We live in a world where we are encouraged to love ourselves and be confident in who we are. Correction, we live in a world where we are told how to feel about ourselves and who we are. Now, bring in the keyword “Body Positivity” and things start to change, sort of.
The Body Positivity movement is important because it starts to raise an awareness that we should accept ourselves for who we are, no matter our shape or size. The overall message is clear and concise yet how it is conveyed is not as clear.
The movement is starting to become this giant game of tug of war. Everyone having their own say in the matter as to what a “healthy” body looks like. One second it’s important to be skinny, then it’s not. Another second any shape or size is okay, then there are those who point out that not all shapes and sizes are healthy and so on and so forth. There is still this force that does dictate what an optimal body shape is.
I do not believe that the body positivity movement is encouraging people to be unhealthy, it is simply encouraging women and men alike that your natural body is beautiful. Not everyone looks the same or has the same healthy weight. Just like there are naturally skinny people out there, there are just as many naturally heavier people as well, plus everyone in between.
Yes, it is important to eat healthy and exercise and personally I feel that is encouraged by almost everyone. In my opinion, the Body Positivity movement helps us love every inch of our bodies that were created just for us.
While all that is well and good, the movement still has ways to go. Girls are still suffering from eating disorders and people are still trying to change their bodies every single day. Advocates for the movement still appear to be airbrushed on magazines.
I do hope that this movement gets enough momentum that this will no longer be an issue and celebrities won’t be looked up to as these weight loss Gods and Goddesses or having the perfect body. In my mind, the body positivity movement will have succeeded when it is no longer needed. No one should have to be told they should love their bodies.
All in all, people are starting to speak out and that is what we need to make change in this difficult and judgmental world.
