1. Nurse Bee’s Buzz on Health
April 2015 “BODY SHAMING”
Why, when upset, annoyed, or intimidated by someone, do we
default to criticizing their appearance?
It can feel easier to shoot for something that will hurt, like
“Whatever, she’s ugly”, rather than expressing what is
really going on emotionally. Saying “I’m really hurt by
how my friend has treated me” tends to open us up and
make us more vulnerable…so it’s easier to bury “the
feels” and use a shallow insult instead. It becomes an
almost automatic response.
Weight and body type don’t make a person. Actions,
empathy, and humanity make people.
Stop hating your body.
Find something (or lots of things!) you like about your body. All
the ads & commercials will tell you how to have whiter teeth,
longer lashes, bigger muscles, & shinier hair. They are just
selling a product or giving a celebrity some attention.
Celebrate what you already have!
Stop limiting what is allowed to be called beautiful.
Celebrate the nonphysical – the more you think about all the
things that make you who you are on the inside, the more
others will see it too!
Stop hating other people’s bodies.
Start expressing true feelings rather than physical criticisms.
This takes practice. Practice thinking it, & eventually saying it.
Identify body-positive people in your life.
These are people who celebrate their body for what it can do,
& people who refuse to comment on others’ physical
appearances. Spending time with these people will help you
view yourself & others more positively!
Confront people
who keep the body-
shaming cycle
going. Once you
are aware of your
own body-shaming
behaviors, you may
notice how often
friends or family do
it. Talk to them
about why it bothers
you & help them
see how it may also
hurt them.
We are all human and slip up sometimes. But each moment is
a new opportunity to be the kind of person you want to be!
Confidence – fake it until you make it! A smile works wonders. Reinvent
yourself. Keep an open mind. Leave competition out of beauty. Set an
example for others. Be there for someone who needs you even if there’s
nothing in it for you. Admit mistakes & make amends. Forgive someone.
Share your struggles to make someone else feel less alone. Tell someone if
you appreciate them. Notice the simple beauty in the world. Be the change
you want to see in the world. Find your personal power &creativity & make a
difference in the world. Talk kindly instead of gossiping or complaining.
Forget yourself for a minute & listen to someone who needs it. Measure a
person by their best moments, not their worst. Handle rejection or failure
gracefully. Don’t hold back your happiness if something excites you.
Body Shaming:
Criticizing your own appearance through a judgment or
comparison to another person.
“Look how my ears stick out.”
Criticizing another’s appearance in front of them or even
without their knowledge .
“You aren’t good-looking enough for anyone to ask you
out.”
“Did you see what she’s wearing today?”
No matter how you do it, it leads to comparison & shame,
& sends the message that people should be judged mainly
for their physical features.