Body positivity has changed the way I perceive not only the people around me, but also myself – it is no longer about physical appearance, but rather the appreciation I have for what my body can achieve. It is a social movement that has inspired and empowered women with all types of bodies to recognize their potential and be advocates of acceptance, regardless of their size, race, or appearance. Approximately 91% of women in the U.S. are dissatisfied with their body’s physical appearance, while only 5% of women possess the natural body type often portrayed in mainstream media. This stark contrast speaks volumes about expectations the American media places on women in the U.S., no doubt influenced by the fashion industry’s unrealistic body standards set for runway models.
The gaze on body confidence, however, is beginning to shift to one of acceptance and positivity – the latest social movement of interest being The BodCon. To learn more about The BodCon and the body positive moment, we spoke with amputee and advocate, Allison E. Lang. She is passionate about changing the narrative surrounding amputees and their capabilities, and supports Bod Con’s message on body positivity.
Our bodies should be celebrated. They’re the only thing that we have with us our whole lives.
The Journey Of Self-Love
Our experiences as children play a big role in how we perceive our bodies as adults. As a child born without a leg, Allison experienced the taunts from other children. This coupled with the media’s representation (or lack) of disabled bodies shattered her self-esteem and she carried a feeling of shame into her early 20s. “Looking back, there was no one like me in the media. If they were on TV, their disabilities were the sole plot of that segment,” she says. “Why can’t I just be an amputee and not have it as the defining factor? It’s just a part of me.”
The journey of body positivity and self acceptance wasn’t an overnight magical thing for Allison. She relied on the routine of daily affirmations. “That was so important for me. I had a mirror and every day I wrote down something that I love about myself,” Allison explains. ‘I am smart. I have friends and family that love me. My leg makes me unique.’ “Waking up and seeing these daily affirmations is a way of tricking your mind to believe that these things are true. It takes practice and repetition in order to learn new habits.”
There are a lot of life skills around self love. We should be learning from them and sharing our stories.
Showing Up As Ourselves
“I never fit the definition of being feminine. I always looked edgy,” Allison says. So, when she hopped onto Instagram, her leg was carefully hidden from images. But it wasn’t until she became transparent and vulnerable about showing her leg that she began to have deeper conversations with women. Heartfelt messages poured in from mothers confiding in her their fears for their children’s futures as amputees. In her words she “woke up” when she showed up as herself. A lot of women resonated with her vulnerability. “We try to hide things that make us different. But our bodies should be celebrated.” It didn’t take long for Allison to decide to continue being vulnerable and not hide her prosthetic.
Because of the media’s lack of representation, Allison limits her interaction with TV and social feeds. It became increasingly difficult not to constantly compare herself to unrealistic expectations. “Celebrities can afford nutritionists and trainers – so why would I compare my body to someone who has the funds to create something that I don’t?” She advises others to limit their social media bubble to follow only those that lift you up – for Allison, that meant the shift from celebrities to inspiring, body positive influencers.
I’m glad that there’s this huge movement and shift to highlight women of all different races and genders. This is what social media should be about.
The Body Positivity Movement
This year, Allison strives to emphasize her work in inclusivity and diversity. She stays true to that goal by serving as a panelist at this year’s Bod Con conference – a social movement that resonates deeply with her underlying mission. Bod Con advocates for acceptance of all bodies, emphasizing that one’s value is not attached to their shape and size. “The best way to be the advocate that I want to be is to share with others.”
This past November, Allison signed on to model for Ardene’s activewear campaign – “Agencies like this want to represent disabled bodies.” She never thought it was possible for someone like herself to represent clothing on a billboard and is passionate about working directly with brands that are inclusive to different types of bodies. With Allison’s growing platform, she’s been approached by a number of younger amputees that look up to her. But, Allison is just as impressed by them. “They inspire me with their ability to overcome conflict and be the best version of themselves…I want them to love their bodies for how they are. And, I want to celebrate them.”
We don’t want to be treated any differently. We’re human just like you.
More times than not, when people hear the word ‘amputee’ they associate it with one type of person or idea in their head. There hasn’t been enough representation in the media for us to view someone with an amputation as more than just that. “We’re trying to take back that word and share a positive light on it. And, it’s about opening up the conversation.”