The “summer body” trend, and all the jokes, internet content and attention surrounding it have been long present during warm months around the globe. Log onto twitter (or any social media for that matter) as schools are about to let out and the weather is slowly creeping above 70 degrees, and find a slew of body negativity. Much of this is directly linked to the idea of a summer body, and everything that term entails.
The summer body is an ideal (yet often unattainable or impossible) body standard meant to be physically “perfect” for the summer months. This includes the attempt to look perfect in swimsuits, shorts, tank tops, and other warm apparel that exposes the body. Often in this summer body trend, perfect means nothing other than being skinny. Besides the horrifying fact that skinny is not the only standard of beauty or health, this content often pushes the idea that having any imperfections (such as cellulite, stretch marks, or body rolls; all of which are natural) makes someone unfit to participate in summer activities. Weeks before summer even begins, women from all strides of life are exposed to this content. Posts about not being able to do anything outside because their “summer body” is not yet ready, extreme workout plans that are often more dangerous than not being handed out like innocent advice, and even posts comparing a woman’s natural body to animals like whales overwhelm womens feed. The majority of the women exposed to this are often young teenage girls that are already struggling to maintain or develop a sense of self confidence and being.
Telling young women that their body is not the “right” type of body to wear basic clothing or do basic activities during warm weather is deplorable.
The idea that a body is somehow worth less because it is not ideal or visually perfect in the eyes of social media is not only demeaning for women, it is also highly damaging to the already pressuring culture teens are engulfed in. Women should not have to appear a certain way to do everyday things such as wearing shorts in 100 degree weather. Telling young women that their body is not the “right” type of body to wear basic clothing or do basic activities during warm weather is deplorable. This summer body fixation not only damages women deeply, it diminishes them from being someone with passions, friends, family and brains to being nothing but a body for others to view as aesthetically pleasing as they desire. Along with this, it can encourage already present mental illnesses; especially in those with eating disorders, or even contribute to the development of one.
All bodies are summer bodies, and all bodies are beautiful.
Women can, and should, take up as much space as they would like to in the world; especially during summer. A woman should not feel like they cannot exist during the summer because of appearance or weight. All bodies are summer bodies, and all bodies are beautiful. Every single body is bikini ready, despite what many think. Ridding ourselves of the idea that we must obtain a figure that society demes to be correct before we can enjoy our summer is something that needs to be done for the general happiness and health of women. This process can begin by refusing to participate in the “summer body” hype that our culture so often shoves into our daily life’s, aiding in creating a more body positive world.
*This post is for all self identifying women; non binary, cisgender, trans, or otherwise.
