Body Shaming
What is body shaming?
Body shaming is the intentional criticizing of a person’s physique that can make one feel unworthy, abnormal, and ugly.
Anyone, despite size, race, ethnicity, or gender can be body shamed and anyone can body shame someone else. Body shaming occurs mostly due to unrealistic societal standards.
Why do people body shame themselves or others?
The Effects of Media and Beauty Standards:
Social media influences the standards of appearance. These standards are ever-changing so don’t try to meet them because they are simply unrealistic and unattainable. The media normalizes harmful behaviors like fad-diets and plastic surgery while actively reinforcing non-inclusive attitudes. Media stereotypes like “fat” characters make audiences that identify with that character feel alienated and belittled.
Examples of Evils of Social Media?
Many celebrities set an “ideal” beauty standard through what they post on social media. The audience may see a perfect body or figure, but most don’t know the work that is put behind the scenes into making the individual look perfect. In reality, a huge amount of planning, makeup, and editing occurs. (plastic surgery, photoshopping/editing, etc. )
K-Pop Idols follow strict diets and rigorous workouts to conform to society's standards of attractiveness. These unhealthy attitudes are fueled by the unrealistic beauty standards of today’s world.
Examples of harmful comments in body shaming:
“You’d be prettier if you lost weight”
“If you lose weight, someone will love you”
“All the girls throw up in the bathroom after lunch”
“You need meat on your bones”
“Don’t you look fat today? It’s a disgrace”
“You look like a stick”
“I was so skinny when I was your age”
The Effects of Body Shaming
Body shaming may lead to a plethora of problems:
Psychological disorders such as depression, eating disorders, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts may stem from body shaming of oneself or from others.
Body Shaming makes people feel:
Insecure and self conscious as people constantly worry about the opinions of others and satisfying them.
One can feel worthless and shameful for looking “different” than the people they see on social media or not meeting an idealistic standard.
Conclusion Slide:
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” - Buddha
“‘Too fat, too skinny, too short, too tall, too anything.” There’s a sense that we’re all ‘too’ something, and we’re all not enough. This is life. Our bodies change. Our minds change. Our hearts change.” -Emma Stone
“Judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are.”- Kristen Stewart
