You may call me chubby, but according to me, I am fat. Just because I don’t judge others doesn’t mean I won’t judge myself. I am clinically ill, due to which neither I can go to the gym nor can I opt for yoga, but yes, I eat healthy food. However, the amount of medicine I need to take for my illness at the age of 29 does not help my figure at all.
Body positivity is the idea that everyone should love and accept their bodies as they are, regardless of size, shape, or appearance. It is a movement that seeks to challenge and dismantle harmful societal standards of beauty and promote self-acceptance and self-love.
One of the main goals of the body positivity movement is to create a more inclusive and diverse understanding of what is considered “beautiful.” For too long, the media and society have promoted a narrow, unrealistic standard of beauty that is based on thinness and a specific body type. This standard is not only unattainable for most people, but it is also harmful, as it can lead to a negative body image and low self-esteem.
Body positivity advocates for a more inclusive definition of beauty that celebrates diversity and uniqueness. It encourages people to embrace their bodies as they are, rather than constantly striving for an impossible ideal. This means accepting and loving your body, even if it doesn’t look like the bodies you see in the media.
Body positivity also seeks to challenge the harmful notion that a person’s worth is tied to their appearance. This belief is often reinforced by society, which values thinness and a specific body type above all else. This can lead to harmful behaviors such as dieting, disordered eating, and even plastic surgery in an attempt to conform to these standards.
Body positivity encourages people to embrace their bodies as they are and to focus on their health and well-being rather than trying to conform to societal standards of beauty. It recognizes that everyone’s bodies are different, and that’s okay.
There are many ways to practice body positivity, including:
Dressing in clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident
Engaging in self-care practices that promote self-acceptance and self-love
Surrounding yourself with supportive and positive people
Refusing to participate in negative body talk, either about yourself or others
Seeking out body-positive media and influencers who promote self-acceptance and diversity
Body positivity is a powerful movement that has the potential to transform the way we think about our bodies and ourselves. By embracing this ideology, we can learn to love and accept ourselves just as we are and create a more inclusive and compassionate society.
I am sorry but can’t help blaming the West and Bollywood for a distorted body image that we in India have developed. We should love to embrace our body ithe way we are.
Such an important topic to talk about. Unfortunately in a world of body shaming and superficial looks, it is so crucial to have this movement in educating people with body positivity and build up confidence.
The idea of beauty and being beautiful that has been set by the society at large and now by social media and holly/bollywood is completely distorted. Giving emphasis to only fair n thin as beautiful is so wrong. Everyone is beautiful in any shape and color.
Growing up, I had always been a ‘fluffy’ kid and often got bullied for it. That’s what lead to me having a negative view of my own body image as I got older. I started to lose weight when I started college and have somehow kept the weight off since then. But part of myself still sees me as that chunky girl because I was like that for so long. This post really showcases that in order to love ourselves, we need to except the not so perfect aspects of ourselves too. Thanks so much for sharing! Great writing!
There are so many images and words out there trying to tell us that if we don’t conform to something “perfect” that we’re nothing. It’s so important that we love ourselves. The world is trying to tell us not to.
As a society we need to move away from the antiquated thoughts of beauty. I really appreciated the part “Body positivity is a powerful movement that has the potential to transform the way we think about our bodies and ourselves.” This is the movement we need to work toward as a society.
Body shaming is an awful abuse that a woman could go through. I have learnt to remember that I am perfect the way I am. And at the end of the day, people only throw abuse because they see something they would like to have but know they can’t. With that in mind, I have learnt to show up for myself regardless of the body shaming abuse I throw at my face.
Ah yes! Body shaming and negativity has thrived for too long in our society. It’s time we end it! I love the numerous ways you have shared, on how we can grow body positivity in our world!
I’m sorry that you can’t due to illness. I won’t carry about and would see you pretty. And I agree people should love and accept their bodies.
I totally support this movement. It is about time that we learn to love and embrace our bodies regardless of size or color. As long as we are healthy then we should be happy and contented.