One of my favorite quotes of all time is this: "If tomorrow, women woke up and decided they really liked their bodies, just think how many industries would go out of business." These are the words of Dr. Gail Dines, and although in general I have not-a-small-amount of disagreement and quibbles with her work, I think she really knocks it out of the park with this particular thought. And we don't just have to apply this to women either; men and boys are not immune to poor body image and self-esteem issues, which are no doubt fueling the perpetual motion of many industries too.
When it comes to a child's self-esteem, it's usually not a single defining moment that ruins their confidence in one fell swoop. More often, it's death by a thousand cuts. As such, building a child up (and, in moments when they are faced with one really awful instance of adversity, building a child back up) is not a one-and-done, inspiring Friday Night Lights style speech. (I'd follow you into Hell, Coach Taylor. Into Hell.) Rather, feminist parents will have to be as incessant and, frankly, subliminal in promoting body love as the myriad industries that are built on a foundation of insecurity are in making us hate ourselves. But how, you ask. How?! Well, I'll tell you...