he way we feel about our bodies is ever-changing. It bends with the ups and downs of life, and fluctuates just as much as our bodies themselves do. Sometimes, we'll look in the mirror and feel pleased with what we see, while other times, not as much. This is a fairly common phenomenon called body dissatisfaction, which anyone can experience, though it particularly affects about 46 percent of U.S. adolescents through to adulthood, per July 2019 research in.
There are a number of complex factors that contribute to body image issues. Some factors are internal , while other factors are external . There are also some identity-specific factors that can affect the unique ways queer and trans people relate to their bodies, genders, and sexualities. “This can include desires to make one’s body align more accurately with internal sense of gender as well as with cultural appearance expectations,” says Rosenkrantz. For example, a trans woman may feel pressure to dress hyper-feminine in order to fit in with society's expectations of femininity.
Likewise, in order to truly correct body image wounds, we must acknowledge what hurt LGBTQ+ people in the first place—oppression and discrimination. “ validation for the ways body image relates to feeling powerless, rejected, and"not enough" as we are,” says Rosenkrantz. As a first step, start educating yourself on LGBTQ+ mental health and health-care disparities. It may be tempting to encourage your loved one to go to the first doctor you can find, but getting help isn’t as simple as booking a doctor’s appointment. Many providers aren’t equipped to handle the needs of LGBTQ+ patients. Instead, consider preparing a list of resources to connect your loved one with affirming care—both locally and online.
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