Body Positive?
Over the last couple of years I have noticed how we're so much more aware of our bodies. And this isn't just the 'obesity crisis', but is related to and outside of the public health issue of obesity in developed nations. We've arguably always been extremely aware of our bodies, especially for specific identity groups, such as women (though, arguably all people to an extent). But this awareness to me, has changed and come out in two forms; awareness of our bodies in a frame of acceptance on one hand, and on the other awareness of our bodies in a frame of striving for perfection on the other. As an example of each, there is the anti fat-shaming and body-positive movement, and then there is the clean eating and 'health goals' movement, both which are mostly enacted on social media. On the surface, neither of these two examples brings feelings of negativity in their names; 'We're loving ourselves for the shape we are!' Or, 'we're trying to ...