Dear Women: Stop Body Shaming | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Dear Women: Stop Body Shaming

Enough is enough.

114
Dear Women: Stop Body Shaming
Wellness

From a young age we as women are categorized. It is difficult in today's society to feel beautiful for what your appearance is as an individual. Recently, it is obvious there is a campaign going forth promoting self-love on social medias, modeling magazines, and even music played on the radio. But why is it that girls, that are naturally thin, like myself, are suddenly revoked from their right of self appreciation.

It was never okay to shame women for being over weight, so when did it become okay to tell women in the words of Megan Trainor that, "boys like a little more booty to hold at night?" But I think the real question is, when did it become okay to body shame women at all?

Stop body shaming other women.

Just stop it. Stop telling the girl wearing the size two high waisted shorts that she needs to eat a cheeseburger... or two. Stop telling the girl wearing the beautiful blue ball gown at the local dance that she looks like "a beached whale." Seriously, just stop.

Skinny shaming is hurtful and not OK, and fat shaming is hurtful and not Ok either. They are equally disheartening, and complete acts of ignorance. We are women, in the fight together; why are we tearing each other down?

Stop saying, "only real women have curves."

It's not necessary, and is an act of body shaming. Some women simply don't have curves. A women doesn't need curves to be real, and she doesn't need to not have them to be real either. "Real" women should embrace themselves for who are they are and build other women up in the process, not tear them down. Only when we realize that we are all created equally and unique in our own ways, will we be able to succeed.

Stop assuming that an individual's weight is controllable.

If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all. The girl in the cafeteria that sits by herself because the kids call her "fat" could have uncontrollable hypothyroidism, causing her to continuously gain wait, due to a defect in her metabolism, not because she's "lazy." Or the girl walking around town in her brand new crop top, that you said was "too skinny," she's recovering from anorexia and it is the first time she has felt beautiful in years. Just knock it off, you do not know everyone's story.

Stop telling her "Wow you're so skinny, you are so lucky."

Enough? Why is an appearance even lucky? There are 7.125 billion people in the world according to the United States Census Bureau. That is 7.125 billion people who have different shapes and sizes, how is she statistically lucky? She may be trying to gain weight, or may even be battling and eating disorder. It is not a compliment, it is degrading. Women should be able to present their body image to the world with pride, not in search for social approval.

Stop telling her to "hit the gym."

Maybe she can't afford it, maybe she already is? Or maybe she doesn't want to and that is okay too! Let her embrace her size for what it is, fit or unfit. Stop raising the question of what is the perfect weight. Telling her to lose weight is completely unnecessary and does not help any problems, in fact it does quite the opposite.

The issue will not be resolved until we as women can appreciate are bodies for what they really are. We are unique in our own ways, all blessed by God's image of perfection. Instead of categorizing each other by weight, compliment each other on how beautiful each one of us truly are. Women in this day and age have the ability to change the world in front of us; so build each other up... stop body shaming.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Disney Princesses
The Odyssey
Tiana would no doubt be disappointed in the food our cafeteria has to offer.

And hopefully she would cook for everyone in her dorm.

She definitley would not take any 8:00 am classes because she would be up late baking and cleaning up the communal kitchen that are available in every dorm.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

The Struggles of Being A Last Semester Senior, As Told By Michael Scott

25 reasons your last semester in college is the best and worst time of your life

758
Michael Scott

The day you walked onto your school's campus for the first time you were scared, excited, and unsure of how the next four years of your life were going to turn out. You doubted it would go fast and even though you weren't positive about what your future plans would hold, you had plenty of time. You figured out your major, added a minor or two, joined a handful of organizations and all of the sudden you're here. Your final semester of undergrad. Now you've got 25 problems and graduation is only one.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Syllabus Week At UD Explained By "The Office"

"The Office" understands the struggle of the first week back from winter break.

682
the office

January 19th is the first day of the second semester at the University of Dayton, and students couldn't be more excited. However, the excitement that students are experiencing may be short-lived once they see what this semester's courses will entail. Although students will be happy to be back at Dayton, they may realize this semester will be more difficult than they predicted. Here are some things that happen during syllabus week explained by " The Office."

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Your Friend Group, As Told By Disney Princesses

Each Disney Princess has their own personality, and chances are you've got a friend in your group to match it.

1210
Disney Princesses

The dynamics of any friend group are usually determined by the personalities which make it up. Chances are, while personalities may overlap, each person in your friend group holds his or her own place. It is the differences which bring the groups together and keep them functioning. No matter how functionally dysfunctional your friend group may be, if you're anything like me, you feel absolutely blessed to have found such a wonderful group of humans to call "your people." Here is what your friend group might look like if they were Disney princesses (and that wasn't just a thing you all pretended in your heads):

Keep Reading...Show less
dorm roon
Tumblr

College is a place where you spend four years exploring opportunities you never knew were there, creating the person you are, and making life-long friends. College is hard, but it is worth spending four years there. Just because college is difficult doesn't mean that it's not fun. There are plenty of great memories you can make during your four years if college. Here are ways college is designed to be the best four years of your life:

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments