
It's kind of weird to me that we might regard posting a flattering, well lit photo nude of yourself as brave just because you don't happen to be sucking it all in the second the camera clicked. On the whole I think we don't, else all my Facebook photo comments in which I'm not wearing sleeves would simply say: "brave".
I'd like to see a documentary that explains why we think it's peculiar to present yourself to The Internet etc as anything less than what Western society currently sees as perfect. Or a documentary on our understanding of 'brave' (also 'awesome' and 'humbled' - have you noticed people have started using 'humbled' when they mean 'honoured'?). Of course the problem is, it probably did take a certain amount of braveness to post that photo, even though my personal review is that Brumfitt looks lovely in both images. Instead of worrying about vocabulary Brumfitt started up the Body Image Movement which helps people love their bodies.
The documentary Brumfitt is making will focus on her personal journey from a woman who loathed her body to someone who appreciated their body. It will also explore "why body loathing has become a global epidemic". | I don't think it's good...to give the impression every time I look at myself in the mirror a sad Adele track swells in the background. |
Body image is a harder topic to approach than you might think. Because we're trained to self deprecate and not usually encouraged to say 'oh I really like this part of myself' it seems alien to simply think 'good for you!' if someone does love their body. We see far more self hatred than self appreciation and it means there aren't many positive examples. I just don't think it's good for anyone to give the impression every time I look at myself in the mirror a sad Adele track swells in the background.
Which is why Brumfitt's Kickstarter campaign for Embrace is interesting - the more money raised it seems the more diversity they can bring to the documentary, with the possibility of world travel now they have an increased budget.
I'm interested to see if we can finally get the right balance on a body positivity project, using the words of real women instead of putting words in their mouths.
Squeamish Kate