Nov. 14, 2024
By Caitlin Correia
Staff Writer
The body positivity movement is one of the most necessary trends of the century. Aiming to change traditional beauty norms and encourage people to love their bodies no matter what, it is enhanced by social media, which allows for the sharing of information and provides exposure to different body types.
This movement originated in the 1960s as a response to certain body types being barely visible in the media or viewed as less valuable in visual media. Today, supporters of body positivity include influencers and social media users who utilize their platforms to appreciate their bodies and encourage others to do the same.
While there is a body positivity movement beyond the online world, social media makes it accessible to people globally.
Many people showcase their diverse body types and conditions on social media to prove that a person’s external appearance does not define them. By approaching the world confidently, they learn to treat themselves and others with more kindness.
The more people accept themselves as they are, the more confidence and self-worth they develop. With greater confidence, people feel less affected by the opinions of others. Often, their newfound confidence encourages others to follow the same path.
The body positivity movement should not be rejected because it promotes diverse body images and healthy mentalities about appearance. In turn, the movement challenges mainstream views on body standards, where people face judgment based on their appearance. As people gain the confidence to show off their natural bodies, the standard image weakens.
While there is a body positivity movement beyond the online world, social media makes it accessible to people globally. This is beneficial to people living in environments that reject the idea that all bodies are good, so they can gain a positive outlook on themselves and others.
People’s attitudes change with a new frame of reference. They become less fixed on certain ideals and more open-minded, which causes them to be less critical of people’s appearances.
Some people may say the body positivity movement promotes unhealthy standards, but that is not what most of it represents.
At its core, the movement asserts that there is no standard body image and that people should feel good about themselves, no matter what they look like. This is a message all people should embrace.
