Despite the advantages of body positivity, a lot of people lack proper knowledge of its philosophy. Thus, they misinterpret the goal of body positivity and apply the concept to their life in the wrong way.
Body positivity preaches positive body image. It encourages us to love our body as it is and avoid trying to change our body features dangerously. However, body positivity does not mean a lack of proper body care and an unhealthy lifestyle.
This article will examine several misconceptions about body positivity, debunk this misinterpretation and give a true analysis of the body positivity philosophy.
What is body positivity?
Body positivity is a worldwide movement that preaches self-love regardless of relative body imperfections. This movement seeks equal treatment and respect for all body types. The goal of this movement is to shatter all feminine bodies and beauty standards. It preaches self-love as opposed to body love.
Although the movement started as solidarity and empowerment for fat people, its message has been extended to encompass all forms of female body imperfections such as stretch marks, acne, bikini area rashes, hyperpigmentation, big tummy pregnancy fat as several other perceived imperfections.
Body positivity is premised upon the promotion of positive body image. It seeks to prevent people from hurting themselves in the process of seeking a perfect body. It discourages harmful weight loss exercises, undereating which may lead to eating disorders and dangerous plastic surgeries just to look the part.
As human beings, some natural changes are bound to occur in our bodies due to several factors such as aging, pregnancy, natural disasters, and lifestyle choices. Being positive about these changes instead of criticizing ourselves and others means we have positive body image, we are positive about our body.
Misconceptions about body positivity
There is no room for insecurities, you must love your body always
Yes, body positivity means you should appreciate your body the way it is. However, it is not a crime to feel bad about some part of your body sometimes.
Despite body positivity, as a human, it is quite normal to feel bad about some dents and body imperfections. Even though you may accept your acne as normalcy, it's not something you desire in the first place and you are bound to feel bad about it.
You can still be body positive and at the same time be insecure about your body. As long as you do not allow such insecurity to consume you and force you to take detrimental steps about your body.
Body positivity is all about fat people
To some people , body positivity is all about accepting your plus-size body and respecting fat people. This is not totally true. Although modern-day body positivity has its root in the fat acceptance movement of the 1960s, body positivity is not just about body weight. Body positivity encompasses respect and acceptance of all forms of the body regardless of size, weight, color, origin, or physical disabilities.
People have different reasons for being insecure about their bodies. To some people, it may be fat. To some, it's being too skinny. Having an acne infestation, black skin or albinism or hyperpigmented skin are insecurities some people are battling with. To some, it's about stretch marks on the stomach and thighs.
Body positivity is all about embracing all forms of body imperfections and disengaging your self-worth from your body image. Your fat body, skinny body, black color, stretch marks, pregnancy fats, and hyperpigmentation shouldn't affect your self-esteem. These perceived imperfections shouldn't force you to take drastic steps about your body.
Being positive about your body image means you are body positive
Body positivity is not one-sided. You should have a positive body image and also accepts others' bodies as well. One of the goals of body positivity is to eradicate body shaming. Body shaming is a bad practice that pushes people to want to change their bodies forcefully. You are not body positive if you accept your body imperfections but you body shame others.A body-positive person acknowledges the fact that our physical appearance doesn't determine our self-worth. You have to believe that everyone has to be treated equally and respectfully. You must be positive and open-minded towards body imperfections.
Body positivity means you shouldn't do anything to improve your body
Some people believe being body positive means you should leave your body the way it is and you shouldn't do anything to improve it. This is a wrong notion. Body positivity only seeks to prevent harming yourself in a bid to change your body and not that you should neglect your body.Some people have developed eating disorders because they want to lose weight. Some have gone through dangerous plastic surgery just to alter their appearance. Some even bleach to change their skin color. These are practices discouraged by body positivity.
In as much as you should be proud of being fat, excess body fat can also affect your health. Being body positive means you should prioritize your health over appearance. Body acceptance must be complemented with body care and pampering. You should eat good food and maintain a healthy weight. Perform normal but not rigorous exercise daily to improve your health.
Body positivity does not stop you from treating and addressing body changes as long as it is medically safe to do that. Nothing stops you from treating that acne, hyperpigmentation, and ingrown hairs on your bikini line. If there are safe remedies for stretch marks there is nothing bad about getting them.
Being positive means you should love your body enough to take care of it.
