Body Positivity and Toxic Media

The culture of today's society is image-driven and emphasizes unrealistic standards of beauty for people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. These norms not only negatively affect adults, but they also have serious effects on adolescents and children.

The concept of body positivity holds that everyone should be content with and proud of their body, regardless of its shape or size. However, if body positivity continues to prioritize physical appearance over appreciation, functioning, and inherent dignity of the body, it may become toxic. Even when we emphasize the importance of embracing people of various sizes and shapes, we are discussing a healthy relationship with appearances. This isn't horrible; it's simply lacking some information. There is much more to engaging the world through a body than merely existing in one, including tasting, breathing, moving, touching, eating, and aging.

Body neutrality is the belief that you should have a neutral attitude about your body and keep your emotions separate from the way you look. Nobody's body is good or bad, beautiful or ugly. They are merely beings that require nurturing and care. Body neutrality encourages people to find satisfaction with internal attributes that are not always on display, such as their personality or hobbies, rather than basing it on a continuously changing physical vessel. By adopting a nonjudgmental attitude about your physical appearance, you focus on how your body is used rather than what others may think of it. This mentality can encourage a relationship with your body that does not alter whenever society's ideal body form does. Regardless of our outward appearance, we owe it to ourselves to develop self-love in other areas of our lives.

Unfortunately, children and adolescents are especially susceptible to the unrealistic expectations that the media portrays. Every day, hundreds of messages about how to look and who to be are broadcast to children. In the last 20 years, eating disorders in children have considerably increased. Children as young as 5 years old are dieting, though adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 have the highest prevalence. More than ever, it's crucial to instill in children the significance of a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and loving their bodies.

Talking to your child about body positivity is more crucial than ever, especially as social media continues to play a significant role in our society. Here are some methods you may use to instill in your kids a positive view of their bodies and lifelong healthy habits:

Set a good example for your children.

Children often imitate the acts and behaviors of the people in their environment. Children's self-perceptions may be impacted if they hear adults criticizing their own body.

Be the example that your children need to see to combat this. Speak well of yourself and accept that you are perfect just the way you are. Have a discussion with your children about different types of bodies and how unrealistic many media representations are. Be the sympathetic ear for your children if you see that they are having issues with their body image.

Change Attitudes Towards Physical Activity

Have your children think about the other ways that being active might improve their life, rather than only exercising to lose weight or keep a certain body shape. For instance, physical activity helps your body reach its full potential, improves mood, acts as a social activity or artistic expression, and can be a lot of fun!

Try introducing your children to various forms of exercise and satisfying their curiosity. They might develop a love for yoga, roller skating, Quidditch, or even team sports like soccer or basketball! Show your children that professional athletes come in a variety of sizes and shapes if they are worried that they won't be able to participate in an activity because of their size.

Develop A Healthy Relationship with Food

Your children's relationship with food can be improved by removing the contrast between "good" and "bad" foods. These labels produce anxiety around food and can have negative effects, such as causing people to restrict their diets or feel guilty for eating "bad" food.

By emphasizing how the nutrients in food help individuals become strong and healthy, you may encourage good eating. Explain the benefits of nuts for the brain or how the vitamins in an orange will assist their gums instead of focusing on the number of calories they consume. Furthermore, you shouldn't condemn your child for choosing to eat chips or a cookie. Create an environment where wholesome foods are accessible and enticing to children and give them some control over the things they eat.

Celebrate the physical and non-physical qualities of your child

Teaching your children to think positively about themselves can help develop a positive self-image that doesn't exclusively emphasize outward beauty. Practice listing the good qualities they have as well as what they can achieve or become.

What physical traits of their bodies do your children like? Do they like their smile or the way their body helps them climb a tree? Don't forget about your children’s non-physical qualities; are they kind, humorous, intelligent, or gifted in any way? Saying affirmations daily might help your children feel more confident and decrease their negative self-talk.

Teaching your children body positivity and healthy eating habits and physical activity can have a lasting impact on their self-esteem, self-perception and how they interact with an image-driven culture.

Sources:

https://phillipian.net/2021/10/22/the-toxicity-of-the-body-positivity-movement/

https://news.utexas.edu/2019/12/18/is-the-body-positivity-social-movement-toxic/

https://mhanational.org/blog/how-teach-your-child-body-positivity

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/body-positivity

https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2018/10/body-positivity

This blog post was contributed by Rand Batarseh of SexEdVA, a division of James Madison University working to support sexual health education, family life programming, and positive youth development across Virginia. To inquire about partnering with them or to find out more, visit www.sexedva.org or email them at jmuarp@jmu.edu.

This publication was made possible by Grant Number TP1AH000215 from the HHS Office of Population Affairs. Contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Department of Health and Human Services or the Office of Population Affairs.