10/10/2021
Body Shaming, A curse to humanity.
By
Sumatha Nayak
Founder
www.itsoksupport.com
"The action or practice of humiliating someone by making mocking or critical comments about their body shape or size" , this is the meaning giving by Google for the search " Body shaming".
It may be funny for the people who comment on other 's physical appearance, but it can lead to low self esteem , low body dissatisfaction and low quality of life. I was shocked when a boy as young as 8 years told me that he feels he is fat and short, when I asked him why did he feel so he said his friend who is one year younger than him is taller to him. I was wondering who is responsible for making the boy compare himself with others ?? This is the age to laugh and play and the boy is already under stress because of the awareness of body features!
During our last visit to one CA coaching institute , I was so touched when a teenage girl shared mental agony she is going through because of body shaming. She started hating going for family functions because the so called "seniors" comment on " pimples " on her face. Sad indeed !!!
The above incident took me back to my own childhood days. I grew up hearing one of senior member in the family calling me "crane" because I was thin with long legs. Thank God I used to find cranes very beautiful 😍...and my whole attentions was towards Nature and studies ..I used to be overwhelmed by the beautiful colors and aroma of flowers..I used to wonder mud is the same but why different plants take out different colors and scents ...I wanted to find out whether there are life in other planets ..I wanted to know the secret of life and death ..and more than worrying about sun tan I loved to play football and kabbadi in scorching afternoon sun...and evenings were spent in the big orchard of various fruit tress ..birds and butterflies were my best friends ...so i never had the time to think about others comments! But my mother had 😄So she made me to eat and drink everything available in the market which will make me " fat "!! And you won't be believe I became so fat by the time I became 16 that boys in my college started calling me Appu the cute mascot of Asian Games 1982 which was held in India. Even that did not hurt me because I was overwhelmed by the tagline which accompanied " Appu" .." Friendship , Fraternity Forever "...all these because my grandparents who brought me and my two sisters up never compared us with anyone ...they taught us to see the beauty in eventing in nature..from a worm to galaxies...everything in Nature is filled with beauty and bliss if we have the eyes to see.
Dear parents...kindly do not compare your children with anyone ...bring out the best out of them... Take care of their physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual development..overall development of children is very important to experience every dimensions of life.. kindly see to it that your children will never spread their hands infront of anyone for little love and compassion..they should be the leaders who will be there to help anyone in need ..see to it that they will be real "human beings" brimming with joy and happiness filled with compassion and love ..they should have the nerves of steel and brains of scientists and heart of Buddha..this should be the primary responsibility of each every parent then alone the future will be bright for the next generation..Then alone this world will be free from suicides due to mental health issues which constitutes a hopping 90% according to a recent survey.
As a first step let us immediately stop body shaming the fetus by not advocating the would be mothers to eat " dry fruits , kesar and milk" to get a " fair " baby ...let us not request the helper lady who gives bath to the new born to " shape " the nose and cheeks of the child...🙏
Let us all work together for a better society with healthy people physically and mentally.
