Busting Beauty Standards: The New Trend Of Positivity And Acceptance

As the temperature rises and warmer weather arrives, conversations about achieving a "summer body" often emerge. With media and popular culture commonly promoting specific body types and appearances, the pressure to conform to unrealistic and ever-changing beauty standards becomes especially pronounced during this time of year. However, a new trend is challenging these outdated ideals: body positivity and acceptance. Read on to explore the evolution of beauty standards, the impact of beauty ideals, and the potential benefits of embracing body positivity as the new summer trend.

The evolution of beauty standards and social norms

Beauty standards are societal standards that define what is considered attractive in a given culture. They can vary around the world and may be influenced by media, history, and social norms.

Some people may not realize that beauty standards have shifted dramatically throughout history, influenced by various cultural, social, and economic factors. For example: 

• Artists portrayed the female figure as curvy and voluptuous until the 17th and 18th centuries. 

• The corset became a popular way to accentuate a woman’s curves from the late 1800s into the 20th century. 

• In the 1920s, slender female bodies were in fashion as exemplified by the flapper aesthetic. 

• The curvy ideal made a comeback in the 1950s and early 1960s with Marilyn Monroe, before the preference for thin bodies reemerged in the 1970s. 

The “summer body” and beauty

The emergence of the "summer body" trend can be traced back to the 1960s when the bikini became a popular fashion item in the United States. This trend created the “need” for a flat stomach and toned physique to look a certain way in revealing swimwear. 

As social conditions and gender roles evolved, so did the beauty ideals for women in particular. Body expectations shifted from a mature, curvaceous figure to a thin, flat look epitomized by countless celebrities and supermodels. As a result, the pressure to achieve this body type intensified, leading many to adopt extreme dieting and fitness regimes.

Modern beauty standards

Currently, the beauty standard for women emphasizes curvier features in areas like the bust and bottom while maintaining a thin, toned, and tucked appearance in the waist and thighs. In fact, a 2019 survey of 1,000 Americans described the “perfect woman” as 5'5" and 128 pounds, with a 26-inch waist, reflecting how pervasive these ideals have become.

It’s highly important to note that achieving these proportions would be nearly impossible without resorting to extremely unhealthy methods. 

Intersectional beauty

Men and people of other genders may also face unrealistic beauty standards, as evidenced by ongoing fatphobia and body shaming across the gender spectrum. Men in the LGBTQIA+ community may be especially at risk of these judgments. One study suggests that they may experience overall body-image disturbances and eating disorder pathology at greater rates than heterosexual men due to pervasive standards of a thin yet muscular body type for queer men.

Why unrealistic beauty standards affect mental health

The perpetuation and pursuit of beauty standards—particularly those that are unrealistic and/or unhealthy for most—has been an ongoing problem for generations. Attempting to conform to beauty standards can have serious physical and mental health consequences. For example, many individuals develop a negative body image and low self-worth or poor self-perceptionas they struggle to meet these arbitrary ideals.

Physical risks of toxic body ideals

Physical health risks can also be associated with the pursuit of the "ideal" body or look. Consider a study that indicates that women of color can be exposed to toxic, cancer-causing chemicals by using chemical hair straighteners and skin-lightening products in an effort to conform to pervasive European beauty standards that idealize straight hair and light skin.

The dangers of weight loss as a beauty ideal

Weight loss and diet culture have also led many to turn to harmful habits—such as extreme dieting and rigorous fitness routines—to meet perceived standards. These habits often come with severe health implications. The use of diet pills, plastic surgery, and other extreme measures to achieve a certain look may further endanger physical well-being. Though toxic diet culture harms people of all ages, studies suggest that adolescents in particular are at a greater risk for developing unhealthy eating habits and eating disorders as a result.

Beauty standards, beauty ideals, and the media

While our ideas surrounding physical appearance, beauty, and body image are influenced by countless factors such as our parents, family members, culture, and peers, the media can have an outsized impact as well.

