Body Liberation

We define Body Liberation as freedom from social and political systems of oppression that designate certain bodies as more worthy, healthy, and desirable than others. This concept shifts the focus away from individual responsibility towards dismantling the systemic structures that perpetuate harm.

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Choosing a descriptive term for the relationship with our bodies was both a challenging and transformative task. As a collective, we aimed to go beyond a focus solely on weight, despite our origins in fatphobia activism. The term needed to speak to a wide range of people and acknowledge systemic oppression. Other terms, such as Body Positivity or Body Acceptance, felt inaccurate.

Self-love does not shield individuals from experiencing discrimination. In this sense, suggesting that self-love alone can solve struggles tied to systemic issues places the responsibility solely on individuals. Without the right tools, self-love on its own can be the wrong approach to deeper triggers and may even harm mental health and well-being.

Body Liberation deeply resonates with the whole concept we are seeking to communicate.

Target Groups

• People with visible disabilities: face compounded stigma related to their bodies.
• Postpartum mothers: Navigating societal expectations around “bouncing back” after pregnancy and too much pressure not gain too much wight during pregnancy.
• Queer and trans individuals: Facing judgement for gender expression or presentation.
• People far from the average: Individuals considered “too tall,” “too short,” “too thin,” or “too fat.”
• Youth not fitting beauty standards: Those perceived as too young, too childish, or not conforming to gendered expectations.