Body neutrality

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The sculpture of two women in bronze, Jag tanker pa mig sjalv - Vaxjo ( 'I am thinking of myself - Vaxjo') by Marianne Lindberg De Geer [sv], 2005, outside the art museum of Vaxjo, Sweden. LA2-vx06-konsthallen-skulptur.jpg
The sculpture of two women in bronze, Jag tänker på mig själv – Växjö ( 'I am thinking of myself – Växjö') by Marianne Lindberg De Geer  [ sv ], 2005, outside the art museum of Växjö, Sweden.

The concept of body neutrality encourages the mindset that a person's bodily appearance, and attitudes towards it, should have the least possible effect on their experience of life. Its proponents assert that people should neither be celebrated for their conformance with an ideal of bodily beauty nor criticised for departure from such a condition. It may be contrasted with body positivity, [4] the fat acceptance movement, lookism, and body shaming. Some explanations of the concept emphasise a body's functionality over its aesthetics. [5] [6] [7]

Contents

Description

As the term suggests, 'body neutrality' offers a middle way between the attitudes of body negativity present in lookism and body shaming, and the all-accepting approach found in body positivity and the fat acceptance movement. [8] [ better source needed ]

Development of body neutrality

The psychologist Susan Albers notes that the difference between body neutrality and body positivity is that with body neutrality, "Your value is not tied to your body nor does your happiness depend on what you look like. A body-positive approach says you are beautiful no matter what. Period," - she explains that the affirmations required in adopting body positivity may feel inauthentic. [8]

With regard to body positivity, researchers Lisa Legault and Anise Sago argue that an undue emphasis on body positivity can "stifle and diminish important negative feelings." They explain that negative feelings are a natural part of the human experience and that such feelings can be important and informational. They say "ignoring negative feelings and experiences exerts a cost to authenticity and self-integration." The body positivity movement, they argue, can make it seem like a person should only feel positive emotions. This expectation to have only positive feelings is sometimes called "toxic body positivity". [9]

Since its emergence around 2015, [10] body neutrality has offered some hope even for those who struggle to find any positive attitudes towards their physical self. [10]

Adopters of body neutrality

Amongst body neutrality's better-known adherents are Erynn Chambers and Bethany C. Meyers. [11] [12] [5] [10] [8] Others include bloggers Gabi Gregg [13] and Stephanie Yeboah, [14] wellness and intuitive eating coach Anne Poirier, [10] and writer Anuschka Rees. [15]

Bibliography

In 2023, Jessi Kneeland, a personal trainer and coach, published a book on the topic, 'Body Neutral: A Revolutionary Guide to Overcoming Body Image Issues'. [16]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ De Geer's sculpture depicts one thin woman and one fat woman and demonstrates society's infatuation with outward appearances. The sculpture has been a source of controversy in the town, with both statues being vandalized and repaired during 2006. [3]

References

  1. ↑ "Bronskvinnorna" [The bronze women]. Vaxjo.se.[ dead link ]
  2. ↑ "Obesity over time". OpenLearn.[ dead link ]
  3. ↑ Roxvall, Anna (30 November 2006). "Skulpturer rör upp känslor i Växjö" [Sculptures stir emotions in Växjö]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  4. ↑ "Body Positivity vs. Body Neutrality". Verywell Mind. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Telesna neutralnost: Prihvatanje tela zbog svega onog što može da uradi, ne zbog toga kako izgleda" [Body Neutrality: Accepting the body for all it can do, not what it looks like]. British Broadcasting Corporation (in Bosnian). October 1, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  6. ↑ Sophie S. Whynacht. "Body Neutrality: A Healthier Way to Relate to Your Body | Psychology Today". www.psychologytoday.com. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  7. ↑ Frates, Elizabeth Pegg (14 April 2022). "Moving to wellness while practicing body neutrality". Harvard Health. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 "Body Neutrality vs. Body Positivity". Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  9. ↑ Legault, Lisa; Sago, Anise (June 2022). "When body positivity falls flat: Divergent effects of body acceptance messages that support vs. undermine basic psychological needs". Body Image. 41: 225–238. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.02.013. PMID   35305477. S2CID   247506568.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Swami, Viren (6 October 2022). "Body neutrality: what it is and how it can help lead to more positive body image". The Conversation. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  11. ↑ Sreenivas, Shishira. "What Is Body Neutrality?". WebMD. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  12. ↑ Godwin, Cody Melissa (September 2, 2020). "Body neutrality: What if you don't really love or hate your body?". BBC News . Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Concept: Body Neutrality". GENDER JUSTICE PROJECT. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  14. ↑ "Move over body positivity, body neutrality is the new realistic movement". Dazed. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  15. ↑ Pinder-Ambrose, Lauren (26 June 2020). "Body Neutrality: the Freeing Mindset?". Mindless Mag. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  16. ↑ Kneeland, Jessi. "Body Neutral: A Revolutionary Guide to Overcoming Body Image Issues". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 27 September 2025. ISBN   978-0593491768
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