Body Positivity Isn’t Promoting Unhealthiness
In a world saturated with unrealistic magazine covers, all edited to “perfection”, the body positivity movement has emerged as a universal symbol of hope. Yet, as the ideal of self-love and acceptance grows larger, it is shadowed by the numerous misconceptions society inflicts upon us, which depict body positivity as a chance to promote obesity or unhealthy ways of living. Snapchat filters and the concept of photoshopping have made the battle for self-acceptance substantially more difficult. Amongst this chaos, it’s vital to understand that this movement isn’t about promoting obesity – it’s about promoting peace with ourselves and our bodies.
In the grand scheme of societal expectations, body shaming and unrealistic beauty standards hold a pivotal position. This normalized culture of criticism not only diminishes our self-esteem, but also can cause numerous mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Body shaming itself manifests in multiple forms, from mockery and ridicule to comments hidden beneath the mask of concern. This type of shaming inflicts severe harm on everyone’s self-perception, through fostering feelings of inadequacy and shame. Additionally, meticulously curated social media feeds and seemingly flawless magazine covers have significantly contributed to the pursuit of an idealized aesthetic, which leaves a lot of us with a strong feeling of unworthiness. These deceiving definitions of “perfection” perpetuate harmful stereotypes, harboring discrimination based on our appearances. Together, these harmful messages and standards perpetuate a cycle of negativity that consistently undermines mental health and contributes to the uptick in mental health issues.
One of the focal points of the body positivity movement is self-compassion – a commitment to treating ourselves with the same kindness and understanding we offer to our loved ones. Practicing self-affirmations, challenging negative self-talk, seeking support from those around you, engaging in activities that bring YOU happiness, supporting brands and media that promote inclusive and diverse representation, and standing up against body shaming when it occurs near you are some ways that you can honor this allegiance.
Furthermore, cleansing our social media feeds by following body-positive activists or influencers on social media can establish a supportive environment for yourself. By acting upon these steps, we can rewrite the narrative of beauty together, and champion a world where every body is celebrated, respected, and valued.
The misunderstanding that this idea was developed to encourage unhealthy living not only misrepresents the movement’s core intentions, but also undermines its positive influence on numerous individuals and society as a whole. When body positivity advocates for self-love and acceptance of all body types, some interpret this as an endorsement of being obese. However, this interpretation fails to understand the depth and value of the movement, which is truly about the right to happiness, regardless of body type. Though it’s true that body positivity does work to reduce the stigma and shame surrounding obesity, it certainly does not advocate in favor of it. This concept only aims to create a supportive environment where individuals are able to feel comfortable enough to progress towards a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle where they can feel genuine happiness, without judgment.
“At the heart of the body positivity movement is the simple, admirable idea of teaching everyone that every body type is equally as deserving of love and respect. ”
Originally blossoming from social media platforms, this concept is really a response to decades of societal norms that have defined beauty and self-worth by numbers on a scale. However, in recent years, critics have come forth and claimed the movement’s celebration of all body types is a mere way of promoting unhealthy lifestyles. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Body positivity is not about glorifying health risks associated with obesity or other conditions – it’s about breaking the cycle of shame and negativity surrounding “unideal” body types as dictated by unjust societal standards. It’s about teaching younger generations that self-worth shouldn’t be defined by their clothing sizes. To understand body positivity, it’s critical that we look past these inaccurate interpretations, and see that it’s an invitation to celebrate humanity in its rawest, most authentic form.
Aarna Dharmavarapu - Author
