Social media influencers have been promoting "body neutrality" as an alternative to body positivity, but researchers argue they're getting some key points about body image wrong.
A new paper suggests proponents of body neutrality may misunderstand what it means to have a positive image.Source: Eleanor Jane/Pexelsby a group of experts on body image research suggests that proponents of body neutrality may be misunderstanding what it means to have a positive image. In addition to suggesting that body neutrality is not really “new,” these researchers also argue that neutrality isn’t much of a goal when it comes to body image.
The idea of body neutrality emerged not from academic research on body image and eating disorders, but rather from social media spaces focused on body image. Since then, the concept of body neutrality has begun appearing in academic papers, with authors contrasting neutrality with “suggest that some researchers who promote body neutrality seem to be confused about what it really means to have a positive body image.
Overall, having a positive body image is about much more than how you feel about how you look. It includes an appreciation for the functions of your body—all the cool things your body can do. Having a positive body image also involves the choice to treat your body with kindness and care even if you’re feeling bad about how you look and even when you might be disappointed with how your body is functioning.
Another popular idea about body neutrality is that it’s a type of middle ground between a negative and positive body image, which might explain why it feels more realistic to some people than working toward a positive body image. But this view of body neutrality doesn’t make sense, because positive and negative body image aren’t really on the same continuum. That may sound a bit confusing, but it might help to think about the issue using general emotions as a comparison.
The authors of this new paper also argue that proponents of body neutrality might be underestimating how important positive body image can be for well-being. In other words, aiming for “neutrality” might be setting the bar too low. A positive body image can be a key component of well-being. Striving to simply “tolerate” your body might close off routes to psychological flourishing.
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