According to the Dove Global Beauty and Confidence Report, 9 out of 10 women would stop eating, put their health at risk and opt out of important life activities such as hanging out with friends and loved ones, if they do not feel good about the way they look. The figures are quite terrifying considering that the report has interviewed more than 10,500 women from 13 different countries.
Women across various age groups have been called out for not having the perfect body. Their physical appearance has been widely associated with their success, performance and personality. Research indicates that women who have been subjected to body shaming experience low self-esteem. Women who have been subjected to body shaming often find themselves in a vicious loop of unhealthy and even abusive relationships.
Body Shaming is a practice of humiliating an individual by mocking or criticizing their body shape or size. Let’s look at some of the signs of body shaming:
1. Telling the individual that they are not beautiful or good looking; criticizing the person for their general appearance, clothing style, weight, and body shape
2. Humiliating by comparing the individual with celebrities or other individuals who supposedly have “perfect” bodies
3. Attributing personality trait, success and performance to physical appearance or body shape and size
Unfortunately, there are systemic faults that have contributed towards increase in the practice of body shaming. The media has introduced beauty norms that create a picture of a perfect Indian woman. Furthermore, it has encouraged practices such as cosmetic surgery, dieting, and beautification measures such as anti-ageing cream, diet pills, and Botox to attain that perfect and beautiful body. In addition, unhealthy and abusive relationships perpetuate low self-esteem in women, making them vulnerable to body shaming. Hence it is even more essential to combat body shaming. Here are some helpful ways to combat and cope with body shaming.
How to cope with Body Shaming?
· Be assertive and stand up for yourself. If you are being subjected to body shaming, confront the individual and let them know that you are not comfortable with the way they talk about your body and physical appearance.
· Do not indulge with people who make you feel unloved. Be with the ones who love you and boost your self esteem.
· Consult with a doctor and nutrition specialist to understand how you could best look after your body. It is far better to engage in body caring rather than body shaming.
· Remind yourself that looks and body shape or size are not associated with your achievements or setbacks. Learn to appreciate yourself.
· Speak to a qualified counselor to understand how you could better cope with body shaming and low self-esteem.
As a progressive society, we need to condemn the practice of body shaming. Let us encourage body positivity and discourage body shaming.
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