Body shaming has existed since time immemorial, but it has reached new heights in 2023. Here the slightest imperfection in your look is seen as a roadblock. It won’t be an exaggeration if I call body shaming a national time pass. We can often hear teen girls and women being trolled on social media for being obese, having a big torso, thin lips, short height, dark skin and the list goes on. It is a real problem that needs to be addressed with care and sensitivity.

Body shaming has existed since time immemorial, but it has reached new heights in 2023. Here the slightest imperfection in your look is seen as a roadblock. It won’t be an exaggeration if I call body shaming a national time pass. We can often hear teen girls and women being trolled on social media for being obese, having a big torso, thin lips, short height, dark skin and the list goes on. It is a real problem that needs to be addressed with care and sensitivity.

How body shaming affects the psychology of women.

When Sanjeeda gave birth to her first baby her happiness knew no bounds but little did she know that it was short-lived. With the growing demands of her newfound motherhood, she could hardly take care of herself. The extra kilos that she had gained during pregnancy became a part of her, refusing to go. She felt doomed. Her weight loss journey was heading nowhere. She would compare her pre-pregnancy photos with the post-pregnancy ones, would self-loath and do a lot of negative body talk. She felt the societal pressure to look picture-perfect. She was ashamed of her existence. Sometimes we alone are capable of destroying our mental health; no outsider is needed. Doctors and mental health experts call this phenomenon —postpartum depression which happens also due to other consequences related to delivery.

Seema was a bright young girl who loved going to school and hanging out with friends. She was all fun and laughter. She was a bright student and loved to participate in extracurricular activities. During one of the stage rehearsals where Seema was supposed to perform, a terrible thing happened to her. She was replaced at the last minute as the new instructor found her to be unfit for the play. Seema was lean. She called her names Skeleton and Broomstick. This wasn’t the first time that someone had made her feel bad about her body. Her friends, her family, and the neighbourhood aunt, no one spared her from either passing a snide remark or showing grave concern. She was already battling with disturbing emotions which came along with body shaming. This incident finally shook her to the core. It took a toll on her mental health and changed her personality completely. She started avoiding going to school and preferred to stay indoors. She was no more the same Seema.

Combat body shaming:
Practice gratitude

The daily dhikr of Alhamdulillah (thanking the Creator) reminds us of how blessed we are, it sends signals of contentment to our minds. Counting our blessings is the sure shot way to find peace.

Keep a check on your emotions and don’t let a negative remark on your body become a label. When everybody else around you is trying to put you down, talk to yourself in the most positive manner. Try journaling down your feelings and let the negative emotions go.

Embrace body positivity

Be comfortable in your own skin. Take small notes of how your body gives big and small joys even if it doesn’t look a certain way; how it helps you reach new milestones and brings you closer to your purpose. Ditch your selfie-love because you are worthy of self-love.

Our bodies are the Amanah (trust) of Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala, we need to nurture them holistically. We all are differently beautiful. No one has an edge over you. No one has a right to make you feel like a lesser being. He did not create us like cardboard cutouts, there is hikmah (Wisdom) in His diversity and we need to trust Him.
This is what we can do to resist being overwhelmed by societal body shaming. But we should also check ourselves to see whether we end up doing the same to others.

Speak a good word or remain silent, said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

This hadith makes so much sense when we are discussing body shaming. Words are extremely powerful, they can both uplift or crush a suffering soul. We need to check our bluntness before we utter insensitive remarks about someone’s appearance. We should break the cycle both within ourselves and in society, to ensure that no one should suffer the cruelty of these razor-sharp words. Let the Seemas and Sanjeedas of the world feel free and comfortable in their own selves and bodies; and let us ensure that we spread dignity, not shame.