Picture source: Kevinbolk on Deviantart Not sure the pic is gonna fit so: On the picture there is a bunch of conventionally attractive women with different body types, who push ugly people (men, poc, old people, very fat people) out of the highlighted frame where they're standing, the frame says: "everybody is beautiful". The ugly people are outside of the frame, standing in the dark (excluded) from the "everybody is beautiful" group. I feel like the body positivity movement is made for conventionally attractive people who are insecure with their flaws to hype each other up. You'll see tons of chubby women with a beautiful face, smooth skin and good body shape, skinny women and athletic women who are completely gorgeous, supermodels with Vilitigo, women who have stretch marks or scars on a hot body, girls with acne on a doll face, whatever cute girl who usulally don't put makeup on with a cute makeover... And for poc, if they're not East-Asian (because Asian fever trend) they better be gorgeous to be included, same for disabled people. You won't see actual ugly people, who could benefit from positivity a lot too. Nobody stops them from joining the movement right? But to me it feels like participants and and people who support the movement don't want to deal with helpless ugliness, minorities, ill people... They want to tap a like on a pretty picture, they don't want to be confronted to actual negativity and give some support. This is how I see it. What do you think? I'm not trying to put a guilty sticker on all the participants of body positivity movements, just trying to point out what I feel that's wrong with it. Also I'm not a writer don't be too harsh pls thanks.
Yes, the body positivity movement is hypocritical
No, it's not and body positivity really is for everyone
Based on several of these comments, I would say that it's ever so important. I get it, a lot of people don't like to think everyone can be beautiful, because they believe beauty is only defined as an objective standard (which is relative to other people). Sometimes, it is important for people to see that not everyone needs to have the "unhealthy" starving white model. or perhaps it is important to be more compassionate to people who already feel the burden of feeling unattractive everyday.
They go to doctors who tell them to lose weight because of health risks, and most have them have tried, and failed, and feel ashamed about it. Going out of your way to knock down a movement designed to boost an individual's self esteem (self esteem that DOES NOT involve you), is already kicking someone when they've fallen down from trying and telling them not to bother getting back up. Maybe the movement won't change your perception of beauty, but to a person who has felt every waking moment feeling ashamed that "they keep failing to be attractive", it is a breath of fresh air to hear, "it's okay, you are still worthy of love."
I don't agree with trying to "force" others to accept you. We ALL have types, and that means that there is someone out there for everyone.
It's FAR more important to love YOURSELF. Me for example, I'm a fat chick, and I have zero self-esteem issues. I know most men aren't interested in me, and I don't get upset about it, because I know we're not compatible, and I wouldn't be happy with them anyway.
I also don't care about looks, I'm into intellect, so I'd rather a funny/smart guy than a hot one. I did get lucky though, @TheTrueLordJ is both ;-)
And while we're on this very related topic, race is another physical body trait that no one should shame you for, either for being that race, or for not wanting to date that race.
Preference is NOT a conscious choice, but racism and hate are.
When it comes to dating, you're far more likely to choose someone that resembles your caregivers or parents, in looks and personality, because your concept of "normal" relationship habits forms within the first 7 years of life.
When you say you don't agree with trying to force others to accept you, doesn't that also apply to gay and trans people. I shouldn't be forced to accpet anyone, if they are fat, gay or both. I'm not saying I don't accept gay people, I am saying no one should be forced to agree with something that they dont in the place. They have a right not to accept it just as much as someone can be fat, gay, trans or whatever. Stop caring so much about what other people think and be your self for your self.
Well I personally am in full support of equal rights for all, but you are correct.
However, it is a two-way street. You don't get to decide what's right or wrong, for them, and they don't get to tell you what to believe either.
Agree to disagree, live and let live. If what they do isn't hurting you, don't do anything to hurt them, that's my philosophy. (Not just talking about sexuality here)
I don't agree with refusing service to an individual based on what they do behind closed doors. If the service they are requesting has nothing to do with you religious practices. Like say for example you own a restaurant. Refusing to cater their wedding, I could understand, by denying them entry for lunch on Tuesday? No, that's not okay. They are just another paying customer at that point.