Bodies and representation in media

Television shows, movies, and advertisements have historically featured a narrow range of body types, reinforcing the notion that beauty is synonymous with whiteness and thinness. This contributes to a pervasive diet culture that equates weight loss with success and happiness, and a beauty culture that has diverse people striving for a single appearance type.

Breaking beauty standards and redefining real beauty

Embracing body positivity can offer several potential benefits for both individuals and society as a whole. One of the most significant advantages is improved mental health and self-esteem. Accepting and loving one's body, regardless of size or shape, can lead to a more positive self-image and reduced anxiety. This shift in perspective may help individuals focus on their well-being rather than striving for an unattainable aesthetic ideal and exposing themselves to dangerous practices in the process.

The changing attitude toward beauty

As brands and media outlets begin to feature a wider range of body types, people can more often see themselves and their bodies as they currently are reflected in the content they consume. This representation helps to normalize different body shapes and sizes, reducing the stigma associated with not fitting into narrow beauty standards.

A more supportive and compassionate community is also a growing effect of body positivity. By promoting acceptance and kindness, breaking beauty standards, and embracing real beauty, people can create social environments where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their appearance. This sense of community can be especially empowering for those who have been marginalized or judged based on their body or appearance in the past.

Body acceptance as a personal and emotional journey

Body acceptance can be deeply personal, and it may be a process rather than a quick shift. By improving self-awareness, shifting beliefs, and challenging unrealistic ideals, individuals can build a healthier, more compassionate relationship with themselves.

Acceptance is not a destination

Body acceptance is a journey, not a destination. How you feel today may not be how you feel in the future. As you work on your relationship with your body, you may have setbacks as well as periods where you realize just how much progress you have made. 

How body acceptance supports mental wellness

Research suggests that body appreciation can have positive effects on mental wellness, including:

• Increasing self-confidence and self-esteem
• Reducing depressive symptoms
• Improving eating patterns and psychological well-being. 

Practical steps to busting beauty standards and promoting body positivity

Cultivating a positive self-image and body acceptance requires intentional effort and practice. Here are some practical steps that may help you find your own way to body positivity:

• Practice self-compassion. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would offer to a friend. Acknowledge that you’ve been exposed to a relentless campaign to get you to dislike your body, and try to see your thoughts and actions with compassion as a result.
• Consider body neutrality. As the Butterfly Foundation for eating disorder support defines it, body neutrality is a perspective that “shifts the focus from positivity and acceptance and into the idea that a person can exist in their body without thinking too much about how it looks.” If body positivity doesn’t resonate with you, aiming to view your body in a more neutral way and focusing on other elements of yourself and your existence can be helpful.
• Challenge harmful narratives. If you hear people in your social circles judging others for their body type or appearance, speak out against these harsh words and the narrow standards behind them. Encourage conversations that celebrate diversity and reject the notion that there’s only one acceptable way to look.
• Curate a positive social media feed. If you spend time on social media, be mindful and aware of the content you consume there and stop comparing yourself to the unrealistic standards that may be on display. Follow accounts that promote body positivity and diverse body types. Unfollow or mute accounts that encourage negativity about yourself or that promote dangerous habits.
• Focus on health, not appearance. You might also shift your focus from achieving a certain look to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Consider paying more attention to supporting what your body can do rather than how it looks.
• Seek professional support. Therapy can be an effective tool for promoting a healthy self-image and learning to feel comfortable in your own skin. A therapist can help you work through negative thoughts and develop strategies for building self-esteem.

How therapy can help

Therapy can be a beneficial tool in promoting body positivity and a healthy self-image. A therapist can provide a safe space to explore your feelings about your body, your self-esteem, your relationships, and related topics. An approach to talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be particularly effective in helping individuals reframe negative thoughts, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and strengthen self-esteem. 

Exploring online therapy

If you feel nervous about addressing topics like body image with a therapist in person, you might feel more comfortable with online therapy instead. It allows you to get matched with a licensed therapist with whom you can meet via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging from anywhere you have an internet connection. Research suggests that remote therapy can offer similar benefits to in-person therapy in many cases.