Healing sexual trauma through selfies

Foryears, my nude body was a thing of terror and shame, made up of ugly limbs and invisible scars that I truly felt cast a shadow over my entire form. Only recently have I begun to break that pattern of thinking, much of which was a result of being sexually assaulted when I was 19. And being able to break that pattern was thanks in part to body positive acts like taking nude photos of myself.

Despite criticism from those who seek to devalue such practices through slut-shaming, I can attest to the fact that taking nude photos has been a very valid form of empowerment for me. Documenting my naked body has shifted the way I think of myself by transitioning said body from a place of trauma and devastation to empowerment and beauty. All with a simple snap of a perspective-altering photo,” shares Meg Zulch, who has been assaulted physically at the age of 19.

Numerous humans of all genders and backgrounds, including celebrities like Zayn Malik and Chloë Moretz, made the argument that sharing your nude body on the Internet is only one form of empowerment, and that there were many better ways to express liberation and self-love. If people could learn to consider everyone’s unique history and perceptions before lashing out every time feminine celebrities share a nude pic, chances are they’d realize that many of those people aren’t trying to gain anyone’s approval or attention. They’re just connecting to their bodies and selves.