Blog written by Tamanna Nijjar, Arts and Science Student at the University of Guelph

#beautifulasis #bodypositivity #loveyourbody #effbeautystandards #bodyacceptance #allbodiesarebeautiful

I’m sure you have read these hashtags at some point while scrolling through social media. What a great way to empower individuals to embrace their true selves. Isn’t it? But it’s common to see these hashtags thrown around by brands and social media influencers to gain followers and a positive image on social media rather than promote the true message behind the movement.

So, what are the origins of body positivity?

It began with Fat Activism in the 1960s when the women’s liberation movement and Black Civil Rights were gaining momentum. It was common to see Black women labeled as fat, ugly, and sluggish in the media which allowed the movement to focus on fatphobia as the product of misogyny and racism. Those with marginalized bodies were given a voice to advocate for body acceptance in colored individuals and those who identified as LGBTQ+. These individuals strived to create a safe and accepting environment for those who did not fit the strict beauty standards of that period.

The issue in modern society is that the movement has caused those with marginalized bodies to become more marginalized. Mainstream media is constantly overlooking the fact that there are women that don’t classify as white, hourglass-figured, and a US size 12 and are learning to love their bodies as well. It is common to see white fitness influencers and celebrities promote hashtags by showcasing their flaws on social media. But these bodies have always been accepted by the media, and now they are used to erase the roots of a movement that promoted appreciation towards colorism and gender identity regardless of body size and shape. As we see more white women embracing their bodies while promoting the hashtag, we don’t see many colored women in the media embracing their beautiful organic bodies. This is due to the fear of being compared to their white counterparts and facing backlash.

Hence, society has whitewashed the body positivity movement.

This raises the question of what Black women are doing to take back the movement. Many Black women are using social media platforms to redefine and expand the body-positivity movement. It is encouraged to support these Black influencers and amplify their voices to create a movement that is more focused on diversity. Many of these influencers can be found Instagram, a popular social media platform.

« @StephanieYeboah posts great content on fatphobia and moving towards fat acceptance.

« @TiffanyIman, her content focuses on separating body weight and confidence to empower individuals to believe that they are more than the number on the scale.

« @laurenleavellfitness posts fitness content for all bodies and discusses ways to dismantle diet culture while still embracing the body positivity movement.

« @itsmekellieb created the #FatatFashionWeek series to emphasize that fashion can be enjoyed by anyone, especially those living in bigger bodies.

Overall, body positivity cannot be recognized without its fat activist ancestors that paved the way for body acceptance regardless of gender identity and color in a society that strongly favored those with unmarginalized bodies. A body-positive movement without fat people, Black people, and those with marginalized bodies isn’t truly a body-positivity movement.

Cheers to #BodyPositivityInColor – BIPOC individuals are encouraged to use this hashtag to restore the roots of the body positive movement.

References

BBC. (2021, October 26). The history of the Body Positivity Movement. BBC Bitesize. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z2w7dp3.

Johnson, M. (2019, March 5). If you ever felt like body positivity wasn't for you, here's why. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/body-positivity-origins#9.

Johnson, R. (2021, May 3). Has the body positivity movement forgotten its roots? THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE. Retrieved from http://untitled-magazine.com/has-the-body-positivity-movement-forgotten-its-roots/.

Miller, K. (2020, June 22). How whiteness killed the Body Positive Movement. Medium. Retrieved from https://elemental.medium.com/how-whiteness-killed-the-body-positive-movement-4c185773101e.