There is a revolution taking place in the fashion world. Instead of the wafer-thin models that have symbolized fashion for several decades, many women strutting down runways now have soft, curvy figures. Their bodies are far more representative of the average woman than the usual size zero models.
These changes are part of a cultural swing that celebrates female self-acceptance and body positivity. Marketing campaigns, internet celebrities, and the media are putting women with larger bodies front and centre and making self-acceptance easier.
How Body Positivity Is About Acceptance And A Strong Self Worth
Ancient Concepts of Beauty Are New Again
The concept of an ideal body type has changed throughout history. Statues from ancient European civilizations show that the cultures revered larger women, and the Rubenesque body was celebrated until the 18th Century.
Eventually, fashion began dictating a slimmer silhouette; then, the “thin is in” movement gained traction for several decades. Today the pendulum is swinging back toward health and the beloved classic look of soft curves. The business and fashion worlds have noticed and are following.
This acceptance of realistic body types has encouraged women’s self-acceptance by offering them far more ways to look beautiful just as they are. For example, a few years ago, larger brides-to-be were hard-pressed to find elegant dresses for their big day.
Today, fashionable stores carry lovely Plus Size Wedding Gowns With Sleeves, strapless styles, and dozens of options in between.
The Definition of Body Positivity Is Personal
Psychology Today points out that body positivity means different things to different people. For some, it is accepting their bodies through all changes and life stages. It also means that women learn to separate their self-worth from their appearance.
Many women feel that self-acceptance and body positivity means being okay with their flaws and how they look. Whether they choose to change their bodies or love them the way they are, the focus is on acceptance and not punishing themselves for their appearance.
In one study, 21% of respondents thought body positivity meant being confident, 29% said it means loving yourself, and 14% defined it as appreciating your body.
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What a Strong Sense of Self Is Not
Some misconceptions make it difficult for women to feel good about themselves. For one thing, many women think they must feel beautiful at all times, and if they don’t, there is something wrong with them.
Per CNN, this sense of feeling ugly and insecure is one of the factors that drove millions of girls to develop anorexia nervosa in an attempt to be as perfect as ultra-thin, air-brushed fashion idols. The truth is that it’s perfectly natural for everyone to be unhappy about their appearance once in a while. The key is to disassociate that feeling from self-worth.
There is also a mistaken idea that encouraging body positivity is the same as telling people it is alright to be unhealthy, but that is not true. In fact, evidence shows women with low self-esteem are less likely to care for themselves.
A woman who accepts her body exactly as it is at the moment can feel good about herself and still work toward health and well-being.
Millions of women have improved self-images because they have learned to accept their bodies just as they are. The concept of thin or “normal” bodies as an ideal is rapidly changing.
The fashion and business worlds are more attuned to the needs of women with realistic body types. Everyone from designers to cosmetic companies now encourages women of all sizes and shapes to be proud of their uniqueness.
As a result, more women now see their body types as separate from their sense of self-worth.
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