You see them all over Instagram, pictures of curvy women, triumphal and beautiful with the “bodypositive” hashtag. What is it all about ? Through the representation of diverse bodies, a new form of feminism arises on social media (and damn, it feels good).
Don’t hate de shake
I discovered the bodypositive movement thanks to one of the videos from the hashtag #donthatetheshake. I saw this multicolour-haired woman, smiling, dancing in her undies in a way I hadn’t moved in A LONG TIME, too self conscious that I was to feel my belly and thighs jiggling.
Megan Jayne Crabbe is a recovered anorexic and, as of today, one of the most famous bodypositive activist. With her photos and captions, she advocates self love and pushes women to turn down the beauty rules and oppression displayed by the social media and the media in general. In other words, a positive attitude towards our body and everyone else’s. But not only.
Made for every body
But the bodypositive movement (you can call it “bopo”) can’t be summarised by just “curvy women dancing their belly rolls off on Instagram”. Even though the goal of the majority of the posts is to show that big girls are beautiful, there’s a wider dimension to the bopo movement. It’s about caring for one’s body, but also for ALL the bodies.
Bodies that are considered too big, too skinny, marked (hi stretch marks), not white enough, disabled, hairy, with acnes, etc. are accepted, celebrated, cherished. The bopo movement is drawing the path to a new vision of the body – it’s not about the opposition of the “ideal” body and all the others “imperfect” ones anymore.
Being bodypositive means showing bodies that doesn’t fit the idea of the “perfect body” (fit, white, with no imperfection or scars…) and establishing a new norm that would fit EVERY body.
Full support + no judgment
That being said, the bopo movement doesn’t hate on the “perfect” bodies displayed by the social media. Since there’s no ideal body, there isn’t any “enemy”, to banish or hate on.
Bodypositivity does not mean that “men like curvy women”, “a real woman has curves” or other nonsense speeches like that.
Also, bodypositivity is not only about weight. Because complexes are insidious and (let’s be honest) real bastards, the bopo advocates talk about all sorts of oppressions that women suffer of : skin color, ethnicity, haircuts, make up, fashion style, life style…
From there, a new form of feminism appears, pushing women to fight all the rules that society created towards them. By supporting each other, they’re getting stronger and more comfortable in their own skin. You are fat and you love it ? Awesome ! You’re thin and working hard to keep it that way ? Perfect ! You like wearing heavy make ups ? Beautiful ! You prefer a natural face ? Nice ! You have several sexual partners at the same time ? Enjoy !
The only condition is : don’t hurt yourself, or anyone else. That explains why body positivity is also about mental illnesses (like eating disorders, anxiety, depression, etc.) and self care through a lot of support and kindness.
My favorite “BopoBabes”
(if you click on these babes you will be pleased to visit their Instagram)
Did you know about bodypotisivity ?
What are your thoughts on it ?
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(oh and remember, you’re cute)