Body Shamers, Shame on You!
Spirit
Essential Living Blog
Body Shamers, Shame on You!
08/07/2022
About two weeks ago, I went out with some girlfriends and got to the rooftop bar early. This guy, who was dressed in a silk long sleeve shirt, unbuttoned with a gold chain hanging and those 1960 shiny suit pants, came up and started talking to me. He was a nice-looking guy, and I was just sitting there by myself, so I engaged in conversation. We got to talking, and of course, we had the are you single, what do you conversation. He proceeds to tell me that he was a personal trainer. We got on the subject of body and body image. He stated that the perfect woman's body was a size 4, indicating that a woman was healthy. I argued a little bit with him because you can't argue with a nitwit, but I said body weight does not guarantee that you are healthy, and the so-called body index is a narrow definition of health that is totally outdated!
We come in all shapes and sizes. Until the 1970s, the beauty industry standard was more like a size 14. When model Twiggy came on the scene, it all changed. Thin was in. Or should I say skinny? Models got taller and thinner. "While also an actress and singer, Twiggy was most well beginning the thin model revolution. She became a British icon with her short blonde hair, blue eyes, tall and thin body frame, as well as her bisexual appearance. In addition to being voted British Woman of the Year, Twiggy was also named the "Face of 1966" by the Daily Express."
The thin revolution ushered in the standard of blond hair, blue-eyed, and extremely thin. That left most of us out feeling as though we were not beautiful. Women of color again were marginalized and told that our skin tone, hair texture, and body shape were not to be admired. We were left feeling that our features were not normal, that our course hair was ugly and needed straitening. Our hips and butts were only deemed suitable for birthing babies.
I love fashion and beauty, but I hate that only thin, blond, and blue-eyed women are considered beautiful. This perpetuates body shaming and entices young girls to get this slim body by any means necessary. We judge ourselves on this unattainable body size. We kill ourselves at the gym. We starve ourselves. We do anything to be "thin and beautiful."
Those people who turn their noses up at people who are not the "industry" standard weight, shame on you. Beauty comes in all shapes, all sizes, all colors, and all ages. But most importantly, beauty is within. I don't care how beautiful you are if you have an ugly personality and a nasty disposition; that makes you ugly, period!
Let's make a pact. Let's celebrate our unique beauty this week and if you see or hear someone body shaming another, call them out!
Until we meet back here again, y'all stay flawless and fabulous!
Connect with me:
@every_day_beats_by_Janiceb – IG
Flirty Girls Guide to Fabulousness – Private FB Group
Everyday Beats by Janice B – Facebook page
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