Images of the “Real Mum” Body Type and Body Shaming. Enough is Enough!
Body shaming is a big buzz word we see trending more and more through our social media feeds, but has our ambition to label and classify the average motherly shape actually created two extreme divisions where, without deliberate intent, we are actually passively shaming the body type that does not fit the image we’ve identified with?
On one end of the spectrum we have champions for women, mothers and queens alike with magnificent bloggers like Constance Hall who share and show the wonderful wiggles and wobbles of the womanly figure post babies, wearing their bodies like a badge of honour. Rocketing to the other side are our glamazon mummy’s like the incredible Rebecca Judd who can make wearing track suits look breathtakingly sexy! Both women, equally defining the image for motherhood. Brilliant!
The conflict and in many ways the contradiction, however, lay’s with the terms, the labels and the imagery of what a “real mum’s” body is meant to look like? When we identify with one type or another we then find ourselves encountering judgements, criticisms and sometimes backlash for fitting in to a particular mold.
We are quick to judge whether with malice or without even knowing, coming from a genuine and concerned place, we comment, “they’re too skinny”, “they’re too lazy”, “they’re unhealthy”, “they’re unrealistic”, “no mother looks like that”! But why? Why can’t a mum’s baby body bounce back? Why can’t a mum just be happy with the lumpy bumpy bits? Why must we fit into an image, a shape or a category? Why must we have an image for what a “real mum” is? Why cant we just be mum?
There is no norm, there is no standard, there is no average and there is no one particular way a woman should look after carrying a child. There should not be a single expectation! Your body is your own and it is beautiful. We are mothers and we are women, motherhood, sisterhood, womenhood, we are in this journey together! Embrace the differences, embrace our uniqueness, embrace our intensely dazzling individuality, we are our biggest cheer squad, together and supported! We are mothers and we are amazing, no matter the shape or size, we are all what a “real mum” should be as there no norm for a real mum image. Loving each other and loving ourselves, thats our truth and thats what’s make mothers in their own beautifully magnificent way, REAL!
