Embracing Body Positivity: Progress, Setbacks, and the Path Forward

The Representation Gap

Growing up, it was rare to see bodies that looked like mine in the media. Fat bodies were often depicted as the punchline, the villain, or a headless warning in news stories about the dangers of fast food and obesity. This lack of representation led to feelings of inadequacy and a desire to conform to societal beauty standards.

Defining the Movement

Body positivity is an umbrella term that encompasses various movements, including body neutrality and fat acceptance. Body neutrality focuses on accepting one’s body without judgment, while fat acceptance advocates for the rights and dignity of fat individuals.

The Positives

• “Shrill” on Hulu: A TV series that showcases a fat woman living her life without apology or weight loss journey.
• Nike’s Plus-Size Mannequin: A step towards a more inclusive beauty standard.
• Macy’s Plates: The decision to pull portion-control plates from stores is a win for body positivity.
• Washington State’s Weight Discrimination Law: A significant milestone in the fight against weight discrimination in the workplace.
• Jameela Jamil’s Activism: Advocacy against diet culture and promotion of body neutrality has sparked important conversations.
• Calvin Klein’s Inclusive Ad: Featuring a plus-size model in their Times Square billboard is a bold move towards greater representation.

The Negatives

• Beyoncé’s Extreme Diet and Exercise Plan: Reducing Queen Bey’s success to her body size undermines her talent and worth.
• Fat Thor: Using Thor’s weight gain as a punchline in “Avengers: Endgame” perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
• The Return of “The Biggest Loser”: This show’s reboot promotes disordered eating and diet culture.
• Kurbo App: The app’s focus on weight loss and restriction can lead to disordered eating in children.
• Adele’s Weight Loss: The media’s obsession with Adele’s weight loss reduces her worth to her body size.

The Gray Area

• Jameela Jamil’s Campaign: While impactful, Jamil’s centering of her own body in her activism has drawn criticism.
• Lizzo’s Rise to Fame: Lizzo’s message of self-love and independence is inspiring, but we must acknowledge the privilege she experiences as a smaller fat person.
• Bill Maher’s Fat-Shaming: James Corden’s response to Maher’s rant was a step in the right direction, but perpetuated internalized fatphobia.

The Path Forward

As we move into 2020, it’s essential to continue pushing for greater body acceptance and positivity. We must think critically about why body acceptance is still a hard pill to swallow, especially for those in larger bodies. By embracing body diversity and promoting inclusivity, we can create a more just and equitable society for all.