Spain Urges Women Not To Worry About Body Image On The Beach

The government’s Equality Ministry launched a summer campaign Thursday encouraging women to reject “stereotypes” and “aesthetical violence”

Spain’s government has a message for women who are insecure about their bodies when they wear bathing suits: Don’t be.

Spain’s equality ministry has recently launched a summer campaign to encourage women to be proud of their own bodies. A poster advertising the campaign features five diverse women of different shapes and sizes and the tagline reads, “Summer is ours too.”

Women’s Institute head Antonia Morillas said physical expectations affected not only women’s self-esteem but denied them their rights.

“All bodies are beach bodies,” said Social Services Minister Ione Belarra.

Women’s Institute head Antonia Morillas said physical expectations affected not only women’s self-esteem but denied them their rights. The institute behind the initiative said it was an attempt to show that all bodies had validity.

“Women should enjoy the summer, however, wherever and with whoever they wish,” said the ad: “Today we toast a summer for all, without stereotypes and aesthetic violence against our bodies.”

However, some were not impressed by the campaign. Some wondered if it should be widened to include men without so-called standard bodies, while left-wing leader Cayo Lara said, “the campaign was the height of absurdity, trying to create a problem where it doesn’t exist”.

Junior equality minister Ángela Rodríguez Pam posted a message on Twitter to men who believed women did not need the ministry’s permission to go to the beach: “Of course, we go, but we’re assuming we’ll attract hatred for showing a body that isn’t standard.”