05/09/2021
Body Image and Being Filipino
Growing up in Filipino/Asian culture, the discussion about your physical features was just part of a greeting with your relatives. “Jez! It’s been so long! You’re too skinny now! You know your cousin gained weight and looks good now. You should gain too.” I grew up dancing ballet, so I was fairly skinny for my childhood. Already at such a young age, I was concerned more about how dancing made me “too skinny” rather than how much I enjoyed it. I didn’t realize it, but I definitely had body image problems. Fast forward to nursing school where I first experienced TRUE STRESS.. I’ve been underweight my whole life and all of a sudden the comments from my elders switched from,”You need to eat more! You’re skin and bone,” to ,”good you finally gained weight, maybe you should start eating less now.” Once I started working, my body had to adjust and I lost a ton of weight again. Now that I’m adjusted, I am starting to gain weight easier, but in a way hearing,”you’re too skinny again,” is more preferable than taking notice of any weight I’ve gained.
I’m not angry at my relatives for saying these things or blaming them for how it has affected me into my adulthood. I do want to make an effort to change that in the Filipino American/Asian American communities I am a part of now. This is a tradition in this culture that needs to come to an end. No more comparisons, no more judgment, NO MORE CHISMIS!
We need to support and empower each other. Women empowerment is SO important to integrate into these cultures. Growing up I was told “beautiful” was tall, light skinned & skinny with curves. In 25 years I have achieved,“too skinny” or “gained too much”. As a Filipino-American I want to encourage others to take those negative comments, and say ,“yeah, but I feel great”! As a woman, I want to encourage others to look at themselves and think,”YES. SHE IS BEAUTIFUL.”
Being the better version of yourself isn’t just physical beauty. Treating others with love, that is beautiful. Making others feel cared for, that is beautiful. Taking steps to improve your mental health, THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.
