What change looks like: improving how we talk about bodies

At The Embrace Collective, we’re all about creating change. Big change. Change that will move the dial on increasing rates of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders, and enable future generations to live free of judgement and shame about their bodies.

To do this, our team of experts and advocates are tackling the issue with a multi-pronged approach. At one end of the scale is systems-level change - making improvements in the settings where people live, learn, work and play to create environments that are safe and inclusive for all.

At the other end is individual change - empowering people to reframe how they think about their bodies and undoing the impact of the harmful messaging they have received throughout their lives from media, advertising and those around them.

This Easter, The Embrace Hub has shared a resource on their blog, email and social media channels encouraging people to think about the comments they make at family get-togethers, particularly towards young people. 

The Embrace Hub’s new resource helps people navigate appearance-based comments.

While mainstream media and advertising have a significant impact on body image because of the messages they send about beauty ideals, these messages are also reinforced at a much more personal level in conversations between family, friends and colleagues. 

These appearance-based conversations take place every day, but are more common around times like Easter and Christmas when multiple generations get together who may not have seen each other for a while.

The best course of action is not to comment on appearance at all, but that habit can take a while to break. In the meantime, this resource helps people understand what NOT to say, and provides some more body-image-friendly alternatives so people can feel confident heading into their next family event.

Find more resources for young people and parents, teachers and coaches at The Embrace Hub.