Movement advocating the mental quality that seeks to accept oneself and one's body
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]
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.[7]
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".[8]
Since its emergence around 2015,[9] body neutrality has offered some hope even for those who struggle to find any positive attitudes towards their physical self.[9]
Adopters of body neutrality
Amongst body neutrality's better-known adherents are Erynn Chambers and Bethany C. Meyers.[10][11][5][9][12] Others include bloggers Gabi Gregg[13] and Stephanie Yeboah,[14] wellness and intuitive eating coach Anne Poirier.[9] and writer Anuschka Rees.[15]
↑ 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]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
![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](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/LA2-vx06-konsthallen-skulptur.jpg/250px-LA2-vx06-konsthallen-skulptur.jpg)