The body positivity movement was created in response to the fact that the majority of women don’t fit society’s definitions of “healthy” and “beautiful.” So, a population of specifically larger women started speaking out. They criticized clothing stores for not carrying sizes or styles that fit larger body types, and instead catering to the taller and thinner populations.
They called out fashion brands like Victoria’s Secret for their lack of plus-sized models who wouldn’t fit society’s definition of “hot” or “sexy.” Ultimately, the movement strives to push back against the media’s obsession with extremely thin women with virtually unattainable bodies in an attempt to force society to accept bodies in all shapes and sizes.
There are a lot of great things about the body positivity movement. It’s creating an environment of inclusive women encouraging women to be confident in themselves, despite the labels on their clothing. Being body-positive toward all body types is allowing our society to open doors to plus-size models, actors, and celebrities.
However, while there are several really great things about this movement, there are still several flaws that need to be addressed.
1. It focuses on one side of the spectrum.
While the body positivity movement claims to be just that - body positive - it seems to “forget” to be inclusive of all body types. More often than not, the voices leading this movement come from “curvy” and even overweight women in support of women like themselves. In order to call yourself body-positive, you must be inclusive to the whole spectrum. Thin people need body positivity. Muscular people need body positivity. Short people need body positivity. Tall people need body positivity.
2. What about men?
Another major flaw in the body positivity movement is the lack of support focused on males. Men should be fighting this battle against the media with women. Male models and actors pose the same stereotypes of a “perfect” man as female models do for women, and they’re equally as unrealistic.
3. It neglects health.
Perhaps the largest flaw in the body positivity movement is that there seems to be no clear line between being body-positive and overlooking the health of yourself and of others. Body positivity is about loving your body, but there’s a difference in having confidence and neglecting your health. If you love your body, why wouldn’t you want to take care of it? (I know that there are health conditions that make it nearly impossible for a person to gain or lose weight.)
This isn’t about a number or a clothing size that society has conditioned us to believe means we are healthy. This is about not being sore after climbing a flight of stairs. It’s about more than confidence, it’s about being healthy and realizing that someone at a size 00 can be just as healthy as someone at a size 18.
4. Nothing is ever enough.
Beauty and fashion industries literally profit from playing on the insecurities of men and women. That won’t change. No matter what size you are, you’ll buy clothes because some model or trend made them seem cute or cool and you want to look like they do. The body positivity movement tends to complain about this reality rather than celebrate the body types that are often accepted now.
We’re all different. That’s the point, right? But that also makes it virtually impossible for stores to carry the perfect fit for every body and for each body to be represented in a modeling campaign. Let’s try celebrating the wins, instead of focusing on the “losses.”
5. It shames people for what they're attracted to.
Yes, our society has conditioned us to see tall and thin women as beautiful, and tall and muscular men as handsome, and that sucks. However, it’s OK to still be attracted to this type of person. It’s OK if a man doesn’t find me attractive because I have larger love-handles. I may not find his long, thin legs attractive.
It doesn’t mean they’re shaming me when I opt for pizza instead of a salad. It doesn’t mean I’m shaming them for choosing to have a night of Netflix instead of one at the gym. Some people aren’t attracted to all bodies. And that’s OK.
6. It shames those who do fit "the mold."
The body positivity movement has a habit of shaming women and men who fit society’s mold of “perfection.” However, the whole point of the movement is that a number or clothing size does not equal health. So reinforcing that a thin woman is just as beautiful as an overweight woman, and a muscular, thin man is just as beautiful as a heavier man is something this movement needs a lesson on.
Rhianna said, “Being size 0 is a career in itself, so we shouldn’t try and be like them. It’s not realistic and it’s not healthy.” This quote is so insulting to women who fit society’s mold of beauty. Again, healthy isn’t a number on a scale. Telling someone to eat a burger and “put some meat on their bones” is just as offensive as telling someone to opt for a salad over a burger.
Positivity is something this world will always be lacking in. Let’s make sure we do it right.