I look in the mirror and notice one thing I dislike. After closer examination, one thing turns into ten more. Scrolling through Instagram, I am reminded of the body type society considers beautiful, the one I don’t have. The thing I don’t realize is so many women across the country are feeling the same way, and that my body is great the way it is.
The body positivity movement promotes acceptance of all bodies no matter shape, size or color. It represents loving your body regardless of society’s standards and negative associations to different body types. The movement is a product of the Fat Rights Movement that began in 1969 with the creation of the National Association to Aid Fat Americans, now known as the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance.
Similar groups started popping up around the world, moving to social media where the body positivity movement began, according to BBC. The term “body positive” was created to embrace all body types in hopes of preventing mental health problems around body shame and eating disorders. The movement helps women feel confident in their bodies, including the stretch marks, rolls, acne and body hair.
In this story, University of Idaho women share their stories of dealing with body image and self-esteem. Despite all having different body types, they all relate to the same issues and insecurities. They are proof there is no ‘ideal’ body, all bodies are beautiful and unique. This photo story is dedicated to young women who are rejecting body shamers and choosing to love themselves instead.
“Last year I’d always have pictures of people’s bodies as motivation on Pinterest,” Lizette Almanza said. “Honestly, I’m not built like them and what those girls did isn’t going to work for me. I think I regret doing that because if I felt bad about myself I’d spend so much time on social media and compare myself to them.” | Photo by Lizzie Holdridge
“On Tik Tok, when they unzip their skinny jeans and jump around with their guts out, it’s just more real,” Anna Druffel said.
“I stopped following really skinny models and celebrities on Instagram and started following more voluptuous or athletic builds,” Romy de la Rosa said. “So then I see less of the really skinny which is probably not as healthy and it makes me feel like not being like that is more accepted. I see less of that standard and more of the genuine, good stuff.” | Photo by Lizzie Holdridge
“You can’t compare yourself to others,” Anna Druffel said.
“I can hate my body all I want, but it’s the body that I’ll have forever,” Almanza said. “We only have one life. I mean yes if I want bigger boobs I can go get them, but I just think you’re never going to be satisfied because society has put this standard there and even if you meet it you’ll never be satisfied. Even if people lose weight, they are never satisfied with the weight that they are. You only have one body, you might as well love it.” | Photos by Lizzie Holdridge
“Just one compliment to make yourself feel good before you go to sleep or in the morning and you slowly start to believe it,” Avery Costello said. “If you don’t think you’re beautiful, how is someone else supposed to love you? When I put down my body I think, ‘how can I tell my friends to not put themselves down when I’m over here doing the same thing.’ If you don’t want to do it for you, do it for other people.” | Photo by Lizzie Holdridge
“I think it helps to know that you’re not the only one,” Costello said. “A lot of us live the same lives but we don’t know we do, or we have the same feelings but we don’t know we do. Even though they’re trying to tell you it’s beautiful, it’s nice to know you’re not the only one that thinks that way and that it’s normal and okay to think that way.” Many young women have adopted healthy habits as a result of the body positivity movement. They think of themselves differently and focus on how they feel rather than how they look. | Photos by Lizzie Holdridge
Being vulnerable with other women made me realize that everyone goes through these problems,” Avery Costello said.
