gender norms
Mood
empowering
introspective
challenging
Type
personal
social commentary
When to use this quote
- personal storytelling
- artistic portraiture
- support groups
- body‑positive campaigns
Key Concepts
vulnerability
authenticity
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you support others in embracing their bodies?
- What internal narratives keep you from feeling fully comfortable?
A Different Perspective
Societal expectations can be deeply internalized, making acceptance difficult for many.
![“Some people have become [in U.S] a lot more conservative but I can't really speak about that because I wasn't there. I feel compassion for their pain but it distresses me to see them all become more patriotic.” quote by Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4a5/nan-goldin-6289_compassion_some-people-have-become-in-u-s-a-lot-mor_290764.jpg)
