Social media and body positivity
By: Lee Ann Higgins
Social media is one of the biggest outlets of expression, apps such as Snapchat and Instagram blowing up by the minute with new posts. Many people’s pages are featuring the newest places, artists, and especially clothing lines. Several brands and organizations have been conversing about a topic called body positivity. Body positivity is the viewing of their own bodies without being harsh on themselves or tearing their self-confidence. Being optimistic about who they are, not letting other individuals take away the faith in themselves.
The body positivity movement has been around since the sixties. Making fashion statements, dismembering fat shamer’s comments, and lifting others up to keep moving forward. Within a couple years the movement was not the only thing growing. In 1969 an organization called the “National Association to Advocate Fat Acceptance” was made. They have been in several news articles promoting many ways to speak to medical professionals about any problems anyone is facing with weight. Not only do they present themselves to media organizations, but they have grants that teach citizens about weight and the virtues overweight individuals have. On the NAAFA’s (National Association to Advocate Fat Acceptance) website they state “Grant amounts ranging from $50 - $500 per project will be issued on a quarterly basis. Only one grant per project will be given, and grants are limited to projects within the U.S.” The money donated will be put towards their projects and cause.
With the invention of newer technology and cell phones becoming more up to date with certain apps has caused commotion between society today. The most notable apps that are currently being used as creative outlets are Snapchat, Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr. Social media has also evolved in a not so praising way. Commenting mean and very hurtful things on anyone’s posts can cause users to feel ashamed of who they are. A quote from Thea Liss, a tenth grader at Hillgrove Highschool stated, “I think it's super toxic because people really can hide behind the screen and say a whole bunch of mean stuff about you.” She is not the only one who has an opinion on the matter; Frances Albertus, another sophomore at Hillgrove Highschool said “I'm going to be honest I think it really has to do with older culture because, I think Gen Z and millennials were always more accepting and I don't know what the drastic change was...“I do think a lot of boomers and older millennials I guess you'd say just older adults I think they put this in their mind that kids have to be skinny to be healthy and that's just not true.”
Body shaming has become a big problem all over the globe. Organizations have come together to try to combat these types of issues. Being kind to yourself and others can really make a difference. Excepting the flaws that we all have could help solve this problem. Staying confident and bettering yourself does not only allow everyone to self-love but learning to love one another without judgement.
The body positivity movement has been around since the sixties. Making fashion statements, dismembering fat shamer’s comments, and lifting others up to keep moving forward. Within a couple years the movement was not the only thing growing. In 1969 an organization called the “National Association to Advocate Fat Acceptance” was made. They have been in several news articles promoting many ways to speak to medical professionals about any problems anyone is facing with weight. Not only do they present themselves to media organizations, but they have grants that teach citizens about weight and the virtues overweight individuals have. On the NAAFA’s (National Association to Advocate Fat Acceptance) website they state “Grant amounts ranging from $50 - $500 per project will be issued on a quarterly basis. Only one grant per project will be given, and grants are limited to projects within the U.S.” The money donated will be put towards their projects and cause.
With the invention of newer technology and cell phones becoming more up to date with certain apps has caused commotion between society today. The most notable apps that are currently being used as creative outlets are Snapchat, Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr. Social media has also evolved in a not so praising way. Commenting mean and very hurtful things on anyone’s posts can cause users to feel ashamed of who they are. A quote from Thea Liss, a tenth grader at Hillgrove Highschool stated, “I think it's super toxic because people really can hide behind the screen and say a whole bunch of mean stuff about you.” She is not the only one who has an opinion on the matter; Frances Albertus, another sophomore at Hillgrove Highschool said “I'm going to be honest I think it really has to do with older culture because, I think Gen Z and millennials were always more accepting and I don't know what the drastic change was...“I do think a lot of boomers and older millennials I guess you'd say just older adults I think they put this in their mind that kids have to be skinny to be healthy and that's just not true.”
Body shaming has become a big problem all over the globe. Organizations have come together to try to combat these types of issues. Being kind to yourself and others can really make a difference. Excepting the flaws that we all have could help solve this problem. Staying confident and bettering yourself does not only allow everyone to self-love but learning to love one another without judgement.
