ABOUT

Welcome! 

My name is Kjerstin Gruys and I'm a PhD Candidate in the Department of Sociology at UCLA, a body image activist at About-Face, and a burgeoning author.

In my academic life I conduct research on the relationship between appearance and social inequality. In my former (more glamourous, but less nerdalicious) life, I worked in the fashion industry, first at Abercrombie & Fitch Corporate and then at GAP Inc..  I still love my glitz and glam, but have learned that I am happiest when my life leans more toward geek than chic.

6 months before my October 2011 wedding, I decided to live without mirrors... for a year.  This blog began as a narration of that project, and has since evolved into a place where I muse, rant, and report on my colliding worlds of sociology, social psychology, contemporary feminism, body image, and beauty culture. 

My first book, Mirror, Mirror Off the Wall: How I Learned to Love My Body by Not Looking at It for a Year, hits bookshelves May 2nd. I'm thrilled beyond belief that it recently received a "starred review" from Publishers Weekly, which described the work as "brave and inspiring" and as "required reading for those women who struggle with body-image - and even those who don't." I feel so validated! Learn more about the book HERE. 

Raised in St. Louis, I now live in San Francisco with my husband, Michael, along with our dog and 2 cats. My favorite pastime is voracious stay-up-all-night-cause-I-can't-put-it-down reading, and (despite mediocre cooking skills) I am passionate about good food. I bargain shop for exercise, my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, I still can't give up my Ugg boots, and bright green makes me happy.

Read about my academic work at: www.KjerstinGruys.com.

Email me at: KjerstinGruys@gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter: @KjerstinGruys.

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