Body Shaming (0)

My speech is about Body -Shaming. I chosed the topic because i think that it is 
importent to talk about it. 
Did you ever stop and think about how often we are told to change our appearance? 
Magazines constantly offer tips about how to lose weight “in days ,” appear slimmer 
“instantly,” and hide our “imperfections”… without actually knowing anything about 
us, much less our appearance.  This is one example of body -shaming, and it is 
everywhere .  It has become the norm to criticize aspects of our bodies as some type 
of bonding experience with friends – if we all hate our bodies; it somehow makes us 
feel connected and united.  Body-shaming can lead to a vicious cycle of judgment 
and criticism.  Messages from the media and from each other often imply that we 
should​ want to change, that we​ should ​care about looking slimmer, smaller, and 
tanner .  And if we don’t, we worry that we are at risk of being the target of someone 
else ’s body-shaming comments. 
Body-shaming manifests in many ways : 
Like Criticizing your own appearance, through a judgment or comparison to another  
person , Criticizing another’s appearance in front of them ​ ​or Criticizing another’s 
appearance without their knowledge . 
No matter how this manifests, it often leads to comparison and shame, and 
perpetuates the idea that people should be judged mainly for their physical features . 
This leads to the question: if it has such harsh consequences , why is body-shaming 
so common?  An example IOP (the Braintree Adolescent Intensive Outpatient 
Program ) often discuss about dealing with conflicts with peers.   Why, when we are 
upset , annoyed, or intimidated by someone, do we default to criticizing their 
appearance? Insults can be a go-to defense in these situations, particularly during  
adolescence and the young- adult years .  In some ways, it feels easier to shoot for 
something that will hurt , like targeting physical appearance, rather than expressing 
what is really going on emotionally.  Saying, “I’m really hurt by how my friend treated 
me,” or “I’m terrified of losing this friendship” opens us up and makes us more 
vulnerable, and therefore feels easier to bury underneath the body-shaming 
comments that rush to mind. 
 
 
How do we challenge this?  In situations like those listed above , expressing true 
feelings rather than physical criticisms can be a great first step . Recently discussed 
in IOP, several patients admitted that it is hard to identify ways of expressing 
frustration ​without ​using body-shaming, as this has become an almost automatic  
response. 
I will bring out some ways, how to deal with body shaming 
Practice identifying ​why ​you are upset ​about a situation.  For example, it’s 
unlikely that you’re mad at a friend because she’s breaking out, and more likely that 
you’re upset about a miscommunication or feeling of rejection.  Practice thinking it, 
and eventually, verbalizing it. 
Identify who in your life is body-positive​ – or even body- neutral .  Think of people 
who celebrate their body for what it can do, and people who refuse to comment on 
others ’ physical appearances.  Spending time with these people can be especially 
helpful while you are struggling with your own internalized body-shaming, and help 
you view yourself – and others – more positively. 
Confront those who perpetuate body-shaming.​  Once you’ve become more 
aware of your own body-shaming behaviors, you may notice how often your friends, 
family or co- workers do it.  Talk to them.  Discuss why it bothers you and help them 
see how it may also be hurtful to them. 
Find something (or things!) you LIKE about your body.​  We spend so much time 
witnessing advertisements about how to make our eyelashes millimeters longer and 
how to get whiter teeth that it’d be nice to counter some of that by celebrating what 
we ​do​ have.  Maybe, despite your body image struggles, you love a new hairstyle 
you discovered .  Maybe you’ve noticed how much stronger you feel with balanced 
eating.  Find something physical or nonphysical that makes you YOU and celebrate 
it every day. 
I think that body shaming is a serious problem. People shame others because it 
makes them feel better  about theirselves. Bodyshaming should be stopped.