Body Shaming: The Uninvited Criticism
Few themes resonate as loudly and frequently in modern conversations as concerns about body image. Body shaming touches all aspects of our lives, impacting our self-image, interpersonal interactions, and cultural standards. It presents itself in subtle remarks from acquaintances, the constant pursuit of unachievable beauty standards promoted by the media, and, on occasion, well-intentioned but destructive counsel from loved ones.
In this blog, I invite you to journey with me through my own experiences with body shaming — from the innocent days of childhood to the complexities of adulthood. Through personal stories and reflections, I aim not to offer advice or solutions, but to share a raw and unfiltered account of my encounters with body shaming and the profound impact it has had on my journey towards self-acceptance.
With no further delay, let’s go ahead:
Childhood: Free bird
During my childhood, I was naturally slim and incredibly active. Being a freestyle dancer and having a flexible body, I could effortlessly perform various yoga stunts. Despite being praised by my teachers, the first instance of body-related advice I received was to gain weight. While I didn’t give it much thought at the time, looking back, it marked the beginning of my awareness of body image concerns.
Adolescence: Entering to Puberty
As I entered adolescence, I started to gain weight. Perhaps it is nature or the level of complexity I experienced during the process. I’ve never worried about or had to notice that I’m gaining weight, because I was too busy studying.
Then came college: When it came to body weight, I was frequently criticized for having a perfectly loaded physique but with the wrong measurements. I had no clue what the right measurements were so my college mates!
Adulthood: Coping with expectations
Moving on to adulthood, approaching marriage age: If I recall properly, the body image issues started hitting me badly when I requested my parents to look for a partner for my marriage
The journey began with preparations for my first meeting. In those days, online shopping wasn’t an option, so I headed to a local store in search of the perfect kurta. However, I met with disappointment when the store owner informed me that they didn’t carry garments in my size.
Adding to the challenge, the proposal was rejected based on my weight. Subsequently, my parents and friends took it upon themselves to offer daily advice and suggestions to join a gym or start working out
The constant struggle:
Listening to them, I spent months without eating rice!! The resulting headaches and gastric discomfort became all too real. Adding insult to injury, a close friend even suggested getting a shapewear to enhance my appeal to potential suitors. It’s quite baffling, isn’t it?
Slowly, I have been permanently labelled as an obese or overweight person.
The Realization:
Coming to a realization was a solitary journey. Despite the internal struggle, I found myself grappling with relentless suggestions and criticisms. As a result, I withdrew from social interactions, recognizing the disheartening truth that people often speak only when they see fit or have an audience. It dawned on me the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive individuals. However, breaking free from the cycle proved challenging, particularly when the voices of well-meaning loved ones persisted, convinced they were molding a better version of me. The complexity of human relationships never fails to perplex.
Life goes on:
Has it come to an end today? Nope!
Life keeps moving forward despite the challenges. But it doesn’t stop there; sometimes, people turn these struggles into jokes. They use our pain as entertainment, even though it’s not funny for us. It’s like being forced into laughter therapy, whether we want it or not.
Example of the jokes:
Do you need two seats to sit in the cab? Do you fit into an umbrella? Does this dress fit you? Did you break something by stepping on it? The chair might break!!
Let me ask: What kind of sick jokes are these?
Even though I actively ignore people’s remarks and gyaan these days, I’ve never been comfortable talking about these subjects. Maybe I will never be able to convince myself that I have an appearance that is perfect and that I should be proud of myself. The comments and criticism have left such an impression on me that it is hard to forget.
Please keep in mind that the blog is not intended to make recommendations because there is a wealth of information accessible on the market. The intent is to tell the people that you are not alone. It might take time to appreciate and accept yourself. But, It is possible!
