UFV Body Positive focusing on a social media presence
UFV Body Positive is a new club that advocates for body positivity and self-confidence for everyone. The Cascade sat down with club president Sarbjot Nijjar and club treasurer Hanna Pahl to discuss the club and what body positivity means to them.
Nijjar started the club in August 2020 because she saw how people struggled with self-esteem, especially during the pandemic.
“The body positivity movement [believes] that everyone has a right to a positive self-image, no matter who they are,” Nijjar said. “If you see your body as something that’s helping you carry you forward, and you see it as something beautiful, then you can start to feel more open and less pressured or anxious to look a certain way.”
UFV Body Positive aims to boost body positivity on campus by facilitating workshops and promoting body positivity with posters around campus. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are currently focusing on opening up the conversation on social media, including body positivity for people of colour and non-binary individuals.
“I’m hoping to get the conversation going about including non-binary individuals, LGBTQ+ individuals, and disabled individuals,” Nijjar said.
The club has started a diversity series on social media to promote different experiences with body positivity, from male body positivity to disability representation. In the series, they share images and a short write-up about the topic, encouraging others to share their own experiences. They aim to create an accepting space for conversation and representation.
UFV Body Positive is planning to create a “Lookbook” series, starting in November, to showcase positive images of bodies. Students can send in a photo of themselves in a white T-shirt and black pants, accompanied by an “I Am” statement like “I am strong.” The purpose is to show that everyone is unique and beautiful.
“[Body positivity] is being allowed to feel positive about yourself, regardless of social media or other input,” Pahl said. “I have my own doubts about my appearance and my clothing, so it’s taken a long time to feel comfortable in my own skin and what my body can do, instead of what it can’t.”
When asked if they had anything else to say to readers of The Cascade, Nijjar said: “You are beautiful! That’s all. If you’re interested, don’t be afraid to send us a direct message. We’re really friendly people — we don’t bite.”
To learn more about UFV Body Positive, students can visit their Instagram and Facebook pages. Students interested in becoming members can message them on Instagram with their student email and student number.
UFV Body Positive Logo. (UFV Body Positive)
Danaye studies English and procrastination at UFV and is very passionate about the Oxford comma. She spends her days walking to campus from the free parking zones, writing novels she'll never finish, and pretending to know how to pronounce abominable. Once she graduates, she plans to adopt a cat.
