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29th Jul 2022

“All bodies are beach bodies,” says Spanish government in new campaign

Ellen Fitzpatrick

Changes are coming.

The Spanish government has launched a new summer campaign that encourages women to not be worried about how their bodies look when going to the beach.

The Equality ministry is running the “summer is ours too” slogan alongside a picture of five different women, all with different body types.

“All bodies are beach bodies,” said Social Services Minister Ione Belarra, according to the BBC.

Women’s Institute head Antonia Morillas added that physical expectations not only affect a woman’s self esteem, but have also denied them of their rights.

The campaign photo shows five women on the beach relaxing naturally, with one topless after a mastectomy.

The people behind the initiative said this was an attempt to show that all bodies are valid.

Encouraging women to enjoy the summer in any way they choose, the ad says: “Today we toast a summer for all, without stereotypes and aesthetic violence against our bodies.”

Some people are not as impressed with the campaign, asking if it should be extended to include men as well, with left-wing leader Cayo Lara disagreeing, saying people are just trying to “create a problem where it doesn’t exist.”

Junior equality minister Ángela Rodríguez Pam took to Twitter to send a message to men who didn’t believe women didn’t need the ministry’s permission to go to the beach: “Of course we go, but we’re assuming we’ll attract hatred for showing a body that isn’t standard.”