From a young age we as women are categorized. It is difficult in today's society to feel beautiful for what your appearance is as an individual. Recently, it is obvious there is a campaign going forth promoting self-love on social medias, modeling magazines, and even music played on the radio. But why is it that girls, that are naturally thin, like myself, are suddenly revoked from their right of self appreciation.
It was never okay to shame women for being over weight, so when did it become okay to tell women in the words of Megan Trainor that, "boys like a little more booty to hold at night?" But I think the real question is, when did it become okay to body shame women at all?
Stop body shaming other women.
Just stop it. Stop telling the girl wearing the size two high waisted shorts that she needs to eat a cheeseburger... or two. Stop telling the girl wearing the beautiful blue ball gown at the local dance that she looks like "a beached whale." Seriously, just stop.
Skinny shaming is hurtful and not OK, and fat shaming is hurtful and not Ok either. They are equally disheartening, and complete acts of ignorance. We are women, in the fight together; why are we tearing each other down?
Stop saying, "only real women have curves."
It's not necessary, and is an act of body shaming. Some women simply don't have curves. A women doesn't need curves to be real, and she doesn't need to not have them to be real either. "Real" women should embrace themselves for who are they are and build other women up in the process, not tear them down. Only when we realize that we are all created equally and unique in our own ways, will we be able to succeed.
Stop assuming that an individual's weight is controllable.
If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all. The girl in the cafeteria that sits by herself because the kids call her "fat" could have uncontrollable hypothyroidism, causing her to continuously gain wait, due to a defect in her metabolism, not because she's "lazy." Or the girl walking around town in her brand new crop top, that you said was "too skinny," she's recovering from anorexia and it is the first time she has felt beautiful in years. Just knock it off, you do not know everyone's story.
Stop telling her "Wow you're so skinny, you are so lucky."
Enough? Why is an appearance even lucky? There are 7.125 billion people in the world according to the United States Census Bureau. That is 7.125 billion people who have different shapes and sizes, how is she statistically lucky? She may be trying to gain weight, or may even be battling and eating disorder. It is not a compliment, it is degrading. Women should be able to present their body image to the world with pride, not in search for social approval.
Stop telling her to "hit the gym."
Maybe she can't afford it, maybe she already is? Or maybe she doesn't want to and that is okay too! Let her embrace her size for what it is, fit or unfit. Stop raising the question of what is the perfect weight. Telling her to lose weight is completely unnecessary and does not help any problems, in fact it does quite the opposite.
The issue will not be resolved until we as women can appreciate are bodies for what they really are. We are unique in our own ways, all blessed by God's image of perfection. Instead of categorizing each other by weight, compliment each other on how beautiful each one of us truly are. Women in this day and age have the ability to change the world in front of us; so build each other up... stop body shaming.
