I’ve seen this picture all over my Instagram for the past two weeks. With captions like “Lili vs Model” “who wore it better?” “Which one is hotter?”
It’s been pretty hard to avoid.
And I think it’s time I finally said something about it.
This photo is being posted by fan accounts. The same fan accounts who love to talk about the amazing female friendships on the show, girl power, Veronica’s inspiring feminism, body positivity, etc.
And that is the most hypocritical shit I’ve ever seen.
This is a poll. A competition. A comparison of two bodies. It’s a feeding ground for comments of judgement and negativity.— “Betty is fat” “that’s not flattering” “the model looks way better.”
It is a perfect way to fuel this delusional idea that it’s still okay to put women on a pedestal and compare them.
I’ve asked myself so many times… how do we actually learn to love our bodies? How do we as a society, openly and privately, accept that all bodies are truly beautiful and there shouldn’t be a specific body type that is considered “the best” or the most beautiful?
It’s so easy to say “embrace your curves” “everyone is beautiful!”— but to actually put that into practice is the hard part. It’s easy to convince others that we think this way, but it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t actually believe that.
I do not have that model’s body. I’m fully aware of this. I don’t have a thigh gap.. a 24 inch waist.. toned arms or abs.
I am not her. And how dare anyone assume that I should look like her.
And the people who are commenting on this photo and weighing in on this poll… are the ones who are comparing themselves to the model as well. It’s so easy to point out someone else’s “flaws”, isn’t it? Because it makes us feel better about ourselves and about our own insecurities.
It’s upsetting to see all these young women who proclaim to be feminists participate in something that represents the exact opposite. To them I say: You are the problem, don’t you get it? You are promoting the idea that this model is what all women should look like and that it’s not okay to look like anything else.
This is why we have eating disorders. This is why young teens are suicidal about their body image. This is why people have body dysmorphic disorder. This is why there aren’t nearly enough plus size models in the industry.
I hope that this makes you reconsider the next time you feel the need to comment on another woman’s weight or figure.
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