Body Positivity in Music by Dr. Sarah M. Coyne

Can listening to a single song help you feel better about your body?

This post was co-authored by Julie Haupt, a professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University.

Source: Muhammed Hassan/Pixabay

Body Positivity in Music by Dr. Sarah M. Coyne

As a researcher interested in media and body image, I was driving to work one day when the words to Colbie Callait’s song, Try, came on the radio, including these lyrics:

You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to, give it all away
You just have to get up, get up,

This body positivity message is part of a movement that appears to be growing in strength and is a direct response to the stereotypical ways that media represents women. Messages in popular music and videos, for example, often focus on the importance of appearance and present a very specific unobtainable view of beauty. Not surprisingly, research has demonstrated a direct link between the way that media objectifies and sexualizes women’s bodies and the development of poor body image in women. In light of those discouraging findings, this song felt like a breath of fresh air.

Source: Chakkree Chantakad/Pixabay

Fortunately, body positivity is becoming more common on social media (with the hashtag #bopo) and women tend to feel better about their bodies after viewing positive posts regarding healthy body image.

Dr. Sarah M. Coyne