Popular culture is apart of life. It is created by the people for the people, kind of like the Constitution. Popular culture are the concepts and images created by the media. Body shaming is one of them. It includes the body label fat or anorexic.
Body shaming doesn’t just happen to people who are so called fat. It happens to thin people too. They get called anorexic or asked if they have an eating disorder.
Body shaming isn’t the shaming going on. People are being shamed by what they wear, especially young girls. Shaming clothing isn't the same as body shaming. However, it is still shaming, and shaming anyone is wrong.
Body shaming happens in three ways.
Criticizing your own appearance, through a judgment or comparison to another person. (i.e.: “I’m so ugly compared to her.” “Look at how broad my shoulders are.”)
Criticizing another’s appearance in front of them, (i.e.: “With those thighs, you’re never going to find a date.”)
Criticizing another’s appearance without their knowledge. (i.e.: “Did you see what she’s wearing today? Not flattering.” “At least you don’t look like her!”).
Clothes shaming happens, and it happens to women that wear revealing clothing too. Clothing shaming is now happening to young girls that go to school. Schools are not clothing shaming these young girls restricting them from expressing themselves. It happens because boys are being perverts and don't know how to respect women. It shouldn't matter what you wear, even if it is revealing.
Destroying confidence is not okay. Here is a passage from "7 Reasons To Stop Shaming Women Who Wear "Revealing" Clothing, Your Ideas Of "Propriety" Aside" by Jen Marie. Before you turn to your daughter and tell her you refuse to see her dress like such a slut (I know, harsh, but tons of parents do or threaten to without even thinking), please remember that there are damaging effects to having one's personal appearance harshly criticized. Especially when it's your sexual appearance that's being called into question. Teenage girls have the already difficult task of navigating their emerging sexual desires in a society that doesn't always teach sexual education or embrace the reality that women can be intelligent, respectable, and sexually alluring people. What they need most from their parents is emotional support and constructive guidelines that will help them find their own sense of style while building a level of discernment around when certain self-expression serves them best, and when it can hinder them.
Both body shaming and clothing shaming both have confidence involved. Both of them involve destroying the confidence a person has in themselves, and that is not okay.