I think it depends on exactly what you mean by the body positivity movement. In any movement like this there are people who take the message too far, to an absurd level beyond where the movement was intended. But we have to be careful not to confuse that message with the better message that the movement started with. If the message is something like, you have just as much value as anyone else, and it's OK to love yourself no matter what your body type is - there's nothing wrong with that message. It doesn't mean it's healthy to be overweight or anything, it's just saying that your value as a person isn't defined by your weight. If you take the more extreme messages that you see in this or any movement, then sure you see a lot of nonsense.
Sadly a lot of people commenting focused on the weight thing. I really wanted to talk about people who aren't attractive in general, whom a little positivity could help feel really good, not people who are unattractive because they are unhealthy.
Yes, there are hypocritical moments. It's not possible to be perfectly body positive in all ways. Each of us has our own internal preferences, which are also sometimes the flip side of prejudices.
We just have to try to demonstrate the best we can in the movement.
Our bodies have a range of ways that they can successfully get us from birth to death, and hopefully, there's a lot of days between.
The movement says "hey, beauty is in the eye of the beholder AND that's ok, because then everyone can be beautiful to someone one day".
I am a fat guy (+8kg) and I do think the body positivity whatever is hypocritical. First of all the goal and intent of it was noble initially which was to breach the gap of different groups and circumstances, build greater understanding and create an environment where people would be productive and constructive in their feedback on how to lose weight. Which to me is the ideal goal, healthy lifestyles that is, a neglected part of my own life once.
But then I was never into special interests and being an activist for whatever cause (I do my own thing regardless of what somebody else thinks, call it genuine confidence). At some point it became hypocritical by starting to bully healthy and fit people for having healthy lifestyles and in some instances trying to provide excuses for being overweight.
Yes there are reasons to gain weight easier than someone else, yes some people have to put a lot of effort to being fit and healthy while others don't have to watch it at all due to their fast metabolism, but it is by no means impossible to at the very least aspire for healthier lifestyle choices if nothing else.
And look, I am not saying be proverbial " asshole " to someone for being different than you, nobody thinks highly of assholes, but genuinely confident people who want others to grow to be the best versions of themselves they can be, that is what I aspire for as well.
As a disabeled guy I can tell you for a fact that I can steal the exact text used by extremely popular guys on dating apps and will get 1% or less of the interest. Physical beauty does matter. What's even worse about these movements is they seem to say if you aren't attracted to big people, you're an asshole, but usually weight is at least SOMEWHAT controllable. Deformations due to disability are not. You don't get to be upset if you get less interest because you are big, if i get less interest because of a disability. Thank you for this post!
Most of people reacting to my post talk about obesity. I get the point but I thought more of healthy people who aren't conventionally attractive. Like you, you're an healthy person who's disabled, but because you're not a young white handsome guy, you won't get any support from those movements. That's what it's about.
Well, since beauty is a very subjective thing, it's save to say everybody is beautiful to somebody.
And if you think you are not beautiful to anyone (assuming that's you in your picture), then it's you who's delusional. No offense (actually kinda the opposite of offense).
Not attractive but beautiful? Not sure what that means.
Anyway, all I'm saying is that anyone can be attractive to *someone*, even if they're considered unattractive by *most*. Makes no sense to view beauty in such absolutes.
Ok instead of throwing around this shit dude. Take charge instead of complaining I'm not political but someone who's complaining about the AGENDA and nagging something they haven't stepped up to help out with shouldn't really complain, if they don't offer a solution or at the very least constructive criticism
I'm an old school lefty (I'm swedish and we used to be good at real leftism).
I'm for big state providing essentials to people who can't afford it. Nationalised health care, a standardised high quality school system for all, base pension guarantees, state run mass transit etc. In other words society infrastructure and economy. I don't care about culture wars.
