The Rivalry Theory of Body Positivity

Female support for body positivity is fueled by female intersectional competition, which pushes women out of the dating pool by discouraging them from losing weight. Women high in intersexual competitiveness are more likely to advise potential mating threats to cut off more hair in an attempt to sabotage their attractiveness. The choice to focus on women of similar attractiveness is strategic as high attractive individuals may not pose a significant mating threat, while less attractive individuals may not yield desired results. The parallels between this behavior and the body positivity movement are obvious. Women use indirect aggression more than men, and this theory contributes to female support for body positivity. Intra sexual competition is a motivator. This theory challenges the belief in altruistic compulsions and highlights the selfish undercurrent in support for body positivity.