Health / Mental Health Awareness Week
Loving your body in the social media age
In 2019, body image and social media are undeniably intertwined. UWE Bristol’s Centre for Appearance Research recently brought four individuals together for a panel discussion. How to Remain Body Positive in the Era of Social Media was a chance to talk about the ever-growing pressures, and positives, of Instagram likes, Youtube beauty gurus and Snapchat filters.
The diverse panel spoke to a packed lecture theatre at UWE Bristol’s Business School, discussing personal experiences with body image, social media, recent research and how to make a positive cultural and personal change.
From l-r: Dr Amy Slater, Harnaam Kaur, Richard Blackwood, Jada Sezer and Dr Emma Halliwell discuss body image and social media
Jada Sezer spoke about the effects of being an influencer and being a plus-sized model, highlighting that she only became a model when her Instagram posts went viral. Although she owes her modelling success to social media, she says that people need to “understand it as a tool”, as people use Instagram for “aspiration and inspiration”, not necessarily for real life.
is needed now More than ever
Also on the panel was actor Richard Blackwood, who suffered with depression after becoming bankrupt in 2003. He said that he was glad social media didn’t exist and wanted to ensure the audience knew the negative effects of social media, saying: “Social media doesn’t mind killing you.”
They were difficult words to hear, but maybe the tough love that is needed in a digital age.
Harnaam Kaur is a motivational speaker that has been featured across national media and regularly gives talks on her struggles with body positivity and polycystic ovary syndrome. Having a beard, it took her until sixth form to grow her facial hair out and still receives constant backlash.
She spoke of relentless bullying through secondary school and the poor mental health she suffered: “I wanted to punish my body,” she said. “I was self-harming and suicidal.” She spoke not of ‘loving yourself’, as so many influencers suggest, but instead “being a little bit kinder to yourself” as a first step. She highlights the long and often difficult journey to self-acceptance in the social media era.
Dr Amy Slater, an associate professor at the Centre for Appearance Research, offered professional insight. They centre’s research has shown that exposure to narrow ideals contributes to poor self-esteem and low confidence.
She also discussed social media’s body image focus, which is perpetuated by filters, front-facing cameras and quantifiable feedback on appearance (through likes, for example).
Towards the end of the panel discussion, the speakers discussed that in the age of social media, perhaps ‘self-acceptance’ is a more realistic goal than ‘self-love’. “There’s a pressure to love yourself and love your body,” said Jada. “Perhaps body neutrality is better. ”
“We need to look after ourselves and look after our mental health,” said Harnaam.
Main photo courtesy of UWE Bristol
Read more: The artist who wants ‘all women and genders’ to love themselves
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