The young identitarian movements are ruining the real left, hogging the agenda with their non-issues, giving everyone on the left a bad rep with their obnoxiousness.
I'd love it if they could just stop calling themselves leftists altogether and describe themselves more accurately as (pink) neoliberals. They are often right wing by omission tbh.
@CharlieUnicorn I actually respect those on the left who have a solid sense of their political idealism and are consistent in their desire to implement it, based on patriotic motivations (despite the fact that I disagree with their political views.) As you have observed, most of those currently on the left are as corrupt as those on the right, and they are not thinking for themselves but are like sheep being led to the slaughter by leftist power mongers.
@CharlieUnicorn I think the primary difference between the pure leftists and the pure rightists lie in a fundamental assumption about the purpose of government. Those on the left want a government that takes care of them as much as possible because that gives them security. Those on the right want a government that does as little as possible and leaves the maximum freedom to its people. Neither choice is clearly right or wrong and we make that choice based on our individual needs and the perceived needs of those around us.
I see the main trouble somewhere else. Since a while there is a trend in media and public events, that we all are supposed to measure and judge next to each and everything. Examples: Talent shows, 'How do I look (be honest...)', sports, beauty, movie awards, election results, Dow Bones Index, youtube's 'Top ten of any shit', Xper-level... Humanity is (or was) brainwashed to believe that we MUST have an opinion, and that we MUST rate things. This goes together with categorizing: Genders, Political position, sexual orientation, Penis type, ... No longer do we say: 'Hey, there is Susan. She is a nice person' Instead it is: 'The white ugly old woman over there is a little dumb. Let's find out her name'. This makes people who score 'low' doubt their 'value' and it leads to misery at least, and unrest on other levels. A 'Body Positivity Movement' (or any other similar endeavour) is no doubt well meaning. Nevertheless, it contributes to focus on mostly irrelevant measuring procedures and so rather makes things worse than better. It would be a good thing to not read such groups' messages to the end, ignore them as much as possible - and lead a real life; with real people.
I feel like some of it is and some of it isn't. People like that "plus sized" model Ashley something (?), She is a part of the hypocritical stuff. She's a goddamn supermodel. She's not an obese woman. I also think body positivity can be a serious negative in some cases. A severely obese person should not be comfortable with how they look or feel. They should get healthy asap. A person who has a little extra padding should be able to love their body. I think calling such a massive topic like this hypocritical is a little naive considering everything that falls under it. That cartoon is not all what this movement is about. It's a much bigger picture and a much more complicated discussion.
Some people Advocate it for the exposure, it's seen as a good thing so if you are supporting it then you are a good person right?
That isn't the point of it. The way you have described it isn't the point either, the point is that everybody has flaws, but to some people it isn't a flaw. That you should be proud of the body you have and you shouldn't make fun of other people's shortcomings.
Some of it is a fine line, it doesn't always come across in certain ways. One thing to remember is that these campaigns use models!
I think the movement is stupid because no one should feel guilty about the acknowledgement is beauty versus average. I know for a fact that lying to a person only bring disastrous results. People who aren't attractive will know they're not no matter what you say, deal with it.
As for it models, those are people we use to represent our products and causes, they cannot be average looking people, nobody will buy the product of ideas, including the people who complain. Same went for when average women became stripper, it made my type unwelcome and turned off quality clients.
People should stay in their lane. All in all body positivity should be for people to embrace their flaws because we all have them, using the best representative of that flaw helps more than it hurts, trust me.
Pfff the beauty industry is not compromising its imaginative standards (all models are photoshopped and contoured,) unless ugly becomes the new pretty.
The industries are controlled by our judgeful general consensous.
If short hairy men became the dream guy, youd start seeing them in magz.
Even think, as a black girl, seeing a dark skinned, bald model for covergirl was shocking - never seen one until then 24 years of my life, and grew up feeling very ugly because I was black.
