For many decades, society has
considered certain body types and sizes to be the most acceptable.
Traditionally, Western countries have given recognition, appreciation, and
privilege to those whose appearance suits a particular ideal. Very often, this
ideal means leanness, muscularity, or body shape.
Messages about what is considered an
attractive or appropriate body type and size can be detrimental to many people
who do not meet these specific criteria. These expectations can lead to poor
mental health, bodily dissatisfaction, and unhealthy behaviors around food and
exercise.
The positivity movement of the body
arose from the need to expand the range of bodies accepted by society. The
movement encourages the rejection of the idea that bodies should conform to a
particular mold, and encourages people to accept and celebrate their bodies as
they are.
History of positive
body movement
Ideas about the positivity of the
body have been around for over a hundred years, but only recently have they
been formalized as a social movement. The positivity of the body dates back to
1850, when women protested that they should not insist on wearing corsets to
change body shape.
The idea of accepting
the body became a topic of discussion after the publication of the article
"More People Should Be Obese!" written by a writer named Lew
Lauderback. The author argued that obesity does not mean health, and dismissed
the shame of fat. This article promoted the establishment of a national
association to promote fat acceptance in 1969. Smart Pill
More formally, the body positivity
movement was created by Connie Sobczak and Elizabeth Scott in 1996. The
movement was started based on Connie’s own experience of an eating disorder.
Elizabeth, a psychologist specializing in eating disorders, also founded the
organization.
Since then, the body’s positivity
movement has grown to include activists, health care professionals, and
scientific researchers. The body positivity movement has influenced the fashion
and advertising industry, the use of social media, and the general inclusion
and acceptance of different body types in the wider community.
What is the
positivity of the body?
The term “body positivity” is now
used more often than ever, but body positivity is still somewhat confusing.
Body positivity is a movement that represents appreciation, respect, and
acceptance for bodies as they are, and for the functions and functions they
perform. More specifically, the positivity of the body includes:
Appreciate the unique aspects of your
body.
Thanks to the functions that the body
can perform
Admiration of body parts and
qualities, even if they differ from social ideals.
Comfort and confidence in your own
body
Focusing on the positive rather than
the perceived flaws or shortcomings
Rejection of negative images or body
information.
The positivity of the body is a
process that requires the exercise of compassion and acceptance. While the
acceptance process and the positivity of the body are certainly difficult, it
can lead to better well-being and mental health and encourage a more inclusive
and tolerant society.
Common
misunderstandings
The body positivity movement
challenges some of society’s long-standing beliefs. Because of this, there can
be a lot of misunderstandings about the positivity of the body and the
intentions and benefits of movement.
Body positivity is a broad concept.
There are many different types of diversity and acceptance within the body.
There is often a comparison between body positivity and fat acceptance, and
while they have many values, they are not the same. Fat acceptance is part of a
broader movement for body positivity, but includes special acceptance and
equality for people with fatty bodies.
Self-love and the positivity of the
body encourage the bodies to accept as they are. For many, this can mean being
overweight, underweight, or a different kind of respectful and accepting body
than what is generally considered “acceptable”. This can be a difficult concept
because the messages about what the body should look like are strong and
persistent.
Common misconceptions about body
positivity can be the belief that people who are body positive:
They are lazy or neglect to take care
of themselves through diet and exercise.
They are simply people who don’t feel
too negative about their bodies.
They are useless
Make reviews of others to improve the
positivity of your own body.
They are able to simply ignore or
constantly shape social messages about body and appearance.
Some people may also believe that the
positivity of the body only involves changing thoughts. However, true body
positivity is an ongoing process of changing beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors
and exploring their interactions.
