Body positivity is taking hold – It’s time to shake up the societal norms!
I take a closer look at an awesome design promoting the body posi movement…
There’s no denying the body positivity movement has gathered momentum over the past few years! We’ve come a mighty long way from the days when body ideals were one picture-perfect figure.
I personally think it’s an awesome alteration to what we accept as the social norms. It’s a long overdue shake-up in the way we all think. Celebrating all bodies is such a powerful notion making waves currently and I’m hoping it continues to create positive impacts on our lives.
You might remember my post about becoming an ambassador for This Girl Can, the nationwide movement from the National Lottery which champions female involvement in sports and exercise no matter their experience, ability or appearance!
I mentioned how I feel the younger generations are under a lot of pressure from the media’s power… Simply put, we’re often conditioned to think and act and behave in certain ways – This becomes particularly dangerous when it concerns issues of mental health and wellness, self-image and societal expectations.
Not-so-fun fact… One in five adults (22%) and 40% of teenagers said images on social media caused them to worry about their body image (Mental Health Foundations, 2019). How awful is that.
Despite the progress that has happened over the past few years, there’s undeniably still more to be done. There’s still a lot of space we need to bridge – Especially for the younger generations who it’s safe to say aren’t having the smoothest of rides into their teenage years!
So, how can we encourage this message of body positivity to be accepted in our day-to-day lives? Rome wasn’t built in a day and the same logic applies to altering our social norms. For us Brits, lots of things are better (and slightly less miserable atleast!) after a good cuppa…
I recently had the pleasure of discovering Scruffy Little Herbert – The quirky giftware and pottery craft brand is the wondrous creation of Esme Talbot.
With a Fine Art background, battles with her own self image and ‘late night obsessive sessions spent thinking of the next weight loss fad’ (read Esme’s blog here), she has created THIS…
A nostalgic, blue chinoiserie printed mug featuring miniature figurines packing a powerful message – Check out the mug here.
The design itself is captivating, let alone the crucial message it’s conveying!
Blue & white Wedgwood-esque porcelain is a household classic. Combine it with a wonderfully important message about body positivity (and cracking illustrations, of course!) and you’re on to a winner. Let’s work on making THAT a household norm too!
The Design Inspiration
Chatting with Esme about her design, I learnt of who she had been inspired by when working on the Body Positive Willow mug:
Tess Holliday (@tessholliday), Chidera Eggerue (@theslumflower), Grace Victory (@gracefvictory), Michelle Elman (@scarrednotscared), and the legendary Frida Kahlo (sorry, obviously no Insta @ for this wonderful lady but you can check out some more info here about her life, artwork and legacy).
You’ll also spot some of the inspirational icons in the pattern; including Harnaam Kaur, the activist, motivational speaker, and self-proclaimed Queen of #beardgang and Megan Jayne Crabbe of @bodyposipanda… Many remarkable people and worthy inspirational ‘influencers’ who I follow on Instagram! I recommend them all for your daily dose of brilliant role models and inspirational individuals. Be sure to go and check out their profiles.
Over A THIRD of UK adults have felt anxious or depressed with concerns of their body image (Mental Health Foundations, 2019). That needs to change. We spend an awful lot of time and brain space worrying about our body image. Think of all the wonderful ways you could be spending that time?! Here’s one to start – Grab yourself a Body Positive Willow mug, brew a tea and give your mind a much-needed break from it all.
Are you a firm believer in body positivity? What’s your best way to break out of negative thought patterns when it comes to self-image? Share your thoughts! It’s such an important topic so let’s get talking. I’d love to hear what you think…
I was kindly sent this mug by Scruffy Little Herbert after chatting about the body positivity movement and the power of design with Esme. It’s a product I am incredibly honoured to receive & promote.
As always, my views are sincere. I’ll only accept products that I genuinely have an interest in, suit my ethics and would consider purchasing myself.
You can check out the other brands and partners who I have collaborated with here.
Mental Health Foundations, 2019 – Report findings and stats source.
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