(And why not let society's rules define you anymore)

text: Maria Bogdan

illustration: Larisa Petcut

As women I think we've all had a moment where society has told us to change our bodies in some way. You're too tall, too thin, out of shape, you're muscular, you look like a man, and you've put on weight, why can't you ever control yourself? We always have to change our appearance according to the trends and preferences of those around us, not according to the things that make us feel good. But what no one wants to admit is that these trends and "ideal" shapes of women change every ten years. The real question is: "How should a woman change the fundamental features of her body 8-9 times throughout her life?". 

Of course, without cosmetic surgery it is almost impossible, but on a deeper level, this constant state of dissatisfaction with your imperfections drastically affects your mental health. Thus, to counteract "diet culture" the phenomenon of "body positivity" appeared. The idea of this movement developed with the marches for the rights of overweight people in America in the 70's. They fought against discrimination against people who did not fit into the normal patterns of the time physically in the workplace, but also in the media. (At a time when most advertisements featured only diets, zero-kcal food and drastic exercise regimes). The movement created a change in the way Americans viewed their bodies. They began to ask themselves the question: "If physically unconventional people can love their bodies, could I too?".

With the emergence of social networks, the idea of "body positivity" gained momentum globally through the emergence of the hashtags #lovetheskinyourein #healthatallsizes #allbodiesarebeautiful and #loveyourbody. The idea behind this movement is to love your inner self, regardless of the outer shape of your body at any given moment.

But... if you don't feel this love for yourself every day? What if when you look in the mirror all you see is that millimeter of fat that you could get rid of if you lost just 2 more pounds? Well, a recent "body acceptance" movement tried to solve this problem. 

The idea of "body acceptance" encourages people to accept their body as it is, even when they are not happy with the way it looks. One day you might wake up and feel bloated, like you've put on 5kg overnight (which, by the way, is highly unlikely), but instead of feeling uncomfortable in your own skin throughout that day and maybe try to hide, you should be grateful for this body you live in for everything it does for you without even realizing it. Your hands help you hug your family or dear friends, your stomach digests all the delicious food you eat, your legs get moving to walk your dog every night and dance when you're happy. Our body is not just a machine that must always work perfectly, it is the way we experience, touch, breathe, perceive, live our life. For all these reasons, we should take care and thank him every day. 

These two movements not only encouraged ethnic minorities and people deemed physically undesirable by society to make their voices heard, but also changed the way we interact with ourselves on a daily basis. Instead of focusing on imperfections, they redirected our attention to the aspects that make us different, therefore unique and truly beautiful.

I don't know if you should choose between being "body positive" or "body accepting", but I tried to combine them and enjoy the space in which I live daily. We no longer have to fear if we fail to fit into a certain pattern created by society, but try to become the best version of Our. Tell me, will you choose to change the rules that constrain you or remain confined(x) in a life whose protagonist(x) you are not?

The singer Lizzo, one of the most famous people who talk about the principles of "body positivity".