Let’s face it: body shaming is everywhere. It’s the subject of countless headlines and even an upcoming Netflix documentary, The Tipping Point. But what exactly is body shaming? What does it look like? And how do we stop it?
Let’s talk about body shaming
One of the most important lessons we can learn from body shaming is that it’s not just a problem in our culture; it’s also a problem for us. Body shaming happens to everyone; when we say everyone, we mean everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re at work or homebody- shaming incidents can happen anywhere, anytime, with anyone.
Let’s take a look at how this works
- You’re walking down the street when someone notices your outfit and makes fun of it (or gives constructive criticism). This could be anything from telling you that your burrito looks like a piece of trash to saying you have such nice legs.
- How they do this varies depending on who they are; for example, it might be one person saying something rude while another ignores her because she doesn’t see any point in arguing with them about something so trivial as looks (and then goes off on their own).
- You see someone else wearing clothes that make them look good but then realise clothes cost $50+ per item. So why would anyone spend so much money on themselves? Maybe there’s some supernatural reason behind this phenomenon; some universal law requires all humans to wear expensive clothing daily.
Who knows? What matters here is knowing how much money goes into each purchase made by individuals around us and what happens when those purchases go beyond our means financially?
What are the negative consequences of body shaming or being body shamed?
Body shaming is harmful, and it can lead to severe consequences. Body shaming has been linked to low self-esteem, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and bullying. It’s also associated with suicide attempts or thoughts among young people who experience body image issues.
Research suggests that the more severe your self-esteem issues result from being bullied about your appearance (or even just having pictures posted online), the higher your chance of committing suicide, even if those difficulties aren’t explicitly related to weight loss or dieting habits!
No reason anyone should feel ashamed of their body or how they look, no matter what shape they’re in. So stand up for yourself and tell them off if they make a harsh comment about yours.
Women are susceptible to comments regarding their appearance and body image
A recent study suggests that women may be more susceptible to remarks regarding their appearance and body image. For example, the researchers found that women are more likely than boys to feel pressured by media messages about thinness when they see pictures of celebrities who are considered attractive.
The study also showed that women with low self-esteem were particularly susceptible to this kind of message from the media, leading them into unhealthy behaviours such as dieting or exercise.
Body shaming can lead to lower self-esteem
Body shaming is a form of bullying that targets the body and its appearance rather than the person’s personality or character. Other people often do it, teachers, parents, and friends, but it can happen in person or online through social media platforms like Instagram or Twitter.
The effects of body-based bullying include depression; eating disorders (such as anorexia nervosa); suicide attempts; low self-esteem; negative body image; increased anxiety over one’s appearance (including binging on food); avoidance behaviours such as exercising excessively or restrictive dieting in an attempt to change how others see them physically.
Working on your self-esteem can help you feel better about yourself
Body acceptance is a process, and it’s not the same as body positivity. Body positivity is about celebrating your body and all its shapes, sizes, and colours; it’s about accepting yourself for who you are, warts and all.
But body acceptance doesn’t mean that you have to love every part of yourself or even like some parts more than others. It’s important to note that there’s no right or wrong way to feel about your appearance at any moment.
However, it can be helpful if we think back on past experiences where someone else made us feel bad about our bodies (whether they meant well or not) so that we can learn from those experiences now instead of repeating them later on down the line when they may not seem so bad anymore after all this time has passed since then.
Body acceptance and appreciation start with knowing you’re not alone
Body acceptance and appreciation are a struggle for many people, but if you’re having trouble accepting your body, remember that it’s not just you who feels this way. It’s normal to feel like your body isn’t good enough or isn’t perfect.
Everyone faces these feelings at some point in life; they’re just common enough that we don’t usually talk about them openly until we have someone else (or something) to share them.
If you are struggling with body image and self-esteem issues, try having a support network of friends or family members who can offer insight into what they’ve gone through while dealing with these issues and how they’ve overcome them themselves.
More people who understand where we’re coming from can help us gain perspective on why our struggles exist, even though it doesn’t seem like anyone else would experience them.
You’re not alone in the struggle against body criticism
You’re not alone in the struggle against body criticism. You can find support in your friends and family, online communities, doctors and therapists, schools, and communities.
- Your friends may say, ‘I’ve struggled to lose weight, but I never felt so fat or ugly.’ Or they might say things like, ‘You look great, that dress looks amazing on you’. This kind of positive feedback can help make you feel better about yourself and give you the confidence to keep working toward your goals (which will help with self-esteem).
- If it’s been a while since your last appointment with a doctor who specialises in mental health care, they might ask if there are any specialises causing anxiety or depression and then advise on how best to manage those feelings without medication.
This type of professional relationship encourages open communication between patient or therapist pairings, which often leads to mutual understanding; when this frequently happens over time, both parties may begin sharing more confidence too.
Create awareness
One way to help teens feel better about themselves is by using social media to create awareness about body shaming.
- You can post compressed videos with messages that encourage teens to love their bodies.
- Never let anyone tell you that your body isn’t perfect. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about yourself. You are beautiful just the way you are.
- Make sure your video doesn’t contain any negative images or language. Also, make sure it’s appropriate for all ages. Then, you can post it on Tiktok or Instagram, which most teens use now.
- You might also want to try posting pictures of yourself in bikinis or other swimwear on social media. This will show teens that it’s okay for girls and women to wear bikinis and not feel ashamed. Don’t forget to add music visualisation to make it more engaging.
Conclusion
Body shaming is not a laughing matter. On the contrary, it can cause serious emotional and psychological issues for people subject to it. So if you or someone you know has been body-shamed, try talking with them about it and discuss ways they might be able to feel better about themselves without having to change their appearance at all.
