Women Share The First Time They Were Body Shamed And Their Stories Are Shocking
By Mustafa GatollariJan. 7 2019, Updated 11:22 p.m. ET
No one knows why body shaming women is becoming increasingly fashionable. For some reason, it seems as though everyone believes they have both a right and duty to comment on the appearance of any and all women and offer them guidance on what they should change about themselves in order to reach that ideal look in that specific nobody's eyes. It's a behavior that has been normalized in society and reinforced by edgy public figures who need to constantly find new ways to be edgy so they brush aside things like telling women to smile being a form of harassment and defaulting to traditional gender roles when they run out of arguments along with any number of references they can squeeze in from the good ol' days.
If there's one thing I learned in Kindergarten, it's that kids are merciless with their insults.
If the slightest thing is off about you - if you're wearing different clothing or you've got overly large glasses or have to use an inhaler, there will always be a group of kids there to make fun of you for it.
Good parents teach their kids out of making fun of others based on superficial things that may be out of their control, but unfortunately, some of those kids grow up to become adults who think it's OK to make fun of someone based on their looks. This is especially true of women's bodies. For example, a quick search on the Internet or look in the comments section of any Instagram post of a woman, and there'll be someone criticizing her body.
So women started sharing their own body shaming stories online with the #TheySaid hashtag as a reminder that this gross phenomenon is sadly alive and well.
#TheySaid is the best worst thing today. We need to change the convo abt women + their bodies; also brings back SO many painful memories
— Ally Feldman (@Pofeldy) May 25, 2017"Keep eating like that and you're going to be a butterball." My Dad when I was 12. Pls RT and share a body shaming comment. #TheySaid
— Sally Bergesen (@oiselle_sally) May 25, 2017Oftentimes, the comments were made in person and by family members and loved ones.
"You're going to have to lose weight if you want to do fun things at school and be happy." - Mom, summer before I began jr. high. #TheySaid
— Tara (@runningreading1) May 25, 2017"You should stop running. It's making your thighs big." -Ex bf to 18yo me
These big thighs win races now #theysaid #bigthighssavelives https://t.co/eEfcUmTsuA
Some family members don't talk to me because I gained weight they say "you looked so pretty thin" now they ignore me #theysaid
— Loginn Johnson (@LogiLinn) May 30, 2017"You don't have the curves to wear tight dress", my so-called feminist BFF when I was 13. I'm 17. Still worry about my waist size. #TheySaid
— Lívia Maria (@studyativist) May 31, 2017My dad, " I remember you coming home that summer and you'd gained so much weight. We couldn't believe it." I was 5 #TheySaid
— Callie Morlan (@CallieMorlan) May 31, 2017It doesn't seem to matter what size your body is, someone will find a way to critique it.
"Not everyone can be effortlessly skinny like you." - Many people, to me, while I silently suffered from a severe eating disorder #theysaid https://t.co/dDJjSYv85l
— Krysta (@ktaninpdx) May 25, 2017Today at the gym: "you're a runner, aren't you? I can tell by your legs. I hate people like you." #TheySaid
I laughed right in her face. https://t.co/bMsxibf5KA
"Wanna see a picture of Biggest Courtney?" My now ex-husband. #TheySaid pic.twitter.com/jTaJgSAFQw
— Coco Renato (@coco_renato) May 25, 2017My family CONSTANTLY asking me "you train so much, how come you're not skinny?" Because sport determines body type, right? >< #theysaid
— AdjustedReality (@Quixotique) May 25, 2017#TheySaid is everything today! My favorite running the streets of Philly two years ago, "You're fast for a thick girl." Hilarious now!! https://t.co/FBgLsiPaoL
— Ashley DaltonForsyth (@YinzerInPhilly) May 25, 2017"You're so skinny, does your mother feed you?" "Are you anorexic?" – Strangers at the pool, at the grocery store, etc. #TheySaid https://t.co/i2gQFQcMJC
— Laura (@larau_95) May 31, 2017#TheySaid you're getting so fat you won't be able to come back from that... you should only eat as much food as you can fit in one fist.
— YC (@DatLatinaChick) May 31, 2017Some people said that healthcare professionals were completely blind to their eating disorders.
"All the girls throw up in the bathroom after lunch." -My doctor when I asked for help. #TheySaid https://t.co/9tSGRzWDgh
— Heather Mayer Irvine (@RunsOnFuel) May 25, 2017"You're so skinny. Do you even eat? You eat like a bird." Female classmates through high school. #TheySaid https://t.co/kcrb1c1Lg6
— IARunnergirl (@IARunnerGirl82) May 25, 2017People then started sharing their replies to such insensitive comments with the #SheReplied hashtag.
What replies can we arm our girls with? I'll start: "Actually, all bodies are different and I'm just right for me." #TheySaid
— Sally Bergesen (@oiselle_sally) May 25, 2017"This body created two humans, ran 50 miles, and carries me everywhere I need to go. What has yours done lately?" #TheySaid #SheReplied
— rc reed (@mylo_cat) May 25, 2017"To be honest, those types of comments have been shown to be really harmful to me and others." #TheySaid #SheReplied
— Sally Bergesen (@oiselle_sally) May 25, 2017"My body does everything I want it to do." #TheySaid #SheReplied
— rc reed (@mylo_cat) May 25, 2017As painful as it was for people to share these stories, users celebrated the fact that these stories were getting out there.
#theysaid is something the world needed and its sad that the internet and a seris of a show has to open up the worlds eyes and teach them.
— samaria (@samaria_boss) May 30, 2017If you do nothing else with your day, read this thread. I'll do my part to stop the shaming and the negative self talk the follows #theySaid https://t.co/kPNXr6gUVj
— Carolyn (@weegngr) May 25, 2017Hopefully people will learn the impact of their words.
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