Lately there has been a body positivity movement across all different forms of social media (Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, etc.) known as #rockthecrop. Women of all shapes and sizes are posting pictures of themselves in a crop top to show that you can and should be able to wear whatever you want, as long as you feel comfortable.
Like most trends that pop up on social media, #rockthecrop didn't come out of nowhere. In a recent edition of "O, The Oprah Magazine" there was a style Q&A where the question 'should I wear a crop top?' and the answer the magazine gave started this movement. The magazine claimed that you should wear a crop top "If (and only if!) you have a flat stomach, feel free to try one." After coming across this in the magazine, Tamar Anitai, a Brooklyn-based writer, posted the blurb to Instagram where it was picked up by other bloggers and #rockthecrop was born.
Many of you are probably thinking "what does it matter?" or "who cares?" but it does matter because body shaming is a big issue. Many women struggle with self esteem and feeling comfortable in their own skin, and while there have been many strides in accepting all body types in recent years, with an influx of plus-size models and beauty bloggers, we as a society still have a long way to go.
In society women who have a flat stomach are conventionally found to be more attractive than girls who do not. And contrary to popular belief, having extra weight or being plus size isn't always something you are able to control. Different medications can cause you to gain weight no matter how healthy you live and how much exercise you do; also, there are some disease that can make gaining weight extremely easy and losing it difficult. Genetics can sometimes be to blame too, as the shape of your body can determine whether you have a flat abdomen or a little extra pudge around it.
Something that is especially frustrating and surprising is that this movement has stemmed from a magazine that is supported by Oprah. It is no secret that during her whole career Oprah has been scrutinized for her weight and has struggled to accept herself the way that she is. While this blurb wasn't written by Oprah herself, as a woman and someone who has, in the past, preached about feeling comfortable in her own skin, it still seems very hypocritical and hurtful.
#Rockthecrop isn't just an excuse for women to wear a top to prove that they can. It's an opportunity for women who struggle with their size, or with being confident in their own bodies, or have never felt comfortable wearing what they want for fear of judgement, to take a stand and say, "yes, I'm wearing this and, no, I don't care what you think because I feel comfortable and that's what matters". So who cares if you don't have a flat stomach, whether it be because of genetics, medication, a disease or whatever; go ahead and rock the crop, because as long as you feel comfortable, it doesn't matter what others think.
