Yes, The Media Body Shames But Body Positivity Starts With Us | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Yes, The Media Body Shames But Body Positivity Starts With Us

Stop adding fuel to the fire that the media and society burn our self-image in.

305
Yes, The Media Body Shames But Body Positivity Starts With Us
style-me-rj//Facebook

Growing up, I was always the fat friend; The funny girl with all the jokes and all the snacks. Honestly, I am still that person. As a woman who has been plus size her entire life, I am here to lay some knowledge on you.

This may come as a shock so hold on to your seats, but did you know people can be both fat and pretty? When someone says something about their weight or being fat, the correct response is NOT, "no you aren't, you're beautiful!" Fat and beautiful or not opposites. Also, I want to note that this is completely relevant for other body types or whatever it is that someone is insecure over.

This is not the correct response to anyone who says they are skinny, dark, light, tall, short, etc. because real beauty has absolutely nothing to do with any of these and physical beauty is completely subjective. A lot of women say this to each other, it is supposed to be comforting or complimentary but it's actually a really strong message to be putting out into the world, especially with young people. So please, cut that shit out.

I know when you have insecurities centered around how you look it is hard to hear something like that and instantly believe it. I have been there, crawled my way out of it, fallen right back in and repeated that process over and over my entire life. But the key is that it starts with every single one of us because really, it's us against the world.

It's us against the media. It's us against the fashion industry. It's us against makeup companies. It's us against body shamers. It's us against the preconceived notions of what we should look like. That's a lot to fight against especially when what's at stake is your confidence and the image you have of yourself.

The only way we can make it easier for individuals who feel this way is by lifting each other up. I know, that sounds incredibly cheesy, but it's true. It starts with us. We can not keep putting each other down with words and ideas of what we think "beauty" is.

Stop using words like fat, skinny, dark, light, black, pale, tall, short, etc. as synonyms for ugly. Tearing other people down like that is not any way to make yourself feel better, and all it does is stigmatize everyone's body type, race, complexion, etc.When we stop adding fuel to the fire that the media and society burn our self-image in, we regain a confidence we never knew they took from us.

This might sound silly or even redundant because I am in a position now where I am comfortable with my body and the way I look, so you might think "what's the big deal, you're fine now?" The big deal is that someone as young as 7 years old shouldn't hate their bodies and shouldn't take them until they are 22 years old to unlearn the hateful things they've been taught to think about themselves.

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

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1335
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

805
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199972
 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

20730
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

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments