Positive Body Image Facebook Pages You Should Follow

on April 9, 2014
in All Posts

I’m off and away for another Operation Beautiful event!  To celebrate, I thought it’d be fun to list some of my favorite positive body image resources on Facebook.   My feed is FILLED with kind phrases and photos from these amazing organizations.  It makes me a happier, more accepting person, of both myself and others every single day.

 

Fourth Trimester Bodies:  Celebrating what mothers look like in real life.  Awesome for all women (and men), regardless of whether or not you’re a parent.

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Adios, Barbie:  “Adios Barbie is the body image site for every body, promoting healthy body image and identity for people of all sizes, races, ages, sexual orientations and abilities.”

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The Body is Not an Apology:  “The Body Is Not An Apology was created to remind us that we do not need to wait to feel beautiful tomorrow. We can choose to act in honor of our bodies today, no matter the form they currently take. All lasting, healthy growth is born of love.”  I love how they encourage followers to post “bad” photos of themselves on Mondays – this is actually how the movement was created, which you can read more about in their Biography section page.

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My Body Gallery:  This is the Facebook page for an amazing site that lets you look at other women’s bodies by size, age, and height.  The goal of the site is to help women “see themselves more clearly” and encourage compassion towards others.  My body is in the gallery!  You should upload yours, too.  🙂

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I Am That Girl:  While not specifically positive body image focused, I Am That Girl is all about inspiring girls and women to do great things, which I love.

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Shape of a Mother:  The Facebook page for the popular website that chronciles more “real” bodies of moms.  Love it.

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And last, but certainly not least…

 

My very own Operation Beautiful Facebook page!  Our  mission, of course, is to encourage others to write kind messages on Post-It notes and to leave them in public places for strangers to find. I post great Operation Beautiful notes, stories from participants, and thoughtful quotes.  We’re SO close to hitting 20,000 Facebook fans – I can’t believe it!

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What feminist, positive thinking, or self-esteem groups do you love to follow on Facebook?

{ 24 comments }

 

  • Maryea {happy healthy mama} April 9, 2014, 6:48 am

    I don’t follow any groups like this, but thanks for the recommendations. I will definitely check them out.

  • Julia April 9, 2014, 7:30 am

    One page to follow not only on Facebook, but also on Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus, Pinterest and YouTube is ProjectHEAL, which stands for “Help to Eat, Accept and Live.”
    It is a non-for-profit organization founded in 2008 by two girls who met several years ago while undergoing treatment for eating disorders.
    Not only does this organization promote positive and healthy body image and self-esteem, their main goal is to provide scholarship funding for people with eating disorders who cannot afford treatment themselves. The organization stands as a testament that full recovery from an eating disorder is possible, and that everyone is “Imperfectly Perfect” and should love and respect themselves for who they are.
    ProjectHEAL also takes part in NEDA week, and actually took part in the Operation Beautiful event of posting notes on mirrors to promote positive body image and self esteem!

    Thank you for allowing us to share on your blog, Caitlin.

    -Julia
    http://www.theprojectheal.org/

  • Cristina- The Batchmaker April 9, 2014, 8:19 am

    Love this post! I just liked several of these pages so I can have positive things when I open my facebook. Are you speaking in Charlotte anytime soon? I would love to hear you speak for Operation Beautiful. I hold all of these topics near and dear to my heart. Having been down the road of eating disorders, self hate, not feeling pretty enough, conforming to social norms… I am worried about raising a daughter in the pressures the world throws at us. Lucky to have books like yours and other people who stand up for real beauty. Have a great day! 🙂 ps- Ive completed my marathon two weeks ago and Ive told you in other comments before, YOU motivated me through your running posts and race recaps, all your advice on those posts was so helpful. I might do thunder road in november.

  • Grace April 9, 2014, 8:41 am

    Two great and informative groups that I follow on Facebook are Feministing: https://www.facebook.com/feministing and Sociological Images: https://www.facebook.com/socimages

    I’m surprised you didn’t mention that yesterday was Equal Pay Day! Fighting for things like equal pay (it’s horrifying to think that women are still only paid 77 cents to the dollar that men are paid for the same jobs), health care rights and education are what will make real change and equality happen. I watched Obama give his speech yesterday before he signed his equal pay executive order while I was at the gym, and it brought tears to my eyes as he talked about the challenges his mother and grandmother faced, and his worries about his daughter’s futures. This is what we should be fighting for and it’s worth spending our time, money and energy on!

    • Caitlin April 9, 2014, 9:08 am

      Yay! I know. So happy about this move by Obama. I wish it extended past federal contract employees but one step at a time. To be honest, I haven’t said much about it because I haven’t had a chance to really read up on what was happening. We’ve been up to our eyeballs with work and I’ve had zero relax time. But now that I’m traveling I hope to squeeze in some NPR listening 🙂 a happy day for all people committed to equality for sure.

  • Ali April 9, 2014, 9:41 am

    I love the 4th trimester body project. It’s always so inspiring to see lots of different moms and how different our bodies are, yet all were able to grow a human inside of them!

  • Sara @ LovingOnTheRun April 9, 2014, 9:43 am

    Love this post and the positive image it gives to women everywhere about their bodies! We should all remember this. Thank you for all these recommendations!

  • Jana @ Bananas for Balance April 9, 2014, 9:55 am

    Thanks for sharing these! I’ve never thought to follow organizations like those on Facebook but I can see how seeing inspirational images pop up on my feed every day would be wonderful. One page that comes to mind is More to Love, an online community that encourages women to love their body at any size. I heard the founder speak at a panel recently and she was amazing!

  • Amanda April 9, 2014, 9:57 am

    Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Poehlers-Smart-Girls/37203609337

    Also, I wish Ban Bossy movement had its own FB, but have to follow Lean In or Girl Scouts on FB for it. It’s worthy of its own page. http://banbossy.com/

  • Kathleen Ojo @ My Ojos April 9, 2014, 10:04 am

    I absolutely love the 4th Trimester Bodies Project – you can follow them on Instagram as well! They always post the mom’s story too, which is my favorite part. The focus isn’t just on accepting your 4th trimester body, but also accepting how your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period unfolded as well. It’s my daily dose of positivity, and reminds me to always be compassionate and never judge. Everyone has a story.

  • Skipper April 9, 2014, 10:57 am

    I have to say that websites like The Body Project have a pretty negative effect on me. I’d have a hard time believing that others didn’t feel similar. I find myself putting in my height and weight and then comparing myself. Then, putting in a lower weight to see what I might look like at that weight. It’s just another means of comparing myself to others and wondering if I look better or worse.

    As far as the other websites, like the fourth trimester, I don’t see what’s empowering about putting up pictures of ourselves looking like crap and then viewing other women who look like crap. Especially when everyone generally poses with their hands on their hips, turned to the side, trying to look skinny. Anything that keeps focus on body and beauty and looks is just perpetuating the issues that a woman’s value is based on her appearance.

    I haven’t clicked the link yet, but your description of “I am that girl” seems to be more empowering since it has to do with actions rather than looks.

    • Skipper April 9, 2014, 12:22 pm

      Before anyone responds to my “look like crap” comment, I guess I mean, looking our least out of shape, most tired, least put together. I know that after I had my sons, I was bloated, exhuasted, and generally had very little time for my appearance. That’s fine since obviously appearance isn’t the focus after giving birth, but those certainly aren’t the pictures I use for my Facebook profile.

    • Amanda April 9, 2014, 2:57 pm

      I get what you mean, though not eloquently said. I read something a while back that if you want to teach your children a positive self-body image, well, the best thing to do is NOT talk about the way your body looks at all. Makes sense to me.

      • Caitlin April 9, 2014, 5:54 pm

        I guess I can see the point of this argument BUT I wonder what happens to little girls who hear lots of negative messages from outside sources and NOTHING from their moms? Yes, focusing too much on positive body image could backfire with a teen (the Macbeth quote “she doth protest too much!” Comes to mind haha) but I wonder what is the result of a silent mother. For me, I want to teach Henry to fight society norms that are not right, so I need to actively state my opposing opinion. I would think this varies a lot from kid to kid and person to person (as all things do).

    • Ali April 9, 2014, 8:58 pm

      YES. I absolutely know what you mean. My Body Gallery was a big thing for me when I was deep in the middle of my eating disorder. What can I look like if I just lose a few more pounds? I had that (obviously wrong) answer at the tip of my fingers. It’s extremely important to note trigger warnings with these types of things. It was the very first thing I thought of when I saw this post. I can’t say that I didn’t feel a little twinge to go look at these types of sites again and I’m “recovered”.

      As for the comment on hearing your mom discuss their body – I love my mom so much, but I grew up hearing her talk about how “fat” she was constantly. Unfortunately, I do think this contributed to other problems. I don’t even know if it’s possible to never speak about your exterior around your child, however, a focus on health instead of size or look is much more positive than – LOOK at what other people look like.

      • Caitlin April 10, 2014, 7:52 am

        I love this discussion, pals! Thank you all for sharing your experiences. <3

  • Stephanie @ Whole Health Dork April 9, 2014, 2:31 pm

    I came across the fourth trimester one awhile ago and really enjoy it. The My Body Gallery one is fascinating! Thanks for sharing these!

  • Amanda Edwards April 10, 2014, 8:26 am

    Sonya (Body is not an Apology) was part of the Body Love Conference on Saturday! I can’t believe you didn’t mention the conference!!

    • Caitlin April 10, 2014, 8:30 am

      I didnt know about it! Off to go research 🙂 thanks for letting me know!

  • Jen in SC April 11, 2014, 8:27 pm

    I LOVE Erin Brown’s FB posts. LOVE. She’s amazing and inspiring and so, so real. She used to post as “Fit Mama Training” but dropped back to simply her first and last name awhile back. Highly recommended!!!!!

  • Seireness April 12, 2014, 8:38 am

    Thanks for the list. The others that I follow are

    Upworthy
    https://www.facebook.com/Upworthy

    Fat Girl Rehab
    https://www.facebook.com/FatGirlRehab

    and

    She’s All Phat
    http://www.facebook.com/shesallphat

  • Heather April 14, 2014, 10:47 am

    Thanks for this roundup! I liked a few of these on facebook and now my feed is full of good news!

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