The Problem With The Body Positivity Movement [to be reviewed]

Body positivity needs to be more inclusive

The body positivity movement is everywhere. Even major fashion stores, including Nike, H&M, and Forever 21 are beginning to sell plus size clothes. If we compare the fashion scene today with 10 years ago, that’s a whole lot of progress. Yet, every movement has its flaws. Regardless of the positive impact it’s trying to achieve.

Rochelle Brock, a body positivity photographer, is demanding that the body positivity movement becomes ‘bigger, rounder, and blacker’. And we couldn’t agree more. More clothes brands are featuring plus sized models in their advertisements. That’s fantastic. Yet, they tend to have a certain body type: hourglass, size 14, and white. This doesn’t represent all fat people. Rather, it seems to be an inauthentic attempt of being inclusive.

So what does the movement need?

We need bigger women of ALL shapes and sizes featured in campaigns. Not just plus size women with a tiny waist. We need more black women and other racial minorities as the stars of clothing brands’ social media accounts.We need fashion stores to actually sell bigger sizes. Not just photograph fat models for an advertising campaign.

Ultimately, the body positive movement needs to be more authentically diverse. AND it mustn’t use token models who are fatter and blacker just to fulfil their diversity criteria.

We must listen to the people who are left behind in the body positivity movement; the people with bodies that do not fit the plus size “ideal”. In case you haven’t noticed, they’re sexy and fabulous, so we need more people to hear them. This will allow the movement to achieve what it actually set out to achieve: celebration of ALL bodies.

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