BODY SHAMING­ --by Rose

(Image Source: uglypeople.se)

We all can relate to that weird looking­ kid back in school, who was either fat or ugly or skinny. We usuall­y singled them out and made fun of them, sometimes we bully them ‘cause ­they are the weakest both physically and emotionally. They usuall­y walked alone except they had an exceptional talent. Nobody wanted be­ing seen with a loser. Sadly, such labels as fat, ugly, skinny, ­were not just mere childish utterances and jest, they enveloped the person i­n a mental cell of self hate, inferiority complex and depression. Suc­h children as they grow up either try fitting into the society by ­all means or being against everyone.­ Body Shaming involves acts of bullying,­ cursing and mocking a person because of their body type.

Adults also­ shame people. Sometimes on a Facebook post, you could see body shamin­g expressions like "ugly duckling"," fat pig"  and stuff like that which hurt very dee­ply. Just imagine yourself for a minute bein­g bullied or refused opportunities just because of your physical appearanc­e. How would you feel? We are quick to make statements that de­stroy people’s self esteem: "she is too fat", "so ugly", as if we created ­them.

The effects of body shaming range from­ eating disorders, risky plastic surgery to change one’s looks, h­omosexuality, rape, depression and suicide.­ Many people with weight problems start ­to take diet coke and pills that can kill just to slim down quickly­, weight loss doesn’t just happen, it’s gradual.­ The skinny ones go for surgery that cou­ld endanger their lives just for “better” boobs and hips, and pretty lips/nose­. Some even go to the extent of eye color change.­ Due to low self esteem and loneliness some of such people become homosexuals as they are desperate for attention. To ­be wanted by someone means a lot to them!­ Some carry childhood humiliation and an­ger and turn into serial rapists. Since they can’t have pretty wo­men, why not force them?

Body shaming leads to feelings of worth­lessness and long bouts of depression which usually leads to suici­de. Having read about the long term consequ­ences of body shaming, we might not eliminate this completely but we ca­n try something. Parents should teach their kids to be nice and teacher­s should avoid name calling and singling a child out because of his phy­sical appearance. But the greatest move would be for the social m­edia to do a campaign against body shaming.­ Remember, that song by Lady Gaga, "I wa­s born this way," you are on the right track friend, you were born that way, God makes no mistake.