VeryWellMind: Body Positivity vs. Body Neutrality
"Body positivity is a social, worldwide movement focusing on equality and acceptance for all body types and sizes. One of the goals is to challenge how our society, particularly all forms of media, presents and views the physical human body. Plastic surgery, injections, dangerous diet culture, and extreme workout regimens became the norm for decades as skinny jeans and size two waists seemed to be the perfect body type for mainstream society. This “skinny” culture quickly led to low self-esteem, depression, alcoholism, and extreme eating disorders. In the early 2000s, the Internet was the primary place where body shaming and body love were spread. People were commonly shamed and bullied for being “overweight,” but many individuals started speaking out on normalizing all body types, regardless of size and weight. "
"Shortly after the "body positivity" movement emerged, body neutrality made its introduction as an alternative approach to body positivity. Instead of focusing on loving your body no matter what, body neutrality is a philosophy that focuses on what your body can do for you. Body neutrality means taking a neutral perspective toward your body, meaning that you do not have to cultivate a love for your body or feel that you have to love your body every day. You may not always love your body, but you may still live happily and appreciate everything your body can do."
"Although body neutrality was coined to circumnavigate the body positivity movement, both of these terms can be practiced simultaneously. It is not required to pick one movement over the other. "
Body Positivity
- Promotes strong self-esteem
- Encourages others to love their body
- Encourages others to care for their body
Body Neutrality
- Emphasizes what your body can do
- Encourages mindfulness
- Focuses on the body as a vessel rather than what it looks like
"One day, you can love your body, and the next day you may struggle with your appearance but still appreciate your body for what it can do. You can adopt body neutrality mindsets such as practicing mindful eating and exercise to build the body you desire"
💬 What are your thoughts on these two movements? Is there any that you prefer? If so, why?
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#Body #BodyPositivity #BodyNeutrality
what about the parts that only do harm? I don't think there will always be parts that I hate and some of that is because I love myself.
@AffyAvo
What are the parts that only do harm?
It is amazing to hear that you love yourself! As long as we love ourselves, we are less likely to be trapped in self-denial due to current circumstances or minor failures. It reduces stress and anxiety by eliminating the fear of being rejected.
@globalBraid3744 The tumours and the mutated gene and resulting dysfunctional c1 inhibitor. NOt really sure of some bones in my feet if they have any value to me either.
@globalBraid3744 I think the heavy dose of daily medication I'm on is causing water retention. How would I try to shed the water weight?
@globalBraid3744 I really love both of these movements, but I think I prefer body neutrality! The body positivity movement, in my opinion, still has some body goals that people attach to it. Everyone can be positive about their body, but I think it still encourages everyone to look like a model. With body neutrality, we celebrate everything our body can do regardless of what we look like and I think this is great because we don't have to look a certain way for our body to exercise, dance, and smile!