Body Positivity for the LGBTQIA+ Community

A person’s body image is a lot less about how their body looks than how they feel and think about it. The culture of our society combined with our personal experiences can play a large role in how our body image develops. This causes many to have a negative body image that can result in harmful repercussions to both our mental and physical health.

Much of our society’s messaging emphasizes being fit and thin. When our bodies don’t fit this mold, it can take a heavy toll on our mental health. And even when someone’s body does fit society’s idea of beauty, they may not be happy with it, either because they don’t see themselves accurately (body dysmorphia) or because their body doesn’t fit their gender identity (gender dysphoria). Societal pressure to conform to a certain image is all the more damaging to members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who already face prejudice and discrimination that can harm their mental health.

Having a negative body image can cause a person to feel depressed or alone or have low self-esteem. Issues such as these can make it hard to maintain relationships, engage in social events, or feel connected to those around us.

How Do You Improve Body Image?

You don’t always have to change how your body looks to change how you feel about it. Working toward body positivity, or at least body neutrality, can help to improve your mental health if you’re distressed about your body’s size or shape.

Body Positivity

Body positivity is the idea that every body, regardless of how it looks, is beautiful. It’s the idea that everyone should feel good and positive about their own body. You should be allowed to love your body, regardless of outside pressures. It’s all about embracing your body with a radical sense of joy. However, this approach has been criticized because it still places an emphasis on a person’s physical appearance. Also, it’s important to note that for those with gender dysphoria, body positivity can seem transphobic. While accepting your body as beautiful can be a noble goal for those with body dysmorphia, many trans people find that seeking gender-affirming care is a crucial step toward body positivity.

Body Neutrality

Body neutrality encourages people to completely change how they relate to their bodies. It’s not about loving or hating your body: It’s about just accepting the way your body is. Regardless of how a person’s body looks, body neutrality puts forth the concept that we should be grateful for the body we have. It also accepts the ever-changing positive and negative outlooks we have on our bodies as natural. This, however, does not mean we need to value ourselves any less.

Similar to body positivity, body neutrality rejects traditional beauty ideas. It goes a step further than positivity, though, by stating that we shouldn’t be placing value on our appearance at all. We should instead focus on how our body functions as it is and the ways it helps us experience life.

What Are the Benefits of Body Neutrality?

Even though body positivity attempts to embrace good feelings, it still places an inherent value on the way we look. Attempting to constantly have a positive feeling about our bodies can often be viewed as unrealistic and use up a lot of our mental energy.

Body neutrality, on the other hand, can help you accept yourself for who you are and help lessen the amount of stress in your life. You don’t need to focus on your body’s image at all. Instead, body neutrality teaches you to appreciate your body and merely be thankful that it’s yours.

How to Adopt Body Neutrality in Your Life

Adopting a mindset of body neutrality won’t happen immediately. It will take some time and effort to incorporate into your life. However, there are some steps you can take to make the process easier:

Remove any talk about bodies from discussions you have with other people. If it comes up, try redirecting the conversation.
Make a list of qualities you love about yourself that are unrelated to your body. This list could include things like humor, intelligence, or creativity.
Pay attention to how you observe your body and adjust how you talk to yourself about it.
Make sure to get enough sleep and food to take care of your body without feeling like you have to control it.
Speak with a counselor or therapist who specializes in body image issues.

Taking these steps can help you move closer to body neutrality.

How Can You Help Others Struggling in Their Relationship With Their Body?

If you know someone else who is struggling with their body image, there are a few different ways you can help support them.

Adjust the focus of conversations to emotions and feelings instead of appearance.
Let them know you’re available to talk or listen whenever they need it.
Offer to learn about body neutrality with them so they have someone to share the journey with.
Don’t automatically tell them they’re beautiful. It may seem like a compliment, but it still keeps the focus on appearance instead of who they are inside.
Make them aware of your concerns in a compassionate way and ask them how you can help. Tell them that negative body image is a common issue and there is help available. If you believe more help is needed, suggest they speak with a mental health professional.

Additional Resources for the LGBTQIA+ Community

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