End Body Shaming

Appearance isn’t everything – yet comments about looks continue to run rampant in our social discourse. Just about everyone is conditioned to have ideals, preferences, aversions and apprehensions concerning characteristics like weight and height, sometimes leading to body shaming.

This article offers insights into the dangers of body shaming – and some strategies to avoid falling prey to this destructive mindset.

Table of Contents | Jump Ahead

• What Is Body Shaming?
• Why Does Body Shaming Occur?
• Body Shaming Takes a Toll on Health and Wellbeing
• 7 Ways to Help End Body Shaming

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What Is Body Shaming?

Simply put, body shaming is discrimination based on negative critiques about a person’s physical attributes. Most commonly, body shaming is linked to remarks about a person’s weight, either being “too fat” or “too skinny.”

But the reality is that there are many other physical features subject to teasing, making body shaming – unfortunately – all too common. Height, muscle tone, body odor, body shape, skin color, skin clarity or blemishes, amount and location of body hair, and quality of hair are some of the most common. Mocking a distinct proportions (such as a woman’s cup size) is also considered body shaming.

Why Does Body Shaming Occur?

Body shaming almost always centers on a certain attribute being “too” this or that, reflecting society’s obsession with beauty ideals – which, of course, are entirely made up and continuously curated. Just look at the fixation on ultra-thin eyebrows in 1930s Hollywood compared to the bushy eyebrow trend of recent decades.

Because of its link to beauty standards, there’s also a social-cultural element at play. Remarking on the size of someone’s nose or the kinkiness of their hair can have a discriminatory tone rooted in ethnic discrimination, reflecting the global power dynamic of beauty ideals, too.

As social beings, we are constantly finding ways to compete and gain favor within the group – that comes from an instinct to be included. Setting beauty standards – and modifying them according to the trendsetters of the time – is part of our social landscape, which is why we see body shaming occurring with every generation.

Body Shaming Takes a Toll on Health and Wellbeing

Body shaming taps into some of our basic fears – shame, embarrassment, isolation, not being ‘enough’ or being excluded. It’s no surprise this can wreck mental health and self-worth.

Body shaming can also provoke harmful choices, like skipping meals or avoiding social settings for fear of being mocked. This can interfere with a person’s ability to thrive by developing healthy eating and exercise habits – and get in the way of social relationships.

7 Ways to Help End Body Shaming

• Commit to making healthy choices for yourself. Get these things in order: diet, exercise, sleep and healthy relationships.

• Don’t let your body define your self-worth. Revisit the skills, values and personality traits that make you a unique and wonderful person.

• For social events: Don’t pressure anyone to participate, and offer alternatives. Throwing a pool party? Include other activities, too, like yard games or karaoke on the patio. This empowers people to choose how much their body is on display, depending on their comfort level.

• Focus on how you feel, not how you look. Especially important when making diet and exercise goals.

• Remember: Beauty standards don’t always reflect health! In fact, some trends can be downright bad for your body.

• Give smarter compliments. Instead of “You look great, did you lose weight?” try “You look great, green looks nice on you!”

Body shaming is a big issue. Avoid being a victim – or contributor – to the problem. A therapist can help you work through past hurts, boost your self-image, and feel more at ease in your own body.

References

Albertson, E. R., Neff, K. D., & Dill-Shackleford, K. E. (2015). Self-compassion and body dissatisfaction in women: A randomized controlled trial of a brief meditation intervention. Mindfulness, 6(3), 444–454.

Jackson, K. L., et al. (2014). Body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms in midlife women. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 17(3), 177–187.

Puhl, R. M., & Heuer, C. A. (2009). Obesity stigma: Important considerations for public health. American Journal of Public Health, 99(6), 1019–1028.

Tylka, T. L., & Wood-Barcalow, N. L. (2015). What is and what is not positive body image? Body Image, 14, 118–129.