New Trends in the Body Positivity Movement

It is generally acknowledged almost every image we see in magazines has been retouched, if not completely Photoshopped. These alterations might seem innocent in some instances — better lighting or the removal of someone in the background — but any subtle change to the face or body of an actress or model works its way into our minds as a burdensome standard marker. This does not even address the problem of major adjustments in the mode of body shape and skin perfections, which create overtly unrealistic expectations for women and men on a daily basis.

The body positivity movement worked tirelessly not only to address these issues, but to exact change. The fruits of this labor are starting to pay off as social media dissects the latest fashion covers and brands start to change the way they advertise. One bold change in this area is found at the drugstore CVS. In early 2018 they announced they will phase out Photoshopped images completely and will not advertise beauty brands that use altered images.

On a more individual level, Psychology Today offers a body positivity cleanse, which allows someone to begin to recognize the barrage of images that affect their everyday perception of themselves. This push against Photoshopped advertising is a huge victory for consumers. It has been shown that seeing unrealistic images causes unrealistic expectations in people’s perceptions of themselves and can result in anxiety. It is important retailers embrace this idea and contribute to a healthier environment instead of promoting the opposite.