#this is also very much a whıte supremısm thing that i want to tag for but idk what effect that will have on the algorithm or bots/fake users

[valentineish]

Something that I see in a lot of body positivity circles is a lot of well meaning, blind lip service to an "all shapes and sizes" credo, but zero understanding of what that looks like.

I'm thrilled that there is more unabashed love for curves in the world. But it is upsetting that the body appreciation is still mostly an expansion of adoration for white western bodies. Beyond the expectation for light skin and fine hair, there is a universal assumption of height, proportions, muscle mass, fat distribution, etc. This literally isn't just skin deep.

I've been a part of these circles for a long time. It is impossible to ignore how white women in particular will praise each other for Very Eurocentric Traits, but the conversation falters as soon as it's not about white people.

I've caught my own frustration that it's actually not as simple as practicing ~radical self-love~ when speaking to my BIPOC friends about body image. I seen the same white friend proud about not shaving just laugh nervously when a friend with darker body hair excitedly say the same. I know the way my other white friends struggle to even comprehend the shape of my body because my broad shoulders, barrel chest, and unibrow announce that I'm not Western European in the same way they are. Like... very real examples with very real consequences exist far closer to home than the fashion industry.

There isn't a magic bullet to this, and I honestly don't know if I have the space to cover just how deep this runs. Beauty standards are defined by systemic racism, misogyny, cissexism, toxic masculinity, ableism, classism, Eurocentrism, and so much more. All I can say is that you have to accept that learning is an ongoing, active process that you aren't exempt from because you face discrimination – especially if you're white. Narrowing your perspective on body positivity down to the discrimination you personally face not only blinds you to the harm done to others, but it only makes us less effective in addressing the root of the problem.

#this applies to a lot more than body image and body positivity tbqh but this is the thing i'm familiar with #i also realize i made the point 'it's not all just about me!' and then took an example from my own life in the next paragraph #bc i wanted to illustrate the point that racism runs SO deep that white people engage in this weird combination of nationalism and colorism #this is best illustrated by western europeans treating eastern europe as less human and exoticising anybody even NEAR the mediterranean #open mic night #racism #body positivity #body image #fatphobia #sizeism #black lives matter #misogyny #beauty standards #eurocentrism #this is also very much a whıte supremısm thing that i want to tag for but idk what effect that will have on the algorithm or bots/fake user #body neutrality #haes