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Lena Dunham says she prefers the term 'body tolerant' over 'body positivity'
Lena Dunham is no stranger to being outspoken about body image, and she is now setting the record straight about being labeled “body positive.”
On Wednesday, the Girls actress shared a mirror selfie to Instagram in which she’s wearing a black one-piece. In her caption to the photo, she talked about how the picture was not about pleasing other people, but about “the feeling of glee” that can be found by wearing flattering clothes. She also shared her thoughts on the phrase “body positive” and revealed that the term does not fit her.
“I’ve never called myself ‘body positive’ because my relationship with my curves and scars isn’t overtly political — it’s wildly personal,” Dunham wrote. “And it isn’t always positive. I take enormous comfort in the body positivity movement, but I think of myself as something more like ‘body tolerant.’”
With March being Endometriosis Awareness Month, the actress also took the opportunity to open up about living with the disease.
“With a chronic disease (or three), it’s impossible not to resent your body sometimes,” she continued. “But we are no longer in an on-and-off toxic romance. We are also not monogamous. I drift toward her and away from her, trying hard to remember that, no matter how I fight it, she is me. I am her. We only have each other, so we gotta stick together. And sometimes that means a little lace to remind her I care. To other people living with #endometriosis, I’ve learned more from you than I can even explain… #EndometriosisAwarenessMonth”
Fans showed their support of Dunham’s transparency.
“So many people need to hear this. Wish I could get my wife to feel how you do about body image and comfort in your own skin,” one wrote, with another chiming in with, “You are beautiful, inside and out.”
Another declared, “Absolutely love this! I have been hating on myself when I look in the mirror and need to stop,” and yet another: “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I too love, resent, and tolerate my corporeal form and our relationship is a work in progress but has all the makings of a groovy kind of love. Sending gratitude your way.”
This is hardly the first time Dunham has discussed her health on social media. In 2019, she had been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which is a connective-tissue disorder. Following her diagnosis, she posted a picture of herself to Instagram using a cane. In the caption she talked about not being afraid of paparazzi photos, as well as needing support from friends and family during flare-ups.
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
News anchor calls out body-shaming comments after being told she looks 'mighty big on TV'
Meghan Markle's friend Jessica Mulroney fires back at body shamers after posting swimsuit photo
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