I would like to preface this article by taking into account that there are people of all shapes and sizes who are suffering, whether it be from a mental illness that causes you to overeat or starve, a physical disease where the required medication causes your weight to fluctuate, or an internal battle to love yourself every day in spite of the demons you're fighting.
The body positivity movement by definition is “creating a world in which people are liberated from self- hatred, value their beauty and identity, and use their energy and intellect to make positive changes in their lives and their communities.” So why in this movement to embrace self-love are we putting each other down? Why are curvy women calling thin women “skinny bitches”? or thin women calling thicker women “fat” or “ugly”? Why must body positivity result in body- shaming? While I acknowledge that our society has thought about larger bodies in an incredibly negative way, and there should be a focus on loving yourself in spite of media standards, the goal of the body positivity movement is to be able to empower all people of all shapes and sizes. As a society, we’re failing. We litter the media with “body positive” hashtags like #EffYourBeautyStandards, #HonorMyCurves, #CelebrateMySize, and most recently #MermaidThighs, which in itself are great concepts until you read the comments that turn something accepting into a debate on the inclusiveness of the trend. That in an effort to promote body diversity, we feel the need to trash those who don't fall into our approved spectrum of body diversity.
Sadly, it doesn’t stop with just hurtful comments on social media platforms. This disconnect in female empowerment goes as far as the media trashing other body types to promote their idea of body positivity, for example, our “beloved” social personalities like the singer, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PCkvCPvDXkMeghan Trainer or comedian, Nicole Arbour.
Meghan, I assure you it is not all about that bass, it’s not about ostracizing women who don’t look like you, it’s not about writing a song and using visuals that make fun of women who don’t fit into your body positive image, and it’s not about being “a stick figure, silicone Barbie doll.” However it is about the hypocrisy you implement in your interviews by telling women to “love yourself more” and “empowering” women to “not worry about their size,” but only the sizes you approve of, right? Not the “skinny bitches” or the body type you have gone on record putting down. Shaming one body type while attempting to lift up yours is promoting this idea that your self-worth correlates with tearing another down. This body positivity division of curvy versus skinny is the overall failure of the movement.
Meghan Trainor may be skinny-shaming, but Nicole Arbour made an almost six- minute video, titled “Dear Fat People,” where she mocks, belittles, and harangues overweight people. Then she follows it up with “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdiNwylLGH4Dear Fat People Two” where she fat- shames model, Ashley Graham for her Sports Illustrated cover. In these videos, Arbour calls overweight people "disgusting" and "ugly." She says things like “fat- shaming is not a thing. Fat people made that up” or “shame people who have bad habits until they stop. If we offend you so much that you lose weight, I’m OK with that.” Arbour refers to this diatribe as a part of her stand- up routine, if this was meant to be funny why has it amassed nearly 24 million views on Facebook and 3 million views on YouTube, why have dozens of YouTubers created vlogs and videos discussing why these videos were cruel, ignorant, and made a note of the consequences of fat shaming. What gives you the right to comment on someone’s weight?
Weight does not define a person, it does not indicate how healthy they are, how happy they are, or how emotionally stable they are, and you sure as hell does not have the right to talk about someone else’s weight. No matter what shape or size we are, insecurities are a part of people, and your insecurities do not magically disappear by putting down other women. We need to build confidence not by creating campaigns like “Real Women Have Curves” because someone’s lack of curves does not make them less of a woman and neither does not fitting media “standards” of the perfect body. Real women come in all shapes and sizes, and there needs to be a focus on body inclusion. That no, I have no curves, but that doesn’t mean I have the right to insult someone else’s body type. Or that curvy women have the right to use terms like “skinny bitch” or “silicon Barbie doll” to validate the beauty that comes with curves. Body positivity is about loving your body, but with that, we should focus on body inclusion and accepting every body type.
