Stacey Solomon has been praised for showing off her ‘mum bod’ just two months after welcoming her fifth child. Sharing some sweet pictures on Instagram of her recent family holiday to Abu Dhabi, Stacey wrote ‘So grateful for these memories, so grateful for my family, and so grateful for my body that brought our family here.’
The pictures were quickly picked up by media outlets online, with one tabloid praising her for flaunting her ‘normal mum bod.’
Flocking to the comments, fans dubbed the TV star ‘brave’ and ‘refreshing,’ with one writing ‘She’s just like us normal mums, letting it all hang out on holiday!’ One fan shared, ‘To see your beautiful post-baby body in all its glory is such a lift,’ as another agreed ‘This is so refreshing to see a candid photo of you and your princess.’
Clearly, women were thrilled to see a body that looked like theirs on their screens. And of course, so are we! To see women embracing their bodies is always great - and thank God we see a more diverse range of bodies on our screens these days.
But behind the compliments and surprised headlines is an uncomfortable tone. Whilst clearly well intended, should it really be considered 'brave' just to sit on the beach and enjoy some family time in your bikini? The undertone is that - really - we'd expect her to be hiding away, because she only recently had a baby.
Bounce back culture...
By dubbing Stacey ‘brave,’ society turns her simply putting on a bikini into a big deal – insinuating mum bodies just aren’t desirable, and we wouldn't expect her to 'flaunt' herself so soon.
It's no secret that society relentlessly shames women for their bodies. Last year, a study found that social media portrays an unrealistic image of postpartum bodies – with features such as stretch marks, cellulite, and scars from caesarean sections only shown in 5% of pictures. Instead, new mums were portrayed in workout clothing, lingerie, or swimwear, showcasing how fast they ‘bounced back’ after birth.
The idea of ‘bounce back’ culture is entirely pinned on the idea of women snapping back to their pre-baby bodies (which, in many of the pictures we see on our social media feeds, are toned, tanned, and thin.)
In reality, this is unrealistic. Not only do women’s bodies have to adjust after growing and birthing a brand-new human into the world, but things like hormones and lack of sleep are thrown into an already overspilling basket of changes.
So we understand the celebratory tone around these pictures because they're certainly a refreshing change. But the fact they're noteworthy at all is the issue.
The 'Mum Bod'...
Defined by the sexy and ever-so-slightly paunchy physique of men like Chris Pratt and Leonardo DiCaprio(who, might we add, doesn’t have kids), the ‘dad bod’ was dubbed the ‘biggest turn on’ in recent years.
In comparison, the mum bod is rarely described as sexy. It's become code for images of the 'frumpy woman who has let herself go'. Why the double standards? Especially when women are the ones who actually do the hard work of carrying the child.
Stacey isn’t the first mum to hit headlines over her body. Back in 2018, Chrissy Teigan tweeted a photo with the caption ‘Mom bod alert!’ Months later, Khloe Kardashian was photographed frolicking on the beach four months after giving birth to her first daughter, True. Snapping up the pics, TMZ claimed the star was ‘embracing her revenge body philosophy’ by debuting her ‘hot mom bod.’
The conversation around 'mum bodies' is confusing at best. Postpartum bodies are either a source of pride, with women flaunting rolls and owning their stripes. Or, they become something that needs to be hidden under the layers of tent-like clothing. The current climate is a vast improvement from the days where women felt they couldn't reveal any skin unless they were a size 0. But the comments around Stacey's body show we're still far off accepting any shape or size as normal. It's stilll considered remarkable - and praiseworthy - to be seen out, wearing a bikini after having a baby.
Stacey Solomon is a woman with a body who, like millions, just so happens to be a mum. By drawing attention to her post-partum body she so ‘bravely’ debuted, it’s yet another attempt to shame women into hiding away. Of course she should be out on the beach, proud, relaxed and having fun. It's just a shame we all find it so surprising that's a shame.
Unrealistic beauty standards...
Having children isn’t a beauty contest – nor is existing as a woman day to day – and unsolicited comments on any body is a straightforward no. Let's stop poring over every detail of a woman's physique right now.
For Stacey, it’s no wonder she feels ‘grateful’ for her body. Having carried five kids, her body is what has given her her beautiful family. So let Stacey– and women around the world – simply enjoy being on the beach, with their kids, in a bikini. Frankly, it shouldn't be 'brave', it shouldn't be noteworthy, it should just be a normal part of life.