Oh, why are you so fat?
It would help if you put on some weight
Bro! Why are you so pale?
It would help if you did something about your appearance.
At some point in our lives, we all hear these words from people around us. Our society is entirely made up of unrealistic trends and standards, making people follow an imaginary world. People often take extreme measures to adjust themselves according to people’s perceptions. We are seeing an increasing number of adolescents betting on their physical and mental health by following or aiming to follow unrealistic beauty standards.
BODY SHAMING is an act of subjecting someone to their appearance or bodily structure. Giving thumbs-down comments and judgments about people’s physical appearance, skin tone, body structure, body weight, hair texture, and volume can significantly harm health.
WHY WE DO BODY SHAMING?
It is a complex issue that passes from generation to generation, spreading negativity, stress, and insecurities among people. Sometimes, this act is even done by our mothers, family members, and peers; it could be unintentional, but other times, it is intentional and biased. In addition to these generational carriers, our media promotes unrealistic standards among youth. How they portray lean bodies, fair skin tones, texture-free makeovers, and a perfect appearance is stirring a storm of societal pressure and insecurities among people. We live in a BEAUTY TRAUMATIZED society where we are not complimented for our pure thoughts, kind soul, and good intuitions; but on our body type, skin tone, and other physical descriptions.
Body shaming arises from a variety of factors, including cultural beliefs, social norms, personal insecurities, and psychological biases. These factors could be unintentional, but mostly, these are intentional, causing harm to the people;
Social and Cultural Influences
Society often promotes narrow standards of beauty and attractiveness, leading people to judge others based on how closely they conform to these ideals. Media, advertising, and popular culture frequently perpetuate unrealistic body standards, reinforcing the belief that certain body types are superior or more desirable.
Insecurity and Jealousy
People who feel insecure about their bodies may project their insecurities onto others by making negative comments or judgments about their appearance. Body shaming can stem from inadequacy or jealousy towards individuals who embody societal beauty standards.
Comparison and Competition
In competitive environments, such as schools, workplaces, or social circles, people may engage in body shaming activities to elevate their status or assert dominance over others. Comparing oneself to others and needing to compete for attention or validation can fuel negative attitudes toward different body types.
Misguided Beliefs
Some may mistakenly believe that criticizing someone’s appearance will motivate them to change or improve themselves. However, this approach is often counterproductive and can cause more harm than good by damaging self-esteem and perpetuating unhealthy behaviors.
Internalized Bias and Prejudice
Body shaming can also be influenced by underlying biases and prejudices related to factors such as race, gender, age, or disability. People may target individuals who deviate from societal norms or stereotypes, using their appearance as a basis for discrimination or marginalization.
Lack of Empathy and Understanding
Some individuals may engage in body shaming without fully considering the impact of their words or actions on others. They may not realize the harm they are causing or may dismiss it as harmless teasing or joking.
Body shaming has nothing good to give people other than mental trauma, physical stress, and unrealistic standards to follow. The following are the negative impacts of body shaming;
PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
Chronic stress from experiencing body shaming can have physical health consequences such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and weakened immune function. Additionally, some individuals may engage in extreme dieting or exercise behaviors in an attempt to conform to societal beauty standards, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies and other health problems.
Being physically active and following a balanced routine is good for maintaining good physical health. However, excessive exercise may lead to physical trauma, causing a loss of proper bodily functioning.
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
Body shaming often leads to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and even eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia nervosa. Constant criticism about one’s body can create a negative body image, where individuals perceive themselves in a distorted and unhealthy manner.
Emotional Distress
Being subjected to body shaming can cause emotional distress, including feelings of shame, embarrassment, and worthlessness. Emotional distress can lead to social withdrawal, difficulty forming relationships, and impaired functioning in various areas of life.
Unhealthy Comparison
Some individuals may turn to unhealthy comparisons, causing overeating, substance abuse, or self-harm, and follow unhealthy ways to deal with the emotional pain caused by body shaming.
Effect on relationships
Body shaming can strain relationships, both with oneself and with others. Individuals who feel insecure about their bodies may have difficulty forming intimate relationships or may engage in relationships where they are not treated with respect and kindness.
EATING DISORDERS
Body shaming can lead to eating disorders, including Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, Binge-eating disorder, and avoidant restrictive food intake. These disorders progress in people bullied due to their increased body weight and eating habits. Eating disorders lead to dangerous eating behavior, causing cutting of meals, forced vomiting, eating distress, and guilt of eating. If these are not monitored and managed accurately, they may result in life-threatening conditions.
Body shaming is an ongoing norm in our society; we need to put a full stop to these generational traumas. Dear, you are the best; your beauty lies in your imperfections, there is no need to overwork yourself for unrealistic beauty standards. Don’t over-stress about your appearance; you are beautiful the way you are. Let’s break the chains and live our lives the way we want out of this lovely, traumatized world.