Beauty is in the eye of the beachgoer
The beach is beckoning and every magazine cover is talking
about bikini bodies. Once again, people are forced to feel the gym-guilt
normally associated with Christmas over-eating and New Year’s resolutions that
send thousands of us rushing to take out a new subscription at the local fitness studio. However for many of us
the only pounds the gym takes away are those from our pockets, not our
waistlines.
Earlier this year, I was one of those gym-hopefuls. It was January and I was feeling chubby after Christmas. What better way, I asked myself, to do something about it than spending £30 a month? ...Naturally. It started off brilliantly; more smoothies than is humanly possible and enough protein filled foods to feel as though I could wrestle a bear (despite only being able to lift a measly 15kg). I was ready to be healthy!
Then it dawned on me. Was I really doing this for myself? Was I convincing myself that running around in lycra, sweating buckets was worth it for me, or for others? As a feminist, I believe that individuals should be able to do what they like with their body. If you like your weight, that’s great! If you don’t, go ahead and modify it – whatever makes you happy! But on further inspection, I realised that whilst telling myself that I wanted to be fit and healthy, I was ignoring the fact that I already was fit and healthy. So why did I choose to buy into an industry that is established on insecurities?
After looking at the backlash following Protein World’s ad (which asked the long, unanswered question ‘Are You Beach Body Ready?’ alongside an image of a slim, blonde model with more abs than I could shake a stick at) I realised that actually, yes, these crazy radical feminists with their crazy radical feminist ways are entirely right in their anger. If someone is presenting you with an idea of what beauty is, then you start to believe that you’re ugly if you so much as stray an inch from these ideals. I realised when I opted out of my £30 a month gym membership, that unless I spend stupid amounts altering my body I will never be beautiful…not by their standards at least.
Beauty is not what make up and fashion industries tell you. Not only should it not be skin-deep -‘beauty is within’ as the cliché goes- but it is entirely subjective. What I find attractive may physically repulse others, and vice versa. We shouldn’t beat ourselves up worrying about our waistlines when happiness is so much more than how well your trousers fit. It’s also worth considering that if Nigel Farage can find a lady, you’ll probably find love too even if you are fairly repugnant, or heaven forbid, fat – which of course the magazines want you to believe means size 12 and above, don’t forget!
What is a beach body anyway? The controversial ad seemed to tell us that a body on the beach is not a beach body - as one may be led to believe from the seemingly self-explanatory name - no, a beach body is to be toned and tanned and slender. If you have curves, that’s great, but don’t forget your diet tablets otherwise those curves could be in the wrong place! If your body is not like that of the model who may or may not have been Photoshopped (who can tell nowadays?), you must therefore buy a product that is potentially harmful in order to impress others at the beach. But this is nonsense. Healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes - the fashion industry's one-size for all approach is not just ridiculous, it's a guaranteed ticket to self-loathing.
And guess what? On my last holiday I saw a granny in full Baywatch style coming out of the water topless. Slightly alarming at first yes, there’s no denying that, but also incredibly insightful. Who was I to judge her on her body? She had the confidence to be comfortable in the hot Spanish sun, which although appears logical when men do it, is still considered shocking for women. Well, free the nipple, Nana - you go for it!
Don't let others’ expectations of what beauty is deter you from finding your own beauty. We’re not here to beat ourselves up over what we look like. Our power lies in our minds and not in our diets. Being active and healthy is great, but being content and confident in yourself is what will bring you genuine wellbeing. You don’t have to adhere to the views of anyone else. You don't have to look like anyone else.
Enjoy the summer, look after yourself and love the skin you’re in!
Earlier this year, I was one of those gym-hopefuls. It was January and I was feeling chubby after Christmas. What better way, I asked myself, to do something about it than spending £30 a month? ...Naturally. It started off brilliantly; more smoothies than is humanly possible and enough protein filled foods to feel as though I could wrestle a bear (despite only being able to lift a measly 15kg). I was ready to be healthy!
Then it dawned on me. Was I really doing this for myself? Was I convincing myself that running around in lycra, sweating buckets was worth it for me, or for others? As a feminist, I believe that individuals should be able to do what they like with their body. If you like your weight, that’s great! If you don’t, go ahead and modify it – whatever makes you happy! But on further inspection, I realised that whilst telling myself that I wanted to be fit and healthy, I was ignoring the fact that I already was fit and healthy. So why did I choose to buy into an industry that is established on insecurities?
After looking at the backlash following Protein World’s ad (which asked the long, unanswered question ‘Are You Beach Body Ready?’ alongside an image of a slim, blonde model with more abs than I could shake a stick at) I realised that actually, yes, these crazy radical feminists with their crazy radical feminist ways are entirely right in their anger. If someone is presenting you with an idea of what beauty is, then you start to believe that you’re ugly if you so much as stray an inch from these ideals. I realised when I opted out of my £30 a month gym membership, that unless I spend stupid amounts altering my body I will never be beautiful…not by their standards at least.
Beauty is not what make up and fashion industries tell you. Not only should it not be skin-deep -‘beauty is within’ as the cliché goes- but it is entirely subjective. What I find attractive may physically repulse others, and vice versa. We shouldn’t beat ourselves up worrying about our waistlines when happiness is so much more than how well your trousers fit. It’s also worth considering that if Nigel Farage can find a lady, you’ll probably find love too even if you are fairly repugnant, or heaven forbid, fat – which of course the magazines want you to believe means size 12 and above, don’t forget!
What is a beach body anyway? The controversial ad seemed to tell us that a body on the beach is not a beach body - as one may be led to believe from the seemingly self-explanatory name - no, a beach body is to be toned and tanned and slender. If you have curves, that’s great, but don’t forget your diet tablets otherwise those curves could be in the wrong place! If your body is not like that of the model who may or may not have been Photoshopped (who can tell nowadays?), you must therefore buy a product that is potentially harmful in order to impress others at the beach. But this is nonsense. Healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes - the fashion industry's one-size for all approach is not just ridiculous, it's a guaranteed ticket to self-loathing.
And guess what? On my last holiday I saw a granny in full Baywatch style coming out of the water topless. Slightly alarming at first yes, there’s no denying that, but also incredibly insightful. Who was I to judge her on her body? She had the confidence to be comfortable in the hot Spanish sun, which although appears logical when men do it, is still considered shocking for women. Well, free the nipple, Nana - you go for it!
Don't let others’ expectations of what beauty is deter you from finding your own beauty. We’re not here to beat ourselves up over what we look like. Our power lies in our minds and not in our diets. Being active and healthy is great, but being content and confident in yourself is what will bring you genuine wellbeing. You don’t have to adhere to the views of anyone else. You don't have to look like anyone else.
Enjoy the summer, look after yourself and love the skin you’re in!