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Body Positive 101
11 years ago
All people deserve to have equal rights and accessibility and not be judged or shamed for their bodies.
There are lots of different reasons for peoples' bodies to be different sizes and shapes. Genetics, disease, sex, gender, and ability are just a few of the reasons why someone may be sized or shaped the way they are. While an individual's lifestyle choices, food access, and overall food culture in a person's home or nation can play a part, studies show that long term (5+ years) manipulation of body size (specifically weight, larger or smaller) is very unlikely. Most bodies naturally find a base weight they return to.
It's also very important to realize that health is not equal to someone's body appearance. Studies generally show that healthy lifestyle choices - like eating lots of fresh veggies, limiting drug intake, and regular exercise - are the best predictors for good health. You can't tell what a person's lifestyle habits are from their body shape or size (thin or fat), or from seeing them do something once in front of you (go for a jog, wearing a dress or a suit, sitting on a bench, smoking a cigarette, eating a salad or a piece of cake).
Bottom line, people deserve equal rights and not to be shamed for their bodies. It's difficult for many fat people to find adequate medical attention due to stigma and inadequate medical tools; it's difficult for many people of all sizes to find clothing that fits them comfortably and well; many people of varying sizes/abilities struggle with accessibility for their body shape and size in public places. Fat people, very thin people, people breaking gender norms, along with persons of limited ability, often find themselves the brunt of extremely brutal judgment and horrible words that are intended to shame over assumed lifestyles.
If a fat person eats a double cheeseburger or a piece of cake in public, is it okay to assume they eat poorly all the time and are lazy?
Or if a person with limited ability, fat or not, needs a scooter to get around, is it okay to assume they don't need the scooter because they get off it to reach something on a shelf?
Or if a person doesn't have a clear gender, is it okay to ask what genitals they have?
Or if a very tall, thin person has visible bone structures under their skin, is okay to assume they have an eating disorder or tell them to eat a sandwich?
The answer to all: no.
"But people who are fat/thin/breaking gender norms/differently-abled make me feel uncomfortable!"
--That's okay. Being body positive means you avoid judging others' bodies and making assumptions about them as people. It doesn't mean you are automatically comfortable with every kind of person or every kind of physical appearance. There are lots of resources about how to treat people who are different with respect.
"But I don't feel attracted to people with that body type."
--That's okay. Being body positive doesn't mean you have to find every body type sexually attractive. It just means you avoid judging and assuming based on a person's body.
"But I hate my own body and work hard to change it!"
--That's okay. Being body positive is a very personal journey. It doesn't mean you are able to avoid judging, assuming, and shaming yourself or others every minute of every day. It means you believe in a body positive message and are working towards it at your own pace.
"But [body type] is unhealthy! Isn't accepting it promoting unhealthiness?"
--Please see above about assuming body types can tell you about a person's health. The bottom line is that being body positive isn't about endorsing someone's unhealthy habits; it's about not judging or shaming people based on their body shape or size. It doesn't matter how their body size and shape came to be.
"But this message goes against what I believe!" -or- "I am very body positive, except for [this type of body/group of persons]."
--Being body positive may not be the right cause to champion if you feel this way, but again, it's a very personal journey. Sometimes our heads know what is morally or ethically right to support even if our hearts don't feel that way. For some, it's a way to start changing their feelings. If you participate in body positive groups (like Sizes), it's probably best not to express negative feelings unless there's a specific invitation or forum for debate. When opinions contrary to an acceptance message are shared freely, this can severely affect the feelings of safety for other people participating. While you may feel this is appropriate and are entitled to those feelings, it is unacceptable for a body positive community and must be taken elsewhere.
Questions? I'm not an expert, but I'll answer them as best I can.
There are lots of different reasons for peoples' bodies to be different sizes and shapes. Genetics, disease, sex, gender, and ability are just a few of the reasons why someone may be sized or shaped the way they are. While an individual's lifestyle choices, food access, and overall food culture in a person's home or nation can play a part, studies show that long term (5+ years) manipulation of body size (specifically weight, larger or smaller) is very unlikely. Most bodies naturally find a base weight they return to.
It's also very important to realize that health is not equal to someone's body appearance. Studies generally show that healthy lifestyle choices - like eating lots of fresh veggies, limiting drug intake, and regular exercise - are the best predictors for good health. You can't tell what a person's lifestyle habits are from their body shape or size (thin or fat), or from seeing them do something once in front of you (go for a jog, wearing a dress or a suit, sitting on a bench, smoking a cigarette, eating a salad or a piece of cake).
Bottom line, people deserve equal rights and not to be shamed for their bodies. It's difficult for many fat people to find adequate medical attention due to stigma and inadequate medical tools; it's difficult for many people of all sizes to find clothing that fits them comfortably and well; many people of varying sizes/abilities struggle with accessibility for their body shape and size in public places. Fat people, very thin people, people breaking gender norms, along with persons of limited ability, often find themselves the brunt of extremely brutal judgment and horrible words that are intended to shame over assumed lifestyles.
If a fat person eats a double cheeseburger or a piece of cake in public, is it okay to assume they eat poorly all the time and are lazy?
Or if a person with limited ability, fat or not, needs a scooter to get around, is it okay to assume they don't need the scooter because they get off it to reach something on a shelf?
Or if a person doesn't have a clear gender, is it okay to ask what genitals they have?
Or if a very tall, thin person has visible bone structures under their skin, is okay to assume they have an eating disorder or tell them to eat a sandwich?
The answer to all: no.
"But people who are fat/thin/breaking gender norms/differently-abled make me feel uncomfortable!"
--That's okay. Being body positive means you avoid judging others' bodies and making assumptions about them as people. It doesn't mean you are automatically comfortable with every kind of person or every kind of physical appearance. There are lots of resources about how to treat people who are different with respect.
"But I don't feel attracted to people with that body type."
--That's okay. Being body positive doesn't mean you have to find every body type sexually attractive. It just means you avoid judging and assuming based on a person's body.
"But I hate my own body and work hard to change it!"
--That's okay. Being body positive is a very personal journey. It doesn't mean you are able to avoid judging, assuming, and shaming yourself or others every minute of every day. It means you believe in a body positive message and are working towards it at your own pace.
"But [body type] is unhealthy! Isn't accepting it promoting unhealthiness?"
--Please see above about assuming body types can tell you about a person's health. The bottom line is that being body positive isn't about endorsing someone's unhealthy habits; it's about not judging or shaming people based on their body shape or size. It doesn't matter how their body size and shape came to be.
"But this message goes against what I believe!" -or- "I am very body positive, except for [this type of body/group of persons]."
--Being body positive may not be the right cause to champion if you feel this way, but again, it's a very personal journey. Sometimes our heads know what is morally or ethically right to support even if our hearts don't feel that way. For some, it's a way to start changing their feelings. If you participate in body positive groups (like Sizes), it's probably best not to express negative feelings unless there's a specific invitation or forum for debate. When opinions contrary to an acceptance message are shared freely, this can severely affect the feelings of safety for other people participating. While you may feel this is appropriate and are entitled to those feelings, it is unacceptable for a body positive community and must be taken elsewhere.
Questions? I'm not an expert, but I'll answer them as best I can.
i'm just amazed that people have to be told these things. or i should say, reminded. has the dominant culture devolved that far from the logic of consideration?
what have parents been teaching their children for the past 30 or 40 years? how to party and get drunk and hate everything that doesn't come out of the same mold?