How Kate Winslet is breaking the cycle of negative body image

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Thinking back, Kate Winslet can't recall hearing the women in her life say anything positive about their own bodies.

The actress, who is mom to three, got into the subject of body image while on Monday night's episode of Running Wild With Bear Grylls.

"When I grew up, I never heard positive reinforcement about body image from any female in my life," the woman who disapproves of the post-baby body obsession shared. "I only heard negatives. That's very damaging, because then you're programmed as a young woman to immediately scrutinise yourself and how you look."

Kate Winslet is making a conscious effort to do things differently with her kids, starting with watching how she talks about herself in front of 14-year-old daughter Mia.

The star explained, "I stand in front of the mirror and say to Mia, 'We are so lucky we have a shape. We're so lucky we're curvy. We're so lucky we've got good bums.' And she'll say, 'Mummy, I know, thank God.'"

Although I'm confident my mother had the best of intentions, my memories of hearing comments as a kid fall in line with Kate's experience. Specifically, there was one infamous instance in which my mom said something about how she was fat and I, truly believing I was being helpful, assured her, "But you're skinny from the knees down!"

My bad.

People don't talk as often about boys and body image, but it's on my mind as the mother of two young guys. I do make an effort to choose my words carefully, but err on the side of not talking about weight at all. I'll say something about how strong my arms or legs feel after a workout, but (especially since I am overweight) I tend not to comment positive or negative about the parts of me I'd like to change.

Here's hoping that's at least a little better than being negative.

What kinds of comments did the women in your life make about their bodies when you were young? Are you making an effort to do things differently as a parent? Share with us in a comment below!

Photo: PR Photos

 

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