With all the natural afro hair movement, black lives matter, black Panther, other races dating more black girls, suddenly we are beauty icon?
Body possitivity is cancer. People are getting fatter and fatter and everybody is supposed to still tell them, that they are beautiful. Guess what: Obesity is not beautiful.
Just stop with this BS.
I am very fat and it does not help to not be told the truth. I am finally losing weight to get back to a healthy lifestyle and I am proud of that. That is an accomplishment, while staying fat is easy.
Dont go the easy way, fuck Body Positivity and really become beautiful. And if you can't stand the truth, dont ask for it.
This trend of calling things we disagree with "cancer" really needs to stop.
Other than that, I agree that it's very important to not downplay the health risks of obesity for the sake of not hurting feelings. But pointing out to the health risks does not have to mean we have to outright shame people. Being honest doesn't have to mean being an asshole. I hope you get what I'm trying to say.
But it is like cancer: It srarted as a little smal niche somewhere in has been growing and spreading ever since. Just like a tumor.
As a fat person myself (at one point, I weighed 140kg / 300 pounds) I say: Yes, please shame us. Its the only thing, that works. Just "telling" someone, that he "maybe should lose some weight" doesn't do shit. Nothing will change, if you dont tell an obese person. When your feelings dont get hurt, you have no reason to change something. Sometimes you just need a thicker skin and someone who kicks your ass.
I agree, the body acceptance movement should be for people who are crippled, amputees, burn scars or severe disfigurement, victims of acid attacks, stroke victims, people with Bell's Palsy or Down Syndrome or other disorders like that. Not for fat fucks that want to justify their poor diets and laziness by saying "I'm beautiful too!" No, you're not, there's nothing attractive about someone who lets them self go completely. Hit the gym and lose some weight, people are lift are objective sexier than people who don't, even if they're not conventionally attractive.
Yes but not in the way you're saying. Aside from media representations trying to simultaneously cater to both men (by showing sexy women) and women (by saying "everyone is beautiful"), I see far more people online who are conventionally unattractive trying to make conventionally attractive people feel bad about themselves.
Pretty true. I’m a mother of three and I’ve been shamed for being skinny by other mums. Thing is I’m skinny because I work hard to keep fit. I keep myself fit and healthy because I have an auto immune disease which puts me at a higher risk of cancer plus I’m also setting a good example for my kids.
I think it is what YOU make it. Whole the beauty industry will always have its limitations it has been more inclusive, you can't deny that progress has been made. Even on ANTM the girls did a shoot with "real men" meaning guys with averdage bodies, even overwight. One girl made a rude comment and tyra took to twitter to shut that shit down.
My mother has always been plus sized and just recently started taking real pride in her appearance. She made a comment the other day while we were shopping, she said "I've never been allowed to buy cute clothes before. Anything in my size was made to hide my body but now I can find trendy clothes that never in a million years id think someone my size could or would wear". Id hold up a cute top and shed say "i can't wear that " and i just reply "they have it in your size, so clearly you can." So even that little shift in the industry can make a difference on the average person.
Feminism associated movements tend to be hypocritical in general, but at least in this case it's make some sense and it's completely hypocritical, so I would go with other. The body positive movement seems to understand that they can't stretch it too far, with a complete fan disservice, so basically their motto is not supposed to be taken too literally. The most poplar body type for women, is an thin body with no tattoos, there is a reason why pornographic actresses with tattoos work only/mostly in alternative porn and not in mainstream porn. Also women with chubby or muscular body type tend to have hard time too. As for "minorities", how is black girl don't count as minority by default and why she need to be unattractive to count?
Your GORGEOUS! Fuck everyone who thinks anything like you should weigh what the most advanced medical minds in the history of forever agree is a healthy weight! They just can't handle a real womyn! Probably play WOW and fuck a doll, the losers.
Male? Have 8 pack abs but slightly sort of maybe retaining a fraction of a percent more than normal water?
