One of the many social movements gaining traction in recent times is body positivity. This is great because, through this fight for better and realistic definitions of beauty, people learn more about themselves, their cultures, and the world around them. Here are some of the significant effects of the body positivity movement.
There Is More to a Person Than Just Their Bodies
One’s self-worth does not solely hinge on body size, shape, or color. It also should not reflect on their imperfections. People should define themselves as the collection of their experiences, knowledge, and skills, a combination of their personality, quirks, and history. Let’s think of their bodies as wonderful, what with all the things it is capable of doing. And whether you are curvy or skinny or a person who has a disability, it should not hinder you from doing wonderful things and being an awesome person.
The unrealistic beauty standards imposed on people from their childhood should no longer affect them because they accept themselves for who they are. The more they accept their bodies, the more they become proud of themselves. This gives a person newfound confidence and motivation to take what life has to offer.
Being Non-judgmental Towards Others
Just as a person learns to accept themselves and how they are naturally built through body positivity, they also learn to be more accepting towards others’ choices when it comes to their definition of beauty. It’s never okay to make assumptions about other people when one has no idea about them.
Judging people for choosing to have cosmetic procedures done is a rampant negative trait that people should unlearn. Beauty is achieved in many ways, like wearing makeup, going to the gym, or rejuvenating with facial biofillers. How a person decides to achieve their ideal of beauty is not for others to judge as long as it isn’t harmful to themselves and those surrounding them.
Discovering the Capabilities of One’s Body
Bear in mind that body positivity should not be used as an excuse to leave your body as it is, especially if it can be a danger to yourself, particularly if you have health issues. Being too skinny can be a problem if you do not get enough nutrients in your body, and the inverse can be said for people above their ideal weight. Body positivity should be taken as, “I understand that this is my body’s natural predisposition and that I am responsible for its facets that I can control.” This means understanding how you can achieve a healthier body and working towards that goal.
Many people find out that they can be beautiful the way they are and live an active lifestyle through fun and exciting activities. Being fat should not stop a person from trying out pole dancing, yoga, or other activities deemed for “sexy” people only. Sexy is not a body shape; it’s a mindset.
Self-care Is Self-love
Understanding that you have to take care of your body can pave the way to many discoveries about yourself. You can discover skills you never knew you could do, food from different cuisines you never knew existed, sports you’d never have tried before, and a newfound appreciation for your “self.” You’ll no longer allow other people to look down on you or berate you because now you know you’re worth much more than the words and opinions of other people.
Wall Flower No More
Gaining an appreciation for one’s body gives a person the confidence and strength to command presence. They are no longer just abiding by everyone else’s preferences, and they no longer allow themselves to be made invisible in various places. In clothing, for example, they now have better options that are more honest in sizing without compromising style. They don’t have to choose between clothes that are not their style or sometimes not their age group.
The Media Can Be Misleading
In line with having better clothing styles, people are also becoming more aware of how the media has manipulated and perpetuated body shaming. Even aimed at younger audiences, the media often expresses beauty in a cookie-cutter view. If one doesn’t naturally fit those standards, they are automatically put in the “unwanted” box. But through body positivity, they become demystified, and society sees through false beauty standards.
Diversity Is a Good Thing
Because people see that beauty is not dictated by the media or anyone else, they get to appreciate different kinds of body shapes, colors, blemishes, and imperfections. They don’t see these “imperfections” as negative traits that they must remove. Instead, they see these as a part of themselves and that they are perfectly okay.
