Is Oregon the Most Body-Positive State in America?
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It's no secret that Portland is a fabulously body-positive city. We're lucky enough to have access to explicitly body-positive gyms, personal trainers, and even waxing salons. But how do our levels of self-acceptance and confidence stack up to folks across the nation?
As it turns out, we Oregonians celebrate our bodies, "flaws" and all, more than the citizens of any other state—at least when it comes to Instagram. Recent analysis from the eating disorder recovery website Bulimia.com shows that Instagram users from Oregon use body-positive hashtags nearly twice as often as the second-highest-ranking state (Utah), and more than 100 times more often than the lowest-ranking state (North Dakota).
What exactly are body positive hashtags? The most popular choice across America, according to the Bulimia.com report, is #EffYourBeautyStandards, created by plus-size model and activist Tess Holliday and used in nearly one-third of the analyzed Instagram posts. Other inspiring favorites include the following:
- #BodyPositive
- #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies
- #BodyAcceptance
- #RebelliousSelfLove
- #DareToWear
- #AndIGetDressed
- #FatGirlsCan
- #CelebrateMySize
- #PlusIsEqual
- #AlternativeCurves
Loving your body isn't always easy, especially in a culture that bombards us with beauty ideals that are both unrealistic and unhealthy. But surrounding yourself with media that celebrates all bodies can be a big step in cultivating radical self love—or at least self-acceptance—and embracing health at every size. Oregon is already leading the charge, but until every state and every person in the country is promoting body positivity, let's keep spreading the good word, shall we? We look forward to seeing your selfies!