LOL. Fat ass! Neckbeard! Virgin! Probably a fag with a little dick! You mad? You're just bitter because you can't get laid!
Because they don't like when women stand up and try to change things. It takes them from their comfort zone of privilege, so they feel victimized and attacked. Welcome to our world men!
The real problem is much of the body positive movement continues to equate beauty with value rather than challenging the importance society places on beauty. I absolutely believe that everyone is attractive to someone and that people deserve to see their bodies as beautiful. However, the important thing about a body is that it's what's keeping you alive and allowing you to have a human experience. How it looks is significant for certain parts of life, but far from all, and yet cultures continue to reinforce the idea that beauty defines a person's worth.
Rather than trying to convince people to see beauty in fatness or acne (my acne is nothing like constellations, like I appreciate the sentiment, but nahh), we should to emphasizing that people have wildly different preferences, there's no one way to be beautiful, and regardless of whether you find them nice to look at people are worthy of respect.
I think the claim that every one is beautiful is idiotically stupid as we all know that's completely false. We have certain preferences, they are their for a reason. As for body positive being hypocritical, of course it is. They are not saying shaming men for being fat is bad, nor are they saying shaming men who are short is bad, they are only focusing it on one particular group, women, and even then only non traditional women. They are not saying that fit and attractive home maker is attractive, they don't care about her any more then they care about the body image of the short/fat guy. They absolutely are hypocrits but the movement itself is also wrong because not every one is attractive, we all know it its innate and no amount of social conditioning is going to change that.
I think in general it's a great idea, but hasn't always been carried out in such a great thing. I'm a naturally small framed person an I'm a dancer which keeps me quite thin regardless of bone structure so I guess I have what you'd call a conventionally attractive body type. I've felt shamed often for looking this way by people who are trying to be more inclusive and in doing so, accidentally started excluding people. I think if we focused more on loving our bodies by keeping them healthy, that would be a much better use of the movement. Too thin and too large are equally dangerous and detrimental to your health. So instead of saying love your body because everyone is beautiful, even though I think that's true, I wish we'd say, I love my body so I take care of it and THAT makes me beautiful.
It does have it's hypocrisy, yes. Don't get me wrong I love thick women or "BBWs," but I am not going to excuse women who are a real definition of overweight and say they shouldn't get into better shape. Furthermore I do find it extremely ironic how very overweight women want to be accepted but actually think they're in a position to be picky about men and their own bodies.
To me this is a wonderful, sexy female body. Some would call this fat but to me is just thick.
I think the picture is meant to be ironic, and it’s trying to say exactly what you wrote. I don’t think the body positivity movement is hypocritical. When it’s on posters, obviously it’s more eye catching and visually pleasing to put fairly attractive people of various body types up, rather than displaying ugly people. I think that’s purely because of aesthetics, not because it’s trying to exclude anyone.
Body positivity does seem to be catering to a select group. On a side note, I do enjoy watching the fat women who have control over what they eat complaining about the cancer research UK charity advert about obesity being the second most preventable cause of cancer after smoking. They are just fat slobs who group themselves with other types of genuine disabilities to defend themselves from criticism, horrible weak people with zero moral integrity who can change if they want, others can't.
2
0 Reply
Anonymous
(25-29)
+1 y
Beauty: a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight.
Is everyone a perfect combo? No. Is everyone beautiful? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Is the body positivity movement perfect? No. Is the body positivity movement eye opening? Yes. Can someones personality make them beautiful? Yes. (Unless you have the personality that can't think beyond seeing...)
Every word has a different opinion matching the different persons perspectives on it based on their own experiences and personalities.
All humans are hypocritical and with faults. Therefore, so are their creations. The point of the message, I believe, is to bring positivity... As stated in it's title.
NOW if you are talking about the body positivity as exploited in commercials... Commercializing intentions don't match with genuine intentions.
Most Helpful Opinions