Who Can and Cannot Be Body Positive. | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Who Can and Cannot Be Body Positive.

After an increase in conversation about the uplifting media movement, the core idea of confidence in oneself is now being distorted by women delegating who can and cannot embrace their bodies.

99
Who Can and Cannot Be Body Positive.
me

Each day I pick up my phone, I suffer through the internal battle of whether or not I should delete my Twitter. Some days, the app is filled with heartfelt videos of a father playing "Isn't She Lovely" on the saxophone to a field of grazing cows, or tweets from hilarious drunk girls giving weather forecasts. However, others are filled with angry, hateful messages to attack fellow tweet-ers. Ever since the 2016 election, the app has become polarized, causing the culture to shift from memes to continues attempts to "cancel" each other. While many of these social justice warriors have good intentions, the flaring tempers often lead to more destructive battles, obliterating the initial pursuit of justice.

A few weeks ago, I came across a tweet that stated,

"@babyybry: I work my ass off at the gym for my body, so if I post a pic captioned "body positive" I honestly don't care if I offend anyone lol"

While this tweet falsely assumes you need to have a body you worked for in order to join the Body Positive movement, the tweets under this were just as bad. An outraged user replied,

"@stephslays: Lmao sis no one's offended by your body that you "work your ass off at the gym for". By using the term "body posi" as a caption it's robbing a caption made for others to feel positive about their bodies when society has told them not to."

—Wrong, again. Mind you, each tweet grossed over 1,000 likes each. The Body Positive movement is a social media, as well as print media, campaign to encourage women to think positively about their bodies while embracing their unique features, straying away from perpetual thoughts oriented around fitting a certain body convention. At its core, the movement is something beautiful that all women should get behind. However, when a social movement intersects with this new cancelation twitter culture, things get warped. Here, both women are in the wrong—you don't have to be someone who works out to embrace your body. You also don't have to be someone who has a body that society would look upon fondly. Body Positivity is an umbrella term for all bodies. If we go around dictating who can and cannot use this phrase, we are created new bodily conventions that we attempted to dismantle in the first place.

All in all, Twitter culture and the conversation on women's bodies as a whole needs to be put in check. Whether it's individuals embracing curvy women and putting down skinny women, or fit women criticizing society for praising "obesity" and "encouraging unhealthy habits", it all needs to stop. Skinny women can have body image issues, fit women can have body image issues, overweight women can have body image issues—we all do because we cannot stop arguing over who is allowed to feel what about their bodies.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

187012
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

12855
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

456364
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

25682
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments