The importance of body diversity
What is body diversity? And why is it the next important step of my journey?
If you’re feeling lonely in your body image journey, we’re here to help you find some comfort & remind you that all bodies are good bodies.
Body diversity refers to the idea that we are not all meant to be the same. Bodies come in all shapes, sizes, and abilities– tall, short, thin, fat, curvy, able-bodied, wheel-chair bound, and anything in between. We come from different backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, and cultures. Though we are constantly bombarded with messaging that tells us there is a “right way” to look and that it is possible to control our body so we can all fit into society’s standards (hello diet industry!), we know that this is not true. We all have different genetic blueprints and therefore, we are not going to look the same or occupy the same amount of space. If we are constantly being told that we are meant to look a certain way and we don’t fit into that narrow margin, we can find ourselves falling into comparison traps.
I’m not going to mince my words here– comparison is a great way to feel like sh*t about yourself.
Of course, some comparison is natural. It isn’t wrong that your mind might push you to notice differences between you and others, and if that push causes you to change the way you are taking care of yourself or to speak less compassionately towards your needs, it is not serving you.
Something I often remind clients is that the work we are doing in session is not meant to be isolated. We cannot talk about believing that all bodies are worthy and deserve to take up space while also continuing to keep our social media feeds narrow or surrounding ourselves with people who prioritize thinness above all else. When all we see are small bodies being idolized and receiving praise, it's no wonder we default to feeling unworthy or overly self-critical, no matter the size of our bodies.
Don’t underestimate the power of seeing bodies that look like yours, or seeing a range of bodies, to remind you that there is no right way of being.
Some questions to ask yourself:
Do I see people who look like me when I am scrolling on social media?
Do I see people who don’t look like me on social media?
That means ALL bodies, not just ones that you were taught to see as “fitspo” that encourage negative self-talk or feelings of being inadequate
Do I consume media that reinforces the idea that small bodies are the only bodies that deserve appreciation and unconditional acceptance?
Someday I hope to watch a comedy special that does not have a bit on weight. A girl can dream!
Do I ever see people in larger bodies experience love, happiness, and safety? Or, am I continuing to be shown happy endings only for thin, able-bodied humans?
No matter how you answered these questions, here are some suggestions for media that might help you to grow your world and see more body diversity.
Books
These books all contain characters who live in larger bodies or fat bodies. Some speak more about the lived experience of being in a fat body than others, so decide what you’re feeling interested in before you sit down to dive in.
Starfish by Lisa Fipps (TW: the word obese is used in the latter half of the novel)
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
TV
Shrill
Survival of the Thickest
Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls
Movement Accounts (On instagram)
@TheUnderBellyYoga
@LaurenLeavellFitness
@FatBodyPilates
@TiffanyCroww
@BodyPosiBarre
@TallyRye
Anti-Diet Accounts (On instagram)
@TiffanyIma
@AaronFloresRDN
@TheWellful
@DrColleenReichmann
@TheNutritionTea
@Fierce.Fatty
@DietitianAnna
Fashion (On instagram)
@FierceFatFemme
@ItsMaryFrann
@Torii.block
@TheCurvyFashionista
What did I miss!? Do you have favorite books, instagram accounts, movement/fitness professionals, or TV that you would like to add to the list? Let me know! I am learning, too!
