Body images: About body shaming and body positivity

In his welcoming address, Dr. Joachim Kreische, Head of the University Library, expressed his delight that the "Both as well as" series of events continues to bring new, stimulating and socially relevant topics to the university. He praised the concept of the series, which makes it possible to invite unconventional guests who expand the academic framework and reveal new perspectives. Central Equal Opportunities Officer Martina Stackelbeck was also delighted that it had once again been possible to attract such interesting women for the "Lunch Lecture".

Prof. Grimminger-Seidensticker on "perceived obesity" and the opportunities and risks of sport

In her lecture, Prof. Dr. Elke Grimminger-Seidensticker, University Professor of Sports Science with a focus on sports didactics at TU Dortmund University, dealt with the question of how relevant exercise and sport are for the development of body (dis)satisfaction in children and young people. To introduce the topic, the scientist showed an excerpt from a BBC documentary about children's physical self-perception: Boys and girls of primary school age are presented with a chart showing different body silhouettes and are asked to indicate both their own body shape and the body they would like to have. While all the girls want very thin bodies, the boys opt for a broad body shape. The results of this experiment make it clear that a large number of the girls surveyed feel too fat despite having a normal weight. In her explanation, Professor Grimminger-Seidensticker referred to this phenomenon as "perceived overweight". The scientist explained that boys, on the other hand, were more likely to have a "muscle-related dissatisfaction". The findings from the documentary coincide with the results of a study that Professor Grimminger-Seidensticker and her team conducted with German primary school pupils.

The speaker went on to make it clear that body disorders are associated with a high psycho-social developmental risk for boys and girls. Clinical and subclinical eating disorders, depression and suicidal thoughts or the use of muscle-building substances can result. Studies show that "normal-weight" children with a negative body image generally suffer considerably more than obese children who have a positive body image.

In her input, Prof. Elke Grimminger-Seidensticker also addressed the question of how a person's body image develops in the first place. She cited various influencing factors such as the parental home, the peer group and the media. The extent to which advertising also shapes the perception of bodies was illustrated by the professor using an advertisement from a fashion company. First, Prof. Grimminger-Seidensticker showed the audience a photo of a "normal-weight" woman and asked: "What do you think this woman is advertising?" The speaker then explained that it was advertising for "big sizes". The advertising campaign had rightly triggered protests, as such catalog photos further reinforce the distorted image of beauty in society.

Finally, Professor Grimminger-Seidensticker emphasized that doing sport can have both a positive and negative influence on a person's body satisfaction. Exercise can help people to feel fitter and more comfortable in their own skin. However, particularly aesthetic and compositional sports such as rhythmic gymnastics, ski jumping or ballet can promote various eating disorders, as a certain ideal is strived for and a low body weight is perceived as advantageous.

For Sandra Wurster, life is too short to keep your belly in

Author and activist Sandra Wurster met the audience at TU Dortmund University with a lot of energy and joie de vivre. In her lecture, she outlined her development from a young woman with self-doubt to one of the leading activists of the body positivity movement in Germany. Wurster made it clear that it is often the beliefs from one's own childhood that manifest themselves in a negative body image. Referring to her own experiences, she said: "As a child, I was too thin and received compliments on my food. My weight gain as a teenager was then commented on negatively." Sandra Wurster gave a vivid and humorous account of various vacations in which she completely forgot to enjoy the beautiful moments because of all the destructive thoughts about her supposedly too fat thighs. Through her passion for dancing and her training as a dance teacher, the author finally managed to develop a more loving view of her own body. "I realized that I didn't need to work on my dress size, but on my self-esteem," says Wurster.

To spread her message of self-love and individual beauty, Sandra Wurster took part in the TV show Shopping Queen as a candidate in 2015. Even though she came last, the positive feedback from presenter and designer Guido Maria Kretschmer encouraged her to make more of her life motto "Life is too short to pull in your stomach". Sandra Wurster developed "Love-Your-Belly" workshops and founded the fashion and lifestyle label Bauchfrauen in 2017. In her lecture at TU Dortmund University, Wurster reported on how the Bauchfrauen launched their first collection of statement T-shirts on the market with little money but a lot of drive. The empowering messages such as "You are beautiful!" or "Life's too short to be the same" were very well received and the first shirts were sold out within a very short time. "We quickly realized that we had struck a nerve," said Sandra Wurster. The belly women now have over 29,000 followers on Instagram alone and tour all over Germany with their workshops. Through her work, Sandra Wurster wants to empower women and girls in particular to accept their bodies, feel valuable and celebrate their diversity. Addressing the audience, the activist said: "The biggest problem area is our thoughts. What could we achieve if we finally stopped pulling in our stomachs all the time?"

Lively discussion with the audience

The exciting keynote speeches were followed by a lively discussion with the audience. The speakers agreed that family members and teachers can do a lot to help children develop a positive body image. Professor Grimminger-Seidensticker explained that, as a teacher, she attaches particular importance to raising awareness among her student teachers in order to break down prejudices and counteract body shaming: "Students come to university with their own norms and beliefs and we have to uncover these first. This is different from math, for example," explained the scientist. For example, people often associate being fat with poor performance, unhealthy eating habits or negative social behavior. Prof. Dr. Grimminger-Seidensticker sees this as a product of misguided health education, which for a long time only propagated slim bodies as fit and healthy. If future PE teachers do not reflect on such beliefs during their studies and take them with them into the profession, this can have a negative impact on pupils' body images and also their enjoyment of PE (lessons).

The guests at the event were particularly interested in finding out how they can encourage children to accept their own bodies and develop self-confidence in their own day-to-day work as teachers, educators or course leaders. Sandra Wurster drew on her many years of experience as a dance teacher and gave numerous practical tips. She emphasized how important it is to give children and young people the opportunity to experience body diversity. Professor Grimminger-Seidensticker referred to helpful literature such as the children's book Das kleine Ich-bin-I by author Mira Lobe. Activist Wurster explained that her "Love-your-Belly" workshops are attended by many young women together with their mothers. Mothers and daughters use the offer as an opportunity to talk to each other and reflect on any inherited beliefs about their weight. Prof. Elke Grimminger-Seidensticker confirmed the positive effect of parent training to work with children on a more mindful attitude towards their own bodies.

When asked about the importance of the internet and social media in particular, Sandra Wurster said: "It's like a knife: you can use it to put butter on your bread or to kill someone." Professor Grimminger-Seidensticker supported this statement. In her eyes, social media also offers the opportunity to network, but the beauty ideals on display also increase the pressure on viewers. Sandra Wurster advised the audience to take a very critical look at which accounts they follow on Instagram, for example: "If I don't use Instagram professionally, I have the power to decide for myself who I follow. I don't have to follow accounts that make me feel bad about myself."

At the end of the discussion, both speakers emphasized that a lot still needs to change in our society and our structures so that the prevailing, toxic ideals of beauty lose their impact and body diversity is given more recognition. Sandra Wurster with her belly women and Prof. Grimminger-Seidensticker with her research and teaching are continuing to work towards making a difference here.

"Sowohl als Auch" aims to focus attention on women's and gender studies at TU Dortmund University on the one hand and, on the other, to take up current discourses within the non-institutionalized feminist and gender equality movements.