While not a new concept, body positivity has been increasing in popularity thanks to amazing people like Ashley Graham, Zach Posen and Winnie Harlow– who are all slaying the model game and advocating for body positivity and changing the face of beauty. Ashley Graham also just recently starred in DNCE’s music video for Toothbrush. In addition to individuals like these, entire brands are embracing body positivity and inclusivity. For example, Mod Cloth is getting rid of their plus-size collection all together and simply carrying a wider range of sizes for all their clothing in order to create more inclusive shopping for people of all shapes and sizes.
Sadly, as happens with most movements, there are ways the body positivity movement is misrepresented. These usually well-meant sentiments meant to further body positivity are actually harmful to the movement. The two main ways the body positivity movement is problematic can be summed up in Meghan Trainor’s song All About That Bass (this is the woman who said she doesn’t consider herself a feminist so we can’t really be surprised that her music is problematic). In her admittedly catchy song, Trainor justifies curves because “boys like a little more booty to hold at night.” She also shames thin women, calling them “silicone Barbie dolls” and “bitches”.
The problem with her first statement about men liking curvy women is that it still puts beauty in the hands of male validation. Beauty does not have to be encompassed in heterosexual sex appeal. Men do not get to decide ultimate standards of beauty for women OR men. Beauty is incredibly subjective and encompasses so much more than the male gaze. While everyone is entitled to an opinion on what they find beautiful, the point of the body positivity movement is confidence, self-love, representation and inclusivity, not whether or not it appeals to men. The beauty ideals of society have been dictated by men and sex for far too long; it is time for people to be allowed to define what is beautiful for themselves.
Trainor also shows us exactly what “skinny shaming” looks like. Too often, the moment curvy women are accepted as beautiful, thin women are chastised. The body positivity movement is meant to widen beauty ideals, not narrow them further. Curvy women are not the only “real women” no more than thin women are the only sexy women. Fat women are not “lazy” and skinny women are not “bitchy.” All women are real and all women are sexy. The body positivity platform has room for all shapes and sizes.
These ideas of pitting women against each other to gain validation from men and society is archaic and absolutely ridiculous. Today’s beauty is about self-acceptance and self-confidence. Anyone saying anything different from that needs to catch up.Â