Busting Beauty Standards: Why Positivity And Acceptance Are The New Summer Body Trend
As the temperature rises and warmer weather arrives, conversations about achieving a "summer body" often emerge. With media and popular culture commonly promoting specific body types and appearances, the pressure to conform to unrealistic, and ever-changing beauty standards becomes especially pronounced during this time of year. However, a new trend is challenging these outdated ideals: body positivity and acceptance. Read on to explore the evolution of beauty standards, the impact of beauty ideals, and the potential benefits of embracing body positivity as the new summer trend.
The evolution of beauty standards
Beauty standards have shifted dramatically throughout history, influenced by various cultural, social, and economic factors. For example, in the early 20th century, fuller figures were often idealized, reflecting societal values of health and fertility. By the mid-20th century, the rise of Hollywood and fashion magazines began to shape a more standardized and narrow ideal of beauty, often characterized by a slender, youthful appearance.
The emergence of the "summer body" trend can be traced back to the 1960s when the bikini became a popular fashion item in the United States. This trend created the “need” for a flat stomach and toned physique to look a certain way in revealing swimwear.
As social conditions and gender roles evolved, so did the beauty ideals for women in particular. Body expectations shifted from a mature, curvaceous figure to a thin, flat look epitomized by countless celebrities and supermodels. As a result, the pressure to achieve this body type intensified, leading many to adopt extreme dieting and fitness regimes.
Currently, the beauty standard for women emphasizes curvier features in areas like the bust and bottom while maintaining a thin, toned, and tucked appearance in the waist and thighs. In fact, a 2019 survey of 1,000 Americans described the “perfect woman” as 5'5" and 128 pounds, with a 26-inch waist, reflecting how pervasive these ideals have become. It’s highly important to note that achieving these proportions would be nearly impossible without resorting to extremely unhealthy methods.
Men and people of other genders may also face unrealistic beauty standards, as evidenced by ongoing fatphobia and body shaming across the gender spectrum. Men in the LGBTQIA+ community may be especially at risk of these judgments. One study suggests that they may experience overall body-image disturbances and eating disorder pathology at greater rates than heterosexual men due to pervasive standards of a thin yet muscular body type for queer men.
The harmful impact of beauty standards
The perpetuation and pursuit of beauty standards—particularly those that are unrealistic and/or unhealthy for most—has been an ongoing problem for generations. Attempting to conform to beauty standards can have serious physical and mental health consequences. For example, many individuals develop a negative body image and low self-esteem as they struggle to meet these arbitrary ideals.
Physical health risks can also be associated with the pursuit of the "ideal" body or look. Consider a study that indicates that women of color can be exposed to toxic, cancer-causing chemicals by using chemical hair straighteners and skin-lightening products in an effort to conform to pervasive European beauty standards that idealize straight hair and light skin.
Weight loss and diet culture have also led many to turn to harmful habits—such as extreme dieting and rigorous fitness routines—in order to meet perceived standards. These habits often come with severe health implications. The use of diet pills, plastic surgery, and other extreme measures to achieve a certain look may further endanger physical well-being. Though toxic diet culture harms people of all ages, studies suggest that adolescents in particular are at a greater risk for developing unhealthy eating habits and eating disorders as a result.
Beauty standards and the media
While our ideas surrounding physical appearance, beauty, and body image are influenced by countless factors such as our parents, family members, culture, and peers, media can have an outsize impact as well. Television shows, movies, and advertisements have historically featured a narrow range of body types, reinforcing the notion that beauty is synonymous with whiteness and thinness. This contributes to a pervasive diet culture that equates weight loss with success and happiness and a beauty culture that has diverse people striving for a single appearance type.
Similarly, a study of elementary school girls who read magazines revealed that 69% were influenced by the body ideals shown there and 47% were persuaded by these messages to want to lose weight. Among men, similar forms of media exposure may be linked to a drive for muscularity at any cost and may also promote body dissatisfaction.
While the rise of the body positivity movement has begun to challenge these harmful beauty standards, problems continue to persist. The constant comparison of self to airbrushed, digitally enhanced, and even AI-generated images on social media can lead to feelings of inadequacy and depression.
That said, social media can play a dual role in this dynamic, spreading both negative and positive messages about bodies. On one hand, platforms like Instagram and TikTok can perpetuate unrealistic beauty ideals through heavily edited photos and influencer promotions. On the other hand, these same platforms also provide a space for body positivity advocates to share messages of acceptance and self-love, promoting diverse body types and challenging the notion of a single "ideal" look.
The benefits of embracing body positivity
Embracing body positivity can offer several potential benefits for both individuals and society as a whole. One of the most significant advantages is improved mental health and self-esteem. Accepting and loving one's body, regardless of size or shape, can lead to a more positive self-image and reduced anxiety. This shift in perspective may help individuals focus on their well-being rather than striving for an unattainable aesthetic ideal and exposing themselves to dangerous practices in the process.
Increasingly inclusive and diverse representation in media and fashion is another benefit of the body positivity movement. As brands and media outlets begin to feature a wider range of body types, people can more often see themselves and their bodies as they currently are reflected in the content they consume. This representation helps to normalize different body shapes and sizes, reducing the stigma associated with not fitting into narrow beauty standards.
A more supportive and compassionate community is also a growing effect of body positivity. By promoting acceptance and kindness, people can create social environments where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their appearance. This sense of community can be especially empowering for those who have been marginalized or judged based on their body or appearance in the past.
Practical steps to promote body positivity
Cultivating a positive self-image and body acceptance requires intentional effort and practice. Here are some practical steps that may help:
- Practice self-compassion. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would offer to a friend. Acknowledge that you’ve been exposed to a relentless campaign to get you to dislike your body and try to see your thoughts and actions with compassion as a result.
- Consider body neutrality. As the Butterfly Foundation for eating disorder support defines it, body neutrality is a perspective that “shifts the focus from positivity and acceptance and into the idea that a person can exist in their body without thinking too much about how it looks.” If body positivity doesn’t resonate with you, aiming to view your body in a more neutral way and focusing on other elements of yourself and your existence can be helpful.
- Challenge harmful narratives. If you hear people in your social circles judging others for their body type or appearance, speak out against these harsh words and the narrow standards behind them. Encourage conversations that celebrate diversity and reject the notion that there’s only one acceptable way to look.
- Curate a positive social media feed. If you spend time on social media, be mindful of the content you consume there. Follow accounts that promote body positivity, healthy eating patterns, and diverse body types. Unfollow or mute accounts that encourage negativity about yourself or that promote dangerous habits.
- Focus on health, not appearance. You might also shift your focus from achieving a certain look to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Consider paying more attention to supporting what your body can do rather than how it looks.
- Seek professional support. Therapy can be an effective tool for promoting a healthy self-image. A therapist can help you work through negative thoughts and develop strategies for building self-esteem.
How therapy can help
Therapy can be a beneficial tool in promoting body positivity and a healthy self-image. A therapist can provide a safe space to explore your feelings about your body, your self-esteem, your relationships, and related topics. An approach to talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be particularly effective in helping individuals reframe negative thoughts, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and strengthen self-esteem.
If you feel nervous about addressing topics like body image with a therapist in person, you might feel more comfortable with online therapy instead. It allows you to get matched with a licensed therapist with whom you can meet via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging from anywhere you have an internet connection. Research suggests that remote therapy can offer similar benefits to in-person therapy in many cases.
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