Women with curves are becoming more of a hot and controversial topic. #teacherbae is the most recent example of this issue that continues to put down, single out, and berate women simply because they do not have a “normal” body type. No matter the clothes these women are wearing, they just cannot seem to shake the judgments that they face every day. The teacher I am speaking about specifically is Patrice Brown. She teaches a fourth-grade class. The woman was and continues to be spoken about on several occasions as well as on multiple websites with her own tag for her “inappropriate attire."
Brown posted a series of photos in her classroom and the photos blew up very quickly. There were some mixed reviews about the attire the teacher had on, and most were negative. The clothing she was wearing in these photos would all be considered appropriate in most settings if she were not curvy. The most controversial photo circulated is a photo of herself in a tight dress with a high neck and a cardigan. The issue with the picture most claim is that she is too curvy to be wearing her outfit. Another picture circulating is of herself in a long sleeve top and JEANS. Again, the complaint is that the attire is too inappropriate for a classroom setting not because the institution has a dress code against jeans and a tee, but because of how her body looks in the clothingI get that we want to protect children, and I understand that we have to look appropriate because we set the example for them. The issue that I have taken with Brown’s case is that we are shaming someone because of her body that she was given. She did not ask to be curvy, just as someone does not ask to be thinner. The teacher eventually put her Instagram account on private because this was such an issue for many people. The real problem is body shaming. When we belittle someone and criticize them for something they cannot control, especially in public settings, we do the opposite of teaching our children morals and value and tolerance. We teach them to judge and point out differences along with many other toxic qualities. Instead of judging a woman for how she looks in a tee and jeans, or a dress that is covered from knee to neck with a cardigan on, we should praise her for teaching our youth. Body positivity and loving oneself is an important quality that we all should strive for and encourage others to have.
