What does it mean to be body neutral?

While many celebrate the body positivity movement, it has its critics.

Some say it creates pressure to feel good about our bodies all the time.

We spoke to women, including a fat positivity creator, disability advocate, and Indigenous influencer, about how they practise body neutrality instead.

Thought of as a middle ground between loving and hating your body, it's acknowledging your body is simply a vessel for life.

It's thinking about our body less, and appreciating what it can do rather than how it looks.

'I don't have a full body'

Sara Shams, @nolegs_noworries on Instagram

Disability advocate, 34, Brisbane/Meanjin

In this day and age, especially with social media, there is that notion of toxic positivity; your body isn't perfect, but you have to love your flaws.

And for a person with a disability like myself (and I don't speak for everyone with a disability) it's just unrealistic to say.

I literally have no legs. I don't have a full body and I don't love it all the time.

Tibial hemimelia is a congenital anomaly caused by genetic mutation which means I was born without my tibias at birth.

I had my legs amputated at age six, and that's when I become a bilateral amputee.

My body fails me sometimes; I have sore legs, a sore back. But I can still be thankful for what it can do for me and my adaptive technology that helps me live my life to the fullest.

What has helped me is being around and seeing others like myself, thriving in life. It's challenged my inner critic and inner ableist attitudes.

Some days I put on an outfit and look in the mirror and see my legs and sockets sticking out looking a bit funny and I think, "No, I'm going to wear this skirt and proudly have my legs on display because this is who I am and I'm OK with that."

On the flip side, if one day I don't feel like wearing something because I'm not feeling that way, that's OK too.

'It's made my life more enjoyable'

Melanie Stalder, @rebelmell on Instagram

Dancer and skating enthusiast, 45, Brisbane

The term body neutrality allows me to put aside my body issues and do the things I care about without fear or judgement.

It's also created a bit of a framework for me in my own mind; I feel like it's made my life a lot more enjoyable and allowed me to do things that I love to do.

The roller-skating community is also very supportive and it's also very women- and queer-friendly as well.

It creates a space where everyone is welcome, and all abilities are welcome.

The burlesque community is a very rainbow community, very body accepting as well. As long as you're enthusiastic, you are welcomed with open arms.

Being body neutral is pushing aside all of that diet culture messaging that we've all grown up with, and doing whatever you want to anyway, without worrying about what other people will think of you, or your body, or fitness levels.

I'm happy if I can inspire one person to see me do something silly and then give it a go themselves, then I am just so rapt that someone else has given it go.

'Having a child changed my attitude'

April Helene-Horton, @thebodzilla on Instagram

Body acceptance and fat positivity creator, 38, Canberra

Body neutrality feels like a way for people to engage with the idea of being accepting and loving to their bodies.

Body positivity isn't actually about being positive in the way most people think — that's one of the misconceptions that's been brought about by the movement being co-opted by people with body privilege.

Having a child was what changed my attitude about being negative towards my body and the bodies of others.

I saw how much he copied from me, and the profound responsibility of having to teach him to be a good person reminded me how much I'd been taught by society wasn't something I wanted him to learn or carry with him like I did.

'Accepting that your appearance will change'

Fallon Gregory, @fallon.gregory on Instagram

Indigenous influencer and model, 31, Boorloo/Perth

Being body neutral means being open to accepting and understanding change regarding your appearance.

Understanding that your body deserves love and not punishment when it doesn't look a certain way.

Allowing my body to be its true present and natural self, without harsh self-criticism.

I definitely carry some recognition of self-taught body neutrality, especially after having two children.

Expecting your body to maintain the same shape, tone and functionality after children isn't a realistic goal.

Having to teach myself self-love and body acceptance through a different lens has been an isolating, but rewarding journey.

It felt isolating but in reality I'm sure many people, especially mothers, have been unhappy with their appearance and had a journey with reaching body neutrality, and the freeing comfort that comes with it.

I find a big help is truly listening to your body and becoming more in tune to its needs, and accommodating those needs as best you can.