As someone well over 115 pounds, seeing these words makes my heart drop. Not only for myself, but mostly for other women who struggle with their body image. Last week I saw a girl that I don’t even know tweet this with examples like: don’t post selfies, don’t post bikini photos and even said you shouldn’t breathe. The more angry I became about the tweet, the more I was saddened by it. I have had first-hand experience with depression and anxiety and could only think of how this silly tweet would have affected me two years ago. Then I imagine how many people are in a similar situation I was, and how easily one measly tweet could push them over the edge.
Women over 115 pounds shouldn’t look down on themselves.
With the positive things that result from social media also comes the bad. A poll was done and found that 91% of women are not happy with their bodies. 91 percent. Only 5% of the population of women in America have the “ideal” body type that the media obsesses over. Now, this isn’t an article to bash social media or talk about how we should ban it from our lives. But we shouldn’t be so worried about what media says we should look like. Who makes the rules that tell us what we should weigh, what we should eat, or even what we should wear?
Girls start worrying about what they look like at an extremely early age, because of the media. These “rules” are probably written by women and men who look exactly like the rest of us. Women see their bodies in the mirror and could probably tell you five things they hate about themselves instantly. To grow up in a culture that Photoshops any and every role model a little girl has is what is destroying how we look at ourselves.
Women over 115 pounds shouldn’t let others tell them what they shouldn’t do.
Everyone has a different body type, and therefore everyone will be a different weight than the next person. In a world full of negativity we should be lifting each other up and creating a positive environment for ourselves. If that means deleting social media for a while, then do it. Don’t wait until you are at rock bottom to start climbing back up. Surround yourself with positive women who genuinely care about you. If you have a friend that negatively impacts your life, let them go. You should be your own priority, God comes first and loving yourself should come second.
Women over 115 pounds shouldn’t feel nervous about posting a selfie.
When standing in the mirror being nitpicky about all the things you don’t like about yourself, remind yourself that God is with you listening to what you have to say about something He created. Think of an art piece or anything you have created that you are proud of. Now imagine how you would feel if one of your best friends told you they hated it and told you everything that they thought was wrong with it. I have a feeling that God feels the same way when you say those things about yourself. No one loves you more than He does -- no one cares about your well being more than He does. Psalm 139:14 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” We should be praising Him, rather than asking Him why He wouldn’t make us look like our favorite actress. The same God that made the stars, sunsets and the seas also created you. If that doesn’t make you feel proud of who you are and how you look, I really don’t know what will.
Women over 115 pounds shouldn’t think they aren’t fearfully and wonderfully made.
Luckily, body positivity is becoming more and more popular for our generation. When I clicked on this tweet I half expected people to be adding on to this sickening list in the comments. What I found was the exact opposite. So many beautiful women (who were over and under 115lbs) were posting pictures of themselves, shutting down the stereotype this poor girl believed. There were very few comments that encouraged the girl to continue putting others down, and they would be quickly deleted when called out on it.
