by Rejitha Rajan
Panaji, September 22, 2019: Body shaming is one of the most serious forms of bullying, harassment and humiliation.
All throughout the world, there is a definite notion of “beauty” which defines standards of skin color, body structure, hair length and texture and so on.
People are often told that they are too skinny, too fat, too pale, too tall, too short, not muscular enough and the list goes on. The issue of body shaming affects all group of society regardless of age, gender, ethnicity but the body image concerns mostly affect the children and adolescents.
Huge amount of money is spent across the globe on gyms, beauty salons only to get the desired look as depicted on the cover page of the magazine or any picture displayed on the social media sites.
The media provides the most unrealistic, altered and idealized images of what is beauty and then the run begins to adopt that unrealistic image for which countless pounds are spent/pumped into the gyms and the beauty salons to get the desired look. Is there really a picture perfect look?
Doesn’t the perfect look concept contradict the statement “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”. The mushrooming of gyms, beauty salons vouching to bring a make-over itself gives an evidence that the world is getting so obsessed in getting a perfect external appearance that they are ready to shell any amount of money to get a temporary superficial and shallow outlook even though the genetic make-up beneath remains same.
Basically, it is simply inducing changes externally to bring the desired change or looks. The questions remain still unanswered “At what cost are you subjecting your body to attain that desired look?”
Every magazine, social media, and matrimonial columns only ends up feeding message into our subconscious mind about flawless skin, perfect body size and shape which results in comparing our bodies with the standards depicted in the magazine only to believe that our bodies aren’t enough as they are.
The picture perfect glorious woman on the cover page of the magazines, newspaper gives a notion “what is ideal” and that has only led most of the women unhappy or ashamed with the way they look.
The children often in school gets teased or bullied for their appearance which sets a belief in them that they are not good enough or worthy of love which eventually leads to a lifetime focus on changing their body image. The body shaming during partner selection for dating also contributes to low self esteem and can also cause barrier in emotional connection.
If subject to frequent body shaming, it can lead to anxiety, depression, social isolation and eating disorders. Thus, staying fit and healthy is one thing but trying to fit into standards of other people that are defined by unreal parameters can lead to an even unhealthier life and body (physically, mentally and socially).
Self Love is the only antidote for Body Shaming. Just be the Unique YOU.
(Rejitha Rajan is a lawyer-teacher-counselor.)