Being body confident is something I have struggled with as long as I can remember. I probably came out of the womb bitching my arms were too big. It sounds like something I would do lols.
Growing up there was so much negativity around women’s bodies, it became hard to train your mind to think differently. Magazines were filled with giant red circles, picking apart a different celebrity every week. Shouting to the world what they thought were their flaws and that they should never been seen out in public again until they do so.
I don’t ever remember seeing anything about self-love or loving your body no matter what it looks like. Yes, okay there wasn’t social media so we didn’t have access to what we do now, but it’s sad that what we did have was filled with so much hate.
Being an auntie to my beautiful niece, I’ve always been scared of her not liking her body. I worry when the day will come that she will look in the mirror and not see how beautiful she is inside and out. I’m scared of the easy access to everything on the internet she has and how it will impact her. Given the crap we had to deal with growing up, I’ve always thought the impact would be negative.
Lately, I’ve started to realise that she is growing up in a time where self-love and body confidence is being shouted from the roof tops. There’s social media posts, articles even television shows. People are saying a big “fuck you” to the world. “I can dress and look like however I want and no one is going to tell me any different.”
Thankfully from a young age our babies are shown that every body is beautiful. Any size, shape, colour, you are a queen and should celebrate yourself. Thanks to artists like Lizzo and brands who show inclusivity we are getting to a good place.
Even though we don’t all have a healthy relationship with our bodies still, I think the shit that we went through has made us feel so strongly about the young women in our lives that we won’t let our negative feelings hinder them. We know how it feels to not be told to love ourselves and we will be damned if our babies feel the same.
There will be no comments on what they eat or how they look. As long as they stay active and healthy that is all that matters.
My niece may still come to me with things she doesn’t like about herself but it’s my job and the other amazing women in her life to make sure she knows she is incredible.
Yes, people can still be arseholes and downright evil, and I think we still have a way to go with certain areas. Fashion week still mainly showing teeny models, clothing stores not carrying all sizes (I’m sensing a theme here) should not be still happening.
But, thanks to the way the world is now, I think she is going to be just fine.
And if you are reading this Dem Dem, you are amazing and beautiful inside and out and can do anything you want in this world. I love and believe in every inch of you.
Comments