Body positivity

[ˈbɒdi pɒzɪˈtɪvɪti] n.

No prizes for spotting this one on a hashtag or two. ‘Body positivity is a sociopolitical movement advocating for acceptance and respect for all bodies and against appearance-based prejudice, such as fatphobia,’ says Craddock. It began with the ‘fatacceptance movement’ of the 1960s and re-emerged on internet forums in the 1990s. The movement is now in its third wave after emerging on social media around 2012 as a means of uplifting larger and typically marginalised bodies – this time predominantly led by Black and minority ethnic activists. These days, you’ll find #bopo on posts of all kinds as, for many people, the meaning has shifted towards celebrating various types of bodies and loving yourself as you are. ‘To some extent, whether body positivity is useful for you is a question of semantics; different terms resonate with different people and that’s okay,’ says Craddock. ‘However, it’s important not to conflate the body positivity movement with “positive body image”, which is a psychological construct characterised by feelings of appreciation, acceptance and respect for one’s body.’