Reclaiming Our Bodies From Hateful Language

I was thinking last night while I was making my PB&J sandwich about how we talk about our bodies and the bodies of other people. Why? I don't know, but it was something that intrigued me.

Words like "bootydo" (i.e. her stomach sticks out farther than her booty do), "muffintop", "moobs", even "beanpole" and "stick" for skinny people becomes language we use to hate the bodies of others and of ourselves. Even "LOVEhandles" gets a bad rap! The assumption is that we a.) have the right to hate, discriminate, and alienate others simply because of what they weigh and how their bodies look; b.) they deserve that treatment; and c.) we can treat ourselves that way as well.

Even the best people have done this, including myself, simply because it's hard breaking away from the fatphobia/fat-hate one has always been reared with. However, I'm making myself more conscious of the terms I use when talking about my body and the bodies of others. I'm making myself aware, too, of the nonverbal cues I give off when I do the same because facial expressions still hold the clues of what you feel even when you fail to form those feelings into words.

If anything, the language we utilize to describe the bodies of others tend to be fueled by disgust and loathing. If we're going to be better human beings committed to ending eating disorders, cutting, depression, and things of that nature, a good start is noticing what we say to people about their bodies or what they eat. We have to be aware of the language we describe ourselves with when we look, or refuse to look, in the mirror. We have to be committed towards reclaiming our bodies from the language used to make us feel inferior to what's socially acceptable. We must treat our sisters and brothers with love and respect to help them love and accept their own bodies. Most importantly, we have to be the strongest advocates for ourselves, refusing to let the ignorant comments of others reflect on who we are as individuals.

Cast down your every thought; replace it with positivity. Reflect; find something good to say about what you see. Change your thoughts about what a woman or man should be or look like.

And check your language; check the language of others as well.