We live in a society that continues to play the blame game. When those who are overweight struggle to lose the pounds, they blame the program or pill that didn’t work. When they feel self-conscious surrounded by those who are smaller, they blame the other person for being “too skinny.”
Body shaming is something that has occurred for years. Yet as the larger society grows as a whole, the more it seems as naturally thin people are criticized, body-shamed and left feeling insecure about their small frame.
Now before you come at me with pitchforks and flaming torches, let me explain. I do not believe that anyone should ever be body shamed for any reason. Big, little, short, or tall, people should be able to feel comfortable in their own skin, learning to love who they are. We need to learn to embrace all body types and quit putting others down based on their appearance.
So when I’m told I need to eat a cheeseburger or that I would look so much better with some meat on my bones, I immediately get angry. For years, I felt insecure and covered myself to prevent the hurtful comments. I wore jeans in the summer to hide my legs and felt ashamed of my small frame. It wasn’t until I had a partner who told me I was beautiful on a daily basis that I started to truly embrace and love my body for what it is.
So if I cannot comment on your size, then why do you think you can comment on mine? If roles were reversed and I made a comment on how big an individual is, I would be scrutinized for being rude and insensitive.
It seems as if people believe that just because a person is skinny, that they do not have insecurities about their body. When you point out a person’s small waist or long legs, it shines a light on a part of their body that they may be struggling to love.
Women are living in a world that consistently focuses on their weight. When a woman feels low about herself, she’s more likely to say something negative about someone else. Yet instead of making snarky comments to those around you, big or small, compliment them. Women should be embracing each other’s different figures and highlighting their best features.
The large backside that one woman may despise, another woman may envy. The vertically challenged tend to be envious of the women who are taller and have great legs. There are always going to be features that we don’t love on our bodies, but learning to accept how you were built instead of shaming others for having something you desire, is the key to being confident in your own skin. We should stop letting society dictate what is beautiful and shaming those who are skinny or those who are considered thick.
After all, don’t we all just want to be able to eat the extra cupcake without worries of whispers in the background?
