Body Positivity Vs Body Neutrality | How To Practice Body Neutrality
Many groups of people started acceptance movements, especially those who wanted to change today’s body-shaming culture. So when it comes to body acceptance, two camps of thought seem to dominate the conversation. Some people subscribe to body positivity, or loving their bodies regardless of shape, size, color, gender or ability. Others embrace body neutrality, which focuses on appreciating what the body can do. This article delight deals in more insights on Body Positivity Vs Body Neutrality.
What is Body Positivity?
Body positivity refers to the belief that all people deserve to have a positive body image of themselves, regardless of how society and representations in popular culture view ideal body shape, size and appearance. The phrase ‘body positive’ was first coined in the year 1996 by a psychotherapist and his patient, whom he was treating for an eating disorder. The movement truly gained popularity in 2012. From 2012 it shifted its motive from not just weight acceptance, but to acknowledging all forms of acceptance related to the body, such as cellulite, scars, skin tone, and more.
Body positivity activists are also vehemently against certain product that seek to profit off of people’s insecurities, such as skin whitening products. In recent times, major cosmetic companies are changing their brand ethos to be more acceptable. They have dropped the term ‘skin whitening’ or ‘fair’ from their product & services list.
But while stressing positivity is beneficial, discarding negative emotions can make people feel guilty for not feeling good about themselves, thus, worsening how they feel. So here comes the another sect of body acceptance group ; Body Neutrality.
What is Body Neutrality?
An answer to the shortcomings of the body positivity movement arose in the form of body neutrality. Body neutrality emphasizes what our body can do, rather than what our body looks like. The body neutrality movement was started in the year 2015, when a former college fitness instructor, Anne Poirier, hosted a body neutrality workshop in Vermont. The movement focuses on remaining neutral. It teaches that one doesn’t have to feel positively or negatively about their body. That, one can simply exist and be worthy of respect regardless of how they think or feel about their body.
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Body Positivity Vs Body Neutrality | Know The Difference
Body positivity, at times, can feel fake due to the forced positivity. Whereas, body neutrality is much more authentic in the fact that it does not distinguish between the positive and the negative. Instead body neutrality puts emphasis on radical self-acceptance. The body positivity movement asserts that “all bodies are beautiful,” it fails to acknowledge the impact of toxic positivity. Toxic positivity is when we fail to address the reality of a problem and deceive ourselves into thinking “all’s okay.”
We must acknowledge that feeling insecure is a part of life. And that we don’t have to constantly feel positive to accept ourselves. The body-neutral approach leans toward the belief that it doesn’t matter if you think your body is beautiful or not. Your value is not tied to your body nor does your happiness depend on what you look like. A body-positive approach says you are beautiful no matter what.
However if you like to have affirmations, go for body positivity. Body positivity can also help dissolve thoughts that we might have picked up from childhood or society. There’s nothing wrong with embracing a little bit of body positivity and a little bit of body neutrality at the same time. You can try applying them when and where they make the most sense.
How To Practice Body Neutrality
Body neutrality is harder to practice than body positivity, as it’s easier to ignore the reality of a situation rather than face facts. But here are 5 steps that help you practicing body neutrality :
- Communicate with your body about what it can and cannot do for you and give yourself some love from time to time.
- In conversation with other people, do not talk about their bodies since talking about their physicality can make them feel uncomfortable.
- Eat foods that work best for your physical self. It can be a specific eating plan or something more intuitive. In the end, it should make your body feel great.
- Wear clothing that you like the look of, is comfortable, and feels good on your body.
- Find an exercise or physical activity that you find enjoyable.
Final takeaway
An answer to the shortcomings of the body positivity movement arose in the form of body neutrality. The difference between the two is that, while body positivity asserts that “all bodies are beautiful,” body neutrality says that “all bodies are valid.” Body neutrality is a much more comprehensive, beneficial, and authentic perspective from which to address our bodies. We are ever-changing human beings, which means that some days we will love our bodies while on other days, self-love may feel like a bit too much to ask. By incorporating both body positivity and body neutrality into our lives, we are able to enjoy benefit of both on any given day.
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