Impact of Body Shaming, Recognize the Characteristics and Ways to Avoid It

Kapanlagi.com - The video of the arrival of Nurul Akmal, an Indonesian female weightlifter, at Soekarno-Hatta Airport went viral because of body shaming comments about her body shape. Nurul Akmal, who achieved the fifth rank in the Tokyo Olympics, should have been welcomed with pride and joy, but instead, she was greeted in an unpleasant manner.

This can happen due to a lack of understanding and awareness of the importance of respecting every person, including their size and body shape. Some people engage in body shaming under the guise of jokes or small talk. However, such behavior can have negative effects on the victims. This behavior is equivalent to bullying because it involves belittling and commenting on someone's appearance.

Nurul Akmal, who returned to her homeland with achievements, still has the potential to become a victim. No one can stop body shaming behavior except the perpetrators themselves. Therefore, you need to be aware of information about body shaming and its impact in order to be motivated to stop it.

1. Body Shaming Behavior

Illustration (Credit: Pixabay)

Perhaps, you have commented on someone's body size with expressions like 'you're so fat' or 'you're so skinny,' and then followed it with an urge to change their body shape. Maybe you did it as a form of small talk or intentionally to insult. If that's the case, it's better to stop that habit immediately. Even expressions that are based on concern can be considered as body shaming.

Because you never know if it will hurt someone's feelings. Moreover, body shaming can occur not only through direct expressions. You can become a perpetrator through comments on social media. Unfortunately, perpetrators often do not realize that they have done it. Now, in order for you to be more careful and avoid such behavior, please pay attention to the signs that someone has become a perpetrator of body shaming as follows.

- Often commenting on other people's physical appearance.

Commenting on other people's physical appearance, even to the point of belittling them, is body shaming behavior and should be avoided.

- Feeling that one's body is better than others.

This behavior is usually seen in two or more people who have not seen each other for a long time. Physical changes that occur should not be a topic of conversation, let alone demeaning.

- Discussing or belittling the shape or size of someone's body in an effort to appear funny in public.

Avoid including someone's body shape in the list of jokes. It can cause emotional wounds to the victim, even if their lips smile when used as a joke.

- Judging someone based on their appearance.

Someone's appearance cannot determine their worth or personality, so you have no right to label someone just because of their body shape.

- Judging someone else's decisions about their body.

You don't need to interfere when someone decides to diet, exercise, or gain weight. It is their right over their own body.

- Normalizing or joining in responses that lead to body shaming behavior.

If you have the energy, it is best to reprimand people who continue to engage in body shaming as a joke. But if you're not brave enough, just stay silent and don't respond to those body shaming jokes.

- Seeing a certain body size as evidence of success, self-control, and happiness.

Not everyone has the ideal body size and shape in your mind. Therefore, stop commenting on other people's bodies.

2. Effects of Body Shaming

Illustration (Credit: Pixabay)

For those who have never experienced body shaming, they may never understand its impact. However, you can understand the feelings of body shaming victims through the following explanations.

-Lowering self-confidence.

-Withdrawing and being less sociable.

-Inhibiting personal development.

-Triggering mental disorders, such as depression.

-Causing eating disorders, such as bulimia or binge eating.

-Increasing the risk of obesity.

-Triggering self-harm and increasing the risk of suicide.

3. Creating Awareness to Avoid Body Shaming

Illustration (Credit: Freepik)

Every person's body shape is different and that cannot be a reason for you to belittle others. If you have already engaged in body shaming, try to reflect on it to gain awareness that it is a behavior that should be stopped. Here are some ways you can do it.

1. No One is Perfect

Appearance that doesn't match the "ideal" type in your head should not be a reason for you to degrade it. Look at yourselves, realize that everyone has these differences, and it should not be blamed.

2. Learn to Be a Better Person

Mindset is important in determining behavior when interacting with others. When you want to comment on someone else's physical appearance, imagine if you were in their position, would you accept it?

You also need to change your sense of humor that often uses body shaming as a joke. Realize that it will make people around you uncomfortable.

3. Stop thinking about other people's body shapes.

There are many interesting topics to discuss when gathering with friends or family. Remove the topic of body shape from the conversation list. Not everyone can accept it and it may lead to body shaming.

Well, KLovers, those are some information about body shaming that you may often encounter but not realize.

(kpl/ans)