Bellies, boobs, and butts ... What's that about?

Did you ever notice that every time you see a headline that says something like "woman's photo goes viral, making an important point about body image" it always seems to have a semi-naked photo attached to it?  

What's that about?

Can we not learn these important, affirming, "body positive" messages unless there's near-nudity involved?  


Aren't these body-affirming photos really just ways for women to show off their near-naked bodies ... and then to get praised for being "so brave" as to bare themselves to spread a positive message about body-acceptance? 

Seems more to me like it's self-indulgence and self-flattery being passed off as real, important, helpful-to-others news.  (And yet we seem to fall for it over and over again.)  

Might it not be a little more helpful and affirming for the average-looking woman and the older woman and the young, awkward, self-conscious girl if everyone just covered up a little more and dressed a little more decently, showing that women don't have to bare almost all to affirm the beauty of the body?  That we can be beautiful and confident no matter what we wear, even with our bellies, boobs, and butts tucked in?  That it's not necessary to expose our bellies, boobs, and butts in order to be respected, to be taken seriously, and to encourage other women?  

What ever happened to clothes!?!  Remember those?  The things we used to wear in public to keep ourselves covered with a degree of modesty and decency? 

Or is everyone that desperate to show themselves off, to get a little thrill or a self-esteem boost when someone stares at them or comments on them? 

 

 

 

 

Seriously, doesn't this constant "I can wear less clothes than you" competition just lead to more insecurity and to self-esteem-damaging comparisons with everyone else?  And doesn't that end up hurting relationships in the long run?  Because we can't just be comfortable with who we are inside?

(And it's kinda ironic that we wear less and less, but then scold men for looking at us like sex objects.  Go figure!  To have the right to wear whatever we want doesn't make whatever we wear right.) 

I'm just wondering out loud about all this ... and a little bit tired of all those "look at my near-naked body and my desperate attempts to show it off while I try to convince you that I am doing it for the good of all women" photos.  Have we not gotten tired of those yet?



Note:  I am not talking about the photos and stories where women have had to embrace some very real body flaws or injuries.  The kind that make people go, "Whoa!  That's serious.  And if she can be comfortable with that and face the world bravely then I guess I can be okay with my flaws too."  Those women are brave and have had to overcome a lot to get to that point.  And they should be proud of themselves. 
            I am talking about the ones that have the appearance of being significant but that are really just self-indulgent photos, opportunities to show off to everyone else while acting like you are doing it for others and like you have a real message to share. 
            And I know you all know what I am talking about and that you can tell the difference between the brave, heart-touching ones and the self-indulgent "fluff" ones!