Body shaming, the act of subjecting someone to humiliation, criticism, or negative comments about their physical appearance be it their weight, height, or body shape.
Body shaming has become so normalised in our society that it doesn’t even surprise us if someone comments on our appearance because we are so used to facing it. People use someone’s appearance as a weapon to hurt them without taking their feelings into consideration.
As a fat girl living in India, I have been subjected to body shaming my whole life. I cannot remember a time when people didn’t feel like commenting on my body. Be it name calling, tricks to lose weight or insults coated in sugar to sound like compliments, I have heard it all. After 18 years of facing all this, you’d think one wouldn’t care. But deep down such comments only lower my self esteem and fuck up my mental health.
Problems like body image issues, depression, social anxiety, etc are taken so lightly by our society. Body shaming is the only area where society doesn’t discriminate against anyone. It tortures everyone, whether you are fat, skinny, slim, tall, short, fair or dark skinned. They shame everyone who doesn’t fit in their category of perfection. It systematically erodes self-esteem and drives social isolation.
Body shaming can cause many mental health problems including :-
1. Body image issues –
It’s when a person thinks negative about their appearance. For example, a person may think and feel that their body is much larger or smaller than it is. It includes insecurity about one’s appearance, worriness that others might judge you, or extreme diets. It affects people of every age and every gender.
2. Low self esteem –
A person with distorted body image often has a lower self esteem. When everyone around you constantly criticises you for your appearance, at some point you start believing them which could create self doubt.
3. Social anxiety –
Body shaming heavily fuels social anxiety by creating a persistent fear of being judged, ridiculed, or scrutinized by others. Individuals getting body shamed often avoid attending social gatherings.
4. Depression –
Body shaming is a major trigger for depression. Constant criticism can create a feeling of worthlessness.
5. Eating disorder –
Body Shaming can cause distorted eating habits in individuals. For some it could be purging after meals, for others it could be episodes of binge eating used as a coping mechanism.
But how do you change this narrative? It’s actually much simpler than you think. By calling people out. Most of the time, the person getting shamed doesn’t have the strength to take a stand for themselves. If you see someone getting body shamed, please take a stand for them and call out the other person for their wrong doing.
Especially for parents, it’s very important for you to take a stand for your child. Most of the time parents avoid saying anything just to maintain family relations without having any idea how it affects their kids. Individuals should also learn to maintain boundaries and take a stand for themselves.
Blog By – Nishtha Garg