What is the Difference Between Body Positivity and Body Neutrality?
Allison Osmer, Masters Level Clinician
Developing a positive relationship with our bodies can be challenging when we are flooded with the harmful messages of diet culture and fatphobia. By unlearning this messaging and building our capacity to appreciate our bodies and their function, we can protect ourselves from harmful appearance-related cultural messaging and become less susceptible to their damages. But how do we develop a better relationship with our body? The body positivity and body neutrality movements may be a helpful place to start.
What is Body Positivity?
Body positivity and neutrality are related concepts and movements that have emerged in the context of body image and self-acceptance, yet they do have fundamental differences. The body positivity movement arose in the 1960s, intending to end societal body discrimination. Its original goal was to advocate that all bodies, especially oppressed bodies and those not accepted by society, deserve dignity, respect, and fair treatment.
As the movement and term “body positivity” has become more mainstream, the original intention remains yet it often now also refers to having self-love and a positive view of your body. Overall, body positivity seeks to empower people to feel confident and comfortable in their skin, despite the pressures of external expectations. People who practice body positivity aim to love and accept their body as it is.
What is Body Neutrality?
Body neutrality is a concept that is less concerned with changing how someone thinks about their body and instead aims to take the emphasis off appearance and shift it towards function and abilities. It also invites the idea that we can practice acceptance without necessarily feeling positive; it's about accepting the body as it is without necessarily loving it. Body neutrality also places less importance on appearance and more on what the body can do. People who practice body neutrality may find it helpful to shift their focus toward physical abilities, strength, and overall health rather than appearance.
How to Practice Body Positivity and Body Neutrality
You may find you align with one concept more than the other or you may find different contexts, moods, situations call for either a positive or more neutral mindset shift. For example, some people may find body neutrality overall more helpful and seek to create neutral affirmations to unlearn negative, internalized messaging. Others may be working toward a more body-positive outlook and use neutrality on their way there. You may not be able to jump from negative statements about your body to positive ones; the concept of body neutrality can be a helpful bridge on your unlearning to re-learning journey. You may find using ideas and practices from both body positivity and body neutrality helpful, such as:
Focus on the positive: Instead of criticizing yourself, focus on what you like about your body.
Challenge negative self-talk: When you think negative thoughts about your body, try to create at least two neutral or positive statements for each negative thought. These new statements can focus on what you feel neutral, appreciate, or love about your body rather than its flaws.
Avoid comparing: Avoid comparing your body to other people's bodies, especially those portrayed in the media. Recognize that everyone is unique and deserves dignity, respect, and fair treatment, including you.
Shift your focus from appearance to function: Instead of thinking about your body's appearance, focus on what it can do. Appreciate your body for what it can accomplish.
Call out harmful messaging: When you notice diet culture and fatphobia at play, call it out, whether for yourself or others. Take note of the external messages you see (grocery stores, social media, TV shows and movies, others’ conversations) and name these in order to start to untangle them from what you’ve internalized.
Set boundaries: Ask others to not comment on your weight, plate, or body. Create a pact with close friends to avoid commenting on each other’s or your own bodies, diets, and appearance. Shift compliments to qualities that aren’t rooted in physical appearance.
Which is Better: Body Positivity or Body Neutrality?
Ultimately, both body positivity and body neutrality are about developing a better relationship with our bodies. Each concept has its place and can be helpful for different people in different ways. Body positivity may help you feel empowered and embody a new sense of confidence, and it can help you overcome negative body image and promote self-love. Body neutrality may create a similar sense of empowerment through the ability to detach self-worth from your body and appearance. Creating a truly neutral outlook on your body, its functioning, and its appearance can also bring about a powerful sense of freedom. It's up to you to decide which approach works best and practice whatever feels most authentic and helpful.
If you need support on your journey of understanding and unlearning diet culture and fatphobia, working with Ashantis Jones may be a great fit. Ashantis offers 1:1 body image coaching in Chicago and nationally/internationally.
