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What Does It Mean to Be a Body Image Activist?
When it comes to standing up against cultural normalcy, especially when it comes to body image and acceptance, it is important to have a clear understanding of what you are defending or standing up for. Poor body image continues to be something that many individuals struggle with, on both minute and severe scales and everything in between.
Learning how to accept and appreciate your body is something that does take proactive and positive steps forward, while also joining with other individuals who support this same perspective. Improving one’s body image may also be a helpful preventative step in the development of eating disorders [1].
Being a Body Image Activist
What exactly does it mean to be a body image activist? While this may differ from person to person, generally speaking, someone might be considered a body image activist if they are passionate about spreading the message and knowledge of body love and acceptance to individuals of all ages, sizes, genders, etc.
Fighting against a society that viciously attempts to sell diet products and market the idea that beauty is only found in a specific body type is no easy task, but it is something that is being accomplished by those who consider themselves body image activist.
Body image activists are outspoken through various platforms, spreading their messages of body love and self-acceptance through social media, books, video, documentaries, blogs, and more. Putting body positivity on the map often means willingness to step outside one’s comfort zone and boldly approach ideas that may not sit well with the general public.
Body image activists challenge us to think outside the box and standards that we all too easily believe are true for what make people beautiful and accepted. While every body activist may be pursuing their goals through different means, there is a common goal: create a more diverse, accepting world based on the premise that all bodies are worthy of love and beauty.
How to Become a Body Image Activist
Becoming a body image activist truly starts with your own self. How do you feel about and celebrate your own body? When you are passionate about sharing a message of acceptance with the world, it must come from within first.
Connect with others who resonate your passion and share your own message of body acceptance, whether through your own social media platforms, at a local level, in a support group, or anything in between. Don’t ever estimate your ability to make a change in the world toward greater promotion and acceptance of bodies of every size and shape.
About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Director of Content and Social Media for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.
As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.
References:
[1]: Levine, Michael, et al. The role of body image in the prevention of eating disorders. Body Image. Volume 1, Issue 1, January 2004, 57-70The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on February 19, 2017
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
