BODY SHAMING : AN ATTACK ON SELF ESTEEM

Maligning someone for their appearance can be substantially more damaging than we think it would be, it makes people feel more insecure about their body, skin tone, etc. and also brings down their confidence.

Kelly Clarkson, an American singer had tweeted about how unhappy she was in the process of being thin, her tweet reads "Just to clear something up. I wasn't ever miserable because I had to be thin. I said I was miserable and as a result I became thin”. She received many hate comments for being fat, the British TV presenter Katie Hopkins eloquently fat shamed Kelly saying "Did she eat all her backing singers. Happily, I have a wide screen".

Kelly Clarkson is an example to say body shaming is not a scanty concept. It has pervaded across landscapes blanketing every section of society. It triggers depression, eating disorders, anxiety, trauma and borderline personality disorders. Social media is rife with body shaming and mainly targets cine divas and celebs; media always portrays overweight characters as comedians to make jokes at their expense. Though there are some films featuring the plus sized characters as main lead like in Encanto, Isn't it Romantic etc. they are few in number.

The concept of body shaming is even more screeching in Indian society. Commodification of women, especially brides has always been present in India, but body shaming being an unrelenting notion is adding to their grief. Brides in India are expected to be beautiful, fair, thin and smooth textured and not being in this box simply attracts shaming and taunting. Some people think that shaming others for being different is the right thing to do. After all, fat shaming does not help anyone with perceived weight issues. We are unique and needed because of what is inside. Saving ourselves from shaming, making bullies repent, and acting against body shaming are all things that need to be done. Body shaming will only stop if we start judging people by their acts instead of their looks.

We cannot be in a state of happiness if we keep comparing ourselves with others, one should be beautiful from within, and physical features should never be a major concern. See your beauty and help others discover theirs. Spread positivity instead of shame, only acceptance brings true exuberance.

Pravalika Reddy is a Media Studies student at the University of Hyderabad. She writes about body positivity, science and tech for 'The Pigeon'.