Body Positivity has come a long way. As a collective we’ve successfully banned the term “bikini body” from (most) magazines, and curvier models are starting to become part of the norm. But in some places, fat-phobia is still the name of the game, and Instagram is a major player.
For those of you who don’t know, Instagram has a set of community guidelines to keep the platform safe and free of graphic, hateful, or pornographic content. There’s a lot of language in the full set of guidelines, but the major point here is that IG states, “We don’t allow nudity on Instagram.” If you feel that the guidelines are being violated, you have the ability to report the photo.
On August 28th, Danielle of @chooselifewarrior posted this photo, along with a lengthy, passionate caption that reads:
“Women’s bodies can be naked for profit sure, naked for men’s eyes sure, naked & posted by themselves – DISGUSTING.
Sexualised by men sure, taunted by society fine, fallen in love with by the soul within – ABSURD.Women who understand my need to control my own sharing & promoting of body image get it.
They understand to create change we need to see diversity, diversity in bodies and people.
Nakedness is nothing to be ashamed of but we women are told automatically that is our goal in life.To turn men on
Even if we don’t mean it
Even if it is not sexual
Even if we did not consent
The simple act of empowering ourselves is twisted – because we are always to blame, men always are “just being boys”
And it was immediately pounced on and ripped apart by trolls who reported the photo and left hateful comments like:
And you’re probably thinking, ‘these users are violating term and condition #6 of instagram! Instagram should take action!’ And they did take action. Almost immediately, Instagram sent Danielle a notice citing a violation of their terms, and removed her photo – not just once, but each time she reposted it, a total of FOUR TIMES.
Instagram swears, according to its guidelines, that a real live human being reviews and determines the fate of every reported image and account, which means that a member (or multiple members) of the Instagram team looked at her post, read her heartfelt and empowering words, and deemed it inappropriate. It means they would rather bend to the will and the ‘comfort’ of fat-phobic, fat-shaming trolls than protect the rights of users trying to put some good out into the world.
This isn’t the first instance in which a plus-size woman has been censored on instagram. Back in May of 2016 Aarti Olivia Dubey of @curvesbecomeher, a fierce proponent of body positivity (and the first plus-size model featured in a Singaporian magazine, and all-around awesome human) posted an image of her and two other ladies in their swimsuits – and it was removed by instagram. She created such a sh*tstorm that the social media giant finally admitted that they were wrong (way to go, Aarti!).
Now. Some could argue that this instance is different – that Dani’s photo did violate one of the terms, banning partial nudity or sexually suggestive photos. But if that’s truly the reason why her post was taken down, then why are these images allowed?
If instagram is so concerned with keeping the platform “safe” and free of “nudity or partial nudity,” why do we still see images like these everywhere? Why are there photos of thin conventionally beautiful women in thong bikinis, or instagram models in sexually explicit poses, or barely covering their breasts? Why are there images of slit, bleeding wrists on self-harm accounts, or emaciated bodies on pro-ana accounts? Why is there porn on hashtags like #beautiful or #healthy? Where does Instagram draw the line between what is acceptable and unacceptable?
After the fourth time her post was removed, I decided to do an experiment. I posted a replica of her original photo, using the same caption (except for a few sentence structure and word changes). I received a total of ZERO negative comments. I was called beautiful and strong and an inspiration. My photo is still up, while all four of Dani’s have been removed.
Why the double standard? Why is my photo allowed, and hers isn’t? Why are celebrities allowed to post nearly naked, or actually naked but “covered” images, while people like Dani and Aarti are censored?
Because I’m thin, and they’re fat. My post has just the same amount of side-boob and bare back as hers, yet my body (and those other celebrities’ bodies) fit within the social norm. Sexualizing a body like mine isn’t considered a fetish – it’s commonplace. We’re used to seeing slender bodies sexualized and stripped to minimal clothing in the media. It’s how society sells just about everything. A body that doesn’t fit in with society’s beauty ideals is pushed aside – better left unseen.
Michelle of @mindsetforlifeltd, body confidence coach and creator of #scarrednotscared, is all too familiar with this mentality. She says,
“Whether it’s the media or social media, naked women are still being sexualised and because of the old adage “sex sells”, it means this kind of exposure is only considered acceptable if the body fits within the standard definitions of beauty. Dani is often the target of abuse for standing up against conventional beauty norms and yet nothing is done. Instagram should spend their time protecting people like her, not silencing her.”
And Megan of @bodyposipanda, a leader in the Body Positive movement, agrees, saying Instagram’s removal of Dani’s post sends a dangerous message:
“Taking down images of fat bodies while leaving images of thin bodies with the same degree of nudity sends the message that certain bodies aren’t worthy of being seen. It is not up to Instagram to decide who is worthy of being seen, we all are.”
Other BoPo activists have since been calling out Instagram for this blatant hypocrisy:
Currently, Dani now runs the risk of being deactivated by Instagram due to the number of “violations,” despite being an unwavering voice of positivity and reassurance and understanding for those in crisis with self-esteem, eating disorder recovery, and body image issues. Her stance on fighting fat-phobia and the stigma of mental illness is desperately needed in a community where thinspo and depression blogs are a click away.
I think I speak on behalf of all women whose bodies have been deemed “undesirable” when I say, “WHAT the hell, Instagram?!”