What do you have in mind when you look at perfectly-shaped bodies on social media? Mainstream media give out non-naturalistic beauty standards in the form of plastic thick skin models or photoshopped celebrities. Does this affect the way you look at your body?
Negative influence
We can’t prove whether social media causes a negative or positive impact; that being said, it concerns an individual about his/her looks, body, and character, comparing themselves every day to an influencer who is paid to post photoshopped pictures. They often end up judging themselves to be worse off.
The larger truth is models and celebrities tend to show their one-sided version in their feed, making youngster think that they don’t have a great life; I’m not saying that it is the fault of a particular celebrity for doing that, but one in responsibility should be the society which is making these norms and people for following it.
Nowadays, when you look at someone’s feed, all you see are edited photos, all trying to show how beautiful they are and how excellent their gym outfit instead of some fun pictures with their friends and family; now again, I’m not saying that they can not post photos in which they look good in their bodies it’s their bodies but also post pictures in which they look like an average person so that their followers would know that influencers are no different than others are.
According to researchers, body-positive content presents that body hair, being too skinny, or being too fat is okay; these contents make the viewers feel good and comfortable with their body. That shows there are valuable things for body image.
There may also be a downside to positive body images as they’re still focusing on bodies; when they show you something positive about your body, you are even thinking about your body. Then, you have afterthoughts about it which are not healthy.
All these rollercoaster feelings clash together, making it a big bubble of anxiety; who will like their post or not; what will he/she think about this? Will they judge me for this one, it’s all this questioning, and in the end, she/he will just drop thinking about the post, and then there will be another one and the never-ending cycle of insecurity.
Always think critically about what you follow and if you find yourself in a stack of appearance-focused pictures, try to add some food and travel into the mix.
Going off social media altogether isn’t a great decision; maybe some cute animal videos may remind you that there is more to life other than how you look.
New evolved social positivity
The new social media trend #bodypositivity has exploded in the last three years, and it has a great result; like mentioned above, things like skin color, skin diseases associated with physical beauty, body hair have been turned into body positivity, and it’s excellent; it sure took a lot of time for people to acknowledge the truth!
People are starting to embrace what they are born with. All the credits go to some celebrities who are helping others to cope up with their insecurities, like Winnie Harlow, who has a condition called vitiligo, a condition causing the skin to develop patches over the skin over time, and Joelle Amery has a condition called alopecia a condition that causes hair fall in patches. Many more incredible people flawlessly embracing their insecurities.
There’s nothing wrong with trying out makeup or something that enhances your beauty; if that is your thing, do your thing; the problem arises when you feel the need for what’s naturally them all for the sake of some made-up beauty standards.
Cosmetic companies make products after products to make you feel uncomfortable staying in your own skin, enjoying and obsessing over the enhancements, which shows how different nipping and tucking are. You often imply erasing your flaws or imperfections that an individual simply has; hyperpigmentation, stretch marks, birthmarks, or even uneven boobs; you name something natural about your body, and there will be people to call it unattractive, turn off, or just straight ugly.
The most contentious topic of them all is “choice.” as it’s so closely involved with feminism and the women’s right to choose. It is incredibly accurate as said before if a person wants to use makeup because they like it and feel confident with it, it’s her choice to do it, not anyone else’s choice or opinion; that shouldn’t matter like having an option if you want to keep your body hair or not. Shaving, waxing, laser tag, or threading not everyone is into these; some women are fine with their body hair, and that’s the way it should be shaming is not necessary from those who have different opinions, and nowadays, even men are opting to shave their bodies, and that is normal and nothing to shame and judge about it.
And more importantly, if you meet someone who still can’t get past these insecurities, you should make them understand how undeniably beautiful they are and, at the same time, a very dense person for not seeing it.
Men cry too
This is something that doesn’t need to be mentioned, body positivity isn’t just for women, but it concerns men too; they are pressured just the same to match themselves with celebrities or models which dominate their feed; if you think men are concerned about their belly rolls, skinny legs, soft skin and double chin you are painfully mistaken.
Also, what’s more, essential to know it is much harder for men to talk about their bodies as society judges them for conversations like these are still inaccurately and stereotypically associated with being more feminine, and that should be immediately corrected for all we know maybe they need more encouragement than we realize.
There you go
With this knowledge, hopefully, you can help the world to become a better place. The next time seeing content that body shames, do not feel hesitant to report it. If you don’t say it, this will be habitual on your feed. This teaches us something, think twice about sharing a picture, a link, or tagging your friend or anyone, maybe you could cause them unintentional hurt, or they might get offended.
Coming to yourself, your perfect just the way you and your body is just amazingly incredible just the way it is, and you are a delicate, beautiful human being who will take care of what others call imperfections and flaws.
If you are going through a change with your body like your growing up, a difference isn’t always comfortable or straightforward. It’s terrifying just to remember the memories you spent in your own body. No amount of filler can make you for who you are; it is natural and beautiful.
Vulnerability and confidence are not mutually involved. As men/women, we are all problematic beings with layers that should be honored and commemorate; whatever we do and learn shouldn’t be compared to how we look and how perfectly shaped we are, but our skills do.
Whenever you don’t feel confident about your skin and feel like you are all over the place, just tell yourself that nothing is more precious and more attractive than a woman being, herself and comfortable in her flawless imperfection. That is the true essence of beauty, by Steve Maraboli.
Conclusion
You can try to imagine being in a world where everyone is accepted in their minor imperfections because you know they make you who you are today. As mentioned before, appearances and body don’t matter, but inner-beauty definitely does.
