Body shaming is defined as mocking someone for their physical appearance. Erroneously they are often identified as victims of this phenomenon, only people with a few pounds more, in reality it is a broader discourse that targets any physical characteristic: adiposity as thinness, height or baseness, the care of body hair, hair color and hairstyle, the presence or not of piercing or tattoos, acne etc...
If fat shaming is a sadly present phenomenon, which must surely be combated, in the same way skinny shaming should be cleared, perhaps more silent but equally harmful.
In fact, it is very common for a person with a thin body to receive comments such as: “You should eat more” - “Blessed/or you who do not need the gym” - “Are you sure/or to be well?” - to the extent of more serious exclamations associated with a delicate disease: “You look anorexic”. You will also probably come across messages on social media or in real life tenor: “The bones we give to dogs” - “Real women have curves”...
These comments are sometimes expressed with lightness, almost justified by a willingness to actually make a compliment, because being thin means to be closer to the standards of beauty offered by magazines, social and television. Complaining about skinny shaming is like complaining about winning the genetic lottery and victims should then cash in and be happy with these unsolicited comments? The consequences of these statements can give rise to a strong sense of inadequacy, especially if they are addressed to a person who is lean because of his metabolism and constitution and has every right to be able to accept himself as he is.
As if that were not enough, often one blames regardless a thin person, as such, to praise eating disorders, as if the fact of inhabiting that body, was enough to be the bearer of a wrong message.
Many known faces have tried to shed light on this phenomenon, which they have lived on their skin. Singer Michele Bravi recently responded with admirable calm to a rather personal question of an Instagram user, posting this important message in his stories:
Remaining in the Italian music scene, he made Sanremo discuss the disagreement between Elodie and Marco Masini. The singer at the microphones of Radio due social club explains: “I’m tired of having to defend myself from people who think I don’t eat. I eat. When you see a woman who has gained 3-4 kilos it is not that you go there and say to her “Oh anyway eat less” if a woman loses two kilos, you see me slightly thin and tell me “But you have to eat” as if I had a food problem, it is not asshole, sorry?”. She then expressed her disappointment at Masini’s behaviour, which would have repeatedly urged her to eat.
In 2019 the influecer Camihawke responds bluntly to a comment of someone on his thinness stating: “Tell a person who is a chubby, it is no more serious to tell her that is anorexic, are still two insults”.
Even celebrities of international fame had to defend themselves against skinny shamers.
Ariana Grande, in November 2015, when an Instagram user said she would prefer Ariel Winter to her because “Curves are sexy. The sticks are not”, she republished this comment on her Twitter, confronting the user for comparing two women as if they were exposed in a showcase for male approval.
“We live in a time when people make it IMPOSSIBLE for women, men and anyone to accept themselves exactly as they are”, she wrote. “Diversity is sexy! Love is sexy!” Then she listed a number of very un-sexy things, such as misogyny, “labeling” and judging people’s bodies.
When to play Wonder Woman, the choice fell on actress Gal Gadot, the reaction by those who believed it was “too thin” to play a super heroine, did not wait. In an interview, the actress responded to criticism by stating, “They said I was too skinny and my boobs were too small, they said my head was too big and my body was a broomstick” - “I can handle anything. They are just empty speeches”, she added, not being undermined by free wickedness.
In March 2016, comedian Klausner tweeted referring to Zendaya: “She is starving... You don’t have to have an eating disorder to attend the Kids Choice Awards but it certainly helps”. Zendaya promptly responded, instructing Klausner on why body shaming is not a joke. “Do you find it funny? Now... go and look at your beautiful body in the mirror and say you fucking love it”.
Sarah Hyland, star of the sitcom “Modern Family”, has always been targeted by cyber bullies for her body. Her photos at the “Vanity Fair Oscar Party” event in 2018 were targeted. In response we wanted to let his haters know three things:
1.) 🖕🏻
2.) I was beautiful
3.) Even more relevant... I FELT BEAUTIFUL and that’s all that matters” she wrote
Before parading at the 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Bella Hadid received some criticism under an Instagram post that portrayed her in lingerie. After getting this negative feedback, the model decided to change the caption adding: “All body types are different and react differently to a workout routine and a healthy diet”.
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
In summary, the excess kg or the ribs in sight, are never a fault. So we refrain from unpleasant comments or advice not requested.
Let’s accept it. Let’s love it. Let’s all eat a dose of empathy.
.jpg)