The image of the female body in the puerperium: reflections on the influence of social media

Abstract

Objective: To reflect on how social media portrays the image of the female body in the postpartum period. Methodology: This is a reflective, descriptive study with a qualitative perspective, based on media publications referring to two female bodies in the puerperium. Results: On Instagram, Viih Tube's video, one month after giving birth, generated 16 reels, 150,000 shares and 59,600 comments, many praising real motherhood and its brands. The iconic photo of Thaila Ayala, slender, breastfeeding while standing, in an inverted position, got 335,701 likes and 4,490 comments that echoed criticism, about unrealistic breastfeeding and the unattainable body standard for many women. Discussion: The media has increasingly become an influence on the female body, exposing standards in the search for perfection. The woman's body is always seen as a target of criticism, whether it is in the postpartum period or not. Society feels entitled to impose unattainable standards that harm different segments of women's lives. Conclusions: Social media play an important role in reflections and discussions that can demystify the perfect body and value the process experienced by women in the postpartum period.