Body Neutrality vs Body Positivity
You may ask, what is the difference between body neutrality and body positivity?
Both body neutrality and body positivity are valuable ways of feeling good about yourself, focusing on your physical appearance or mental well-being. Body neutrality refers to appreciating and feeling grateful for the body you have. It doesn't necessarily mean you love your body, but it's about accepting and respecting who you are. On the other hand, body positivity is a social movement that focuses on embracing all body types regardless of size, shape, race, gender and physical abilities.
Embracing both body neutrality and body positivity offers numerous benefits. Body positivity encourages individuals to feel good about themselves regardless of their size or shape. This can tackle bad habits such as negatively talking about yourself and comparing yourself to others, leading to body dissatisfaction. Body neutrality allows you to concentrate on what your body can do rather than how it looks. Instead of focusing on your physical appearance, body neutrality allows you to understand your body and how it enables you to live your life.
What is Body Neutrality?
Body neutrality can be defined as accepting your body for what it is without focusing on your body's physical appearance. It lets you concentrate on what the body can do and why you should appreciate it. It allows individuals to focus on respecting their bodies rather than judging how they look. Body neutrality will enable you to step away from negative talk and focus on self-love for your body. It will allow you to understand that even if you don’t love your body, you will create a sense of self-respect. This newfound confidence is a great way to encourage you to participate in activities you wouldn't have considered beforehand.
Body Neutrality Examples
Body neutral affirmations are an effective way to practice self-love:
✨ "What you have inside is much more beautiful that what’s on the outside." - Selena Gomez
✨ “I'm not going to sacrifice my mental health to have the perfect body.” - Demi Lovato
✨ "Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you" - Amy Poehler
✨ "The only way to achieve beauty is to feel it from inside" - Miley Cyrus
✨ "My limbs work, so I’m not going to complain about how my body is shaped" - Drew Barrymore
✨ "Stop thinking about your body. Don’t try and love it more, don’t hate on it." - Jameela Jamil
✨ "Your words have so much power" - Ashley Graham
✨ "Life is so much more beautiful and complex than a number on a scale" - Tess Munster
✨ "You don't have to love your body to be kind to it" - Alissa Rumsey
The Body Neutrality Movement
The body neutrality movement began in 2015 when a woman named Anne Poirier started using the phrase 'body neutrality'. Anne was a certified intuitive eating counsellor and eating disorder specialist who used the term to help her patients balance food and physical activity. Body neutrality allows people to embrace and accept their body by recognising its capabilities rather than concentrating on their physical image.
The main focus of body neutrality is to celebrate what the body can do. This includes different types of physical activity, from basic tasks like walking and showering to playing sports like football and basketball. Teach yourself to be grateful for completing small everyday tasks with help from your body. Meditation is a brilliant way to focus on the function of your body and connect with your thoughts and feelings.
There are many ways you can practice body neutrality:
💡Appreciate What Your Body Can Do
Be grateful for your body, which can benefit you physical, mental and emotional well-being.
💡Pay Less Attention to Your Appearance
Don’t focus so much on your body’s appearance, refrain from constantly looking in the mirror or weighing yourself on the scales.
💡Do Something Nice for Yourself Everyday
Treat yourself to a delicious treat, new clothes or a relaxing day out as you deserve it.
💡Wear Comfortable Clothes
Wear clothes that fit well and are comfortable. Wearing clothes that are too tight or loose may make you feel more self-conscious.
💡Be Patient
Body neutrality does not happen overnight. Remind yourself daily why your body is important and why you should appreciate it.
Body Positivity
Body positivity is a social movement that began in the 1960s. It promotes body types of all shapes, sizes, skin tones, genders and physical abilities. Body positivity encourages diversity and inclusivity by fostering acceptance of all body types. It helps people gain self-confidence, resulting in a positive mindset about their bodies.
A positive body image will allow you to embrace your body type, enhancing your mental and physical well-being. The body positive movement has shifted since the 1960s, with diet culture and the ‘ideal body’ being major societal issues. Body positive influencers are inspiring role models to follow on social media, discussing their body dissatisfaction experiences and showcasing body diversity.
Differences between Body Neutrality and Body Positivity
Body positivity and body neutrality are both ways of promoting self-love and confidence. Although they do have similarities, there are many differences. Body positivity is about accepting all different types of body shapes and sizes. It encourages people to appreciate their bodies regardless of what society says.
On the other hand, body neutrality doesn’t involve loving your body but allows people to focus on their body's abilities. This is seen as a more realistic approach, as self-acceptance is not easy for everyone. Many people practice body neutrality, encouraging them to focus on what their bodies can do, not how they look. For those tackling body dissatisfaction, body neutrality is an effective step that can benefit you mentally and physically.
Body Neutrality & Body Positivity with Our Life Drawing Classes
Life drawing classes are a brilliant way to promote diversity and inclusivity. Our classes include female and male models of all shapes and sizes. Taking a life drawing class allows us to embrace bodies in all their forms by capturing the diversity of body types. This will enable people to feel more body positive by helping them accept their own bodies. This is an excellent method of embracing body neutrality by doing something you enjoy. It allows you to focus on your observational skills and hand-eye coordination, serving as an ideal way to appreciate your body’s capabilities.
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