I had been led to believe that Joe Wicks could do no wrong, so was shocked to read (via thejuggleuk) that “Joe Wicks is under fire for a ‘gross’ post about his wife’s post-partum body”.
Hmmm I’m not 100% in agreement here. I think he’s actually overdue a tone deaf post like this as he’s been teetering on the edge of it for a while. The issue for me is that he is touting constantly that moving your body is good for your mental health and mood. That’s great but then he chucks a before and after of someone’s stomach and the weight they’ve lost. This is merely feeding the diet culture/thin ideals that are already out there and actively damaging mental health in a major way.
This post then cross sections with the ridiculous ideals that are put on new mums who are suffering some of the following societal expectations: breastfeeding on demand, loving every minute with their baby, being loving/sexual partners and ‘snapping back’ to their former bodies. Whilst also going through PND, a loss of identity, not working, post birth complications and trauma, not recognising anything about their new body and lack of sleep. Oh and none of your clothes fit! That’s a lot of mental sh*t to handle and so Joe Wicks then wading in with some ridiculously amazing photos of his wife’s abs and the tone being ‘if she can do it so can you’ is putting a lot of pressure on an already struggling new mum who may want to prioritise something else for themselves with their precious ‘me time.’
I think some alternative messages which would get the point across that you Sophie have made would be: ‘here’s how you partners can better support new mums to get time to themselves to exercise or sleep or do whatever they need’ or let his wife write the post where she talks about why she has chosen to try to exercise more for her mental health post partum or even just include the tips you have in your newsletter whilst acknowledging that everyone has different obstacles like shift working partners or no partners or financial struggles or returning to work or access to gym equipment/post natal safe work outs.
The reason it seemed to tap on an already frayed nerve is that it is. For centuries women have been expected to get back into shape for the sakes of their husbands. I personally was asked by two doctors about getting back to my pre pregnancy weight within three months of birth with no mention of how I might be coping mentally. It felt terrible.
So I agree that mums need more support to get time for themselves/prioritise themselves but I disagree that this is what Joe’s post achieved. Instead I fear it added yet another unrealistic thing to do on a new/tired mum’s already long list.
Interesting! I don’t actually follow him so don’t see most of his content... and agree it would be really, REALLY helpful if he could spread the message about how dads could help out more to allow mothers time to look after themselves. Xx
Cheers to that! Oh and can we as a society ditch ‘Dad bods’ as a term and start talking about how appealing the ‘Mum bod’ is instead? Let’s glamourise saggy breasts, pouch like stomachs (some with scars) and verrry hairy legs and pits! GORGEOUS
Hmmm I’m not 100% in agreement here. I think he’s actually overdue a tone deaf post like this as he’s been teetering on the edge of it for a while. The issue for me is that he is touting constantly that moving your body is good for your mental health and mood. That’s great but then he chucks a before and after of someone’s stomach and the weight they’ve lost. This is merely feeding the diet culture/thin ideals that are already out there and actively damaging mental health in a major way.
This post then cross sections with the ridiculous ideals that are put on new mums who are suffering some of the following societal expectations: breastfeeding on demand, loving every minute with their baby, being loving/sexual partners and ‘snapping back’ to their former bodies. Whilst also going through PND, a loss of identity, not working, post birth complications and trauma, not recognising anything about their new body and lack of sleep. Oh and none of your clothes fit! That’s a lot of mental sh*t to handle and so Joe Wicks then wading in with some ridiculously amazing photos of his wife’s abs and the tone being ‘if she can do it so can you’ is putting a lot of pressure on an already struggling new mum who may want to prioritise something else for themselves with their precious ‘me time.’
I think some alternative messages which would get the point across that you Sophie have made would be: ‘here’s how you partners can better support new mums to get time to themselves to exercise or sleep or do whatever they need’ or let his wife write the post where she talks about why she has chosen to try to exercise more for her mental health post partum or even just include the tips you have in your newsletter whilst acknowledging that everyone has different obstacles like shift working partners or no partners or financial struggles or returning to work or access to gym equipment/post natal safe work outs.
The reason it seemed to tap on an already frayed nerve is that it is. For centuries women have been expected to get back into shape for the sakes of their husbands. I personally was asked by two doctors about getting back to my pre pregnancy weight within three months of birth with no mention of how I might be coping mentally. It felt terrible.
So I agree that mums need more support to get time for themselves/prioritise themselves but I disagree that this is what Joe’s post achieved. Instead I fear it added yet another unrealistic thing to do on a new/tired mum’s already long list.
Interesting! I don’t actually follow him so don’t see most of his content... and agree it would be really, REALLY helpful if he could spread the message about how dads could help out more to allow mothers time to look after themselves. Xx
Cheers to that! Oh and can we as a society ditch ‘Dad bods’ as a term and start talking about how appealing the ‘Mum bod’ is instead? Let’s glamourise saggy breasts, pouch like stomachs (some with scars) and verrry hairy legs and pits! GORGEOUS