Meera, 25-years-old individual, had just moved to Mumbai after completing her MBA. She was quite excited and enthusiastic about starting her career in corporate structure. She was very thrilled about settling in Mumbai. Her colleagues at workplace were also quite supportive and helped her in the transition. But some of their behaviours were unpleasant. Some of her colleagues would made remarks such as “You should not wear Western formals because you are fat.” “You need to get in better shape as fat people don’t last very long in corporate world.”  “Client will take you seriously if you get the perfect body shape.” Meera felt horrible about herself, especially regarding the way she looked. She began to lose interest at work because she felt that her body shape would determine her career trajectory. She felt so dejected that she began to isolate herself and started skipping meals.

Like Meera, many women across the country have similar experiences. According to the Dove Global Beauty and Confidence Report, 9 out of 10 women would stop eating, put their health at risk and opt out of important life activities such as engaging with friends and loved ones, if they do not feel good about the way they look. The statistics are quite frightening considering that the report has interviewed more than 10,500 women from 13 different countries.

Women across various age groups have been called out for not having the perfect body. Their physical appearance has been widely associated with their success, performance and personality. Research indicates that women who have been subjected to body shaming experience low self-esteem. Women who have been subjected to body shaming often find themselves in a vicious loop of unhealthy and even abusive relationships.  

Body Shaming is a practice of humiliating an individual by mocking or criticizing their body shape or size. Let’s look at some of the signs of body shaming:

1. Telling the individual that they are not beautiful or good looking; criticising the person for their general appearance, clothing style, weight, and body shape (e.g. your shoulders are so broad, they make you look ugly; she looks like a slut in that dress)
    
2. Humiliating by comparing the individual with celebrities or other individuals who supposedly have “perfect” bodies (e.g. I wish you were as hot as that movie star; your friend has a better body than yours, that is why the dress suits her more)
    
3. Attributing personality trait, success and performance to physical appearance or body shape and size (e.g. You will not be taken seriously at work until you lose some weight; He would never go a date with you if you have that flabby stomach.)

Unfortunately, there are systemic faults that have contributed towards increase in the practice of body shaming. The media has introduced beauty norms that create a picture of a perfect Indian woman. Furthermore, it has encouraged practices such as cosmetic surgery, dieting, and beautifications measures such as anti-ageing cream, diet pills, and botox to attain that perfect and beautiful body. In addition, unhealthy and abusive relationships perpetuate low self-esteem in women, making them vulnerable to body shaming. Hence it is even more essential to combat body shaming. Here are some helpful ways to combat and cope with body shaming.

Coping with Body Shaming

• Be assertive and stand up for yourself. If you are being subjected to body shaming, confront the individual and let them know that you are not comfortable with the way they talk about your body and physical appearance. To learn more about assertive communication, read the following article: How to be assertive
   
• Spend time with the people who make you feel loved and beautiful. This will help you form a positive body image and tackle body shaming effectively.
   
• Consult with a doctor and nutrition specialist to understand how you could best look after your body. It is far better to engage in body caring rather than body shaming.
   
• Remind yourself that looks and body shape or size are not associated with your achievements or setbacks. Learn to appreciate yourself.
   
• Speak to a qualified counsellor to understand how you could better cope with body shaming and low self-esteem. 
   

As a progressive society, we need to condemn the practice of body shaming. Let us encourage body positivity and discourage body shaming. If you have been subjected to body shaming or know of someone who has low self-esteem, reach out for help by calling in at 1800-270-1790.