7 Reasons Fat Shaming Sucks ...

By Jennifer

Someone’s finally put a word on what we, as a society, and in particular, as women, do to each other in terms of weight – when we single someone out and make loathsome, hateful comments on their weight, some subtle, and others terribly, heartlessly obvious – it’s called fat shaming, and it sucks. There are so, so many reasons why fat shaming needs to stop, among them that I’m tired of young women being thought of as catty. And while I’m sure you know some of the reasons, maybe a few will be new. Not that you’d ever do it, right? Of course not! Here are just seven small reasons why fat shaming sucks, and why we women need to stop it, yesterday.

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1

It’s Divisive

I’m a firm believer in “we girls have to stick together,” and when fat shaming (or any other kind of “shaming”) is involved, it pulls us apart, which is the opposite of what we want! Fat shaming puts us into groups based solely on our weight … what are we, women, or something measured in pounds and ounces? It’s divisive, so let’s not do it, okay?

2

It Doesn’t Work

If fat shaming worked, there wouldn’t be a single solitary fat person on this entire planet, right? Shame is about as effective a motivator as guilt, which is to say, it’s not effective at all. It’s actually a downward spiral. If someone is ashamed of themselves, they’re going to feel worse, which may trigger them to eat for emotion, which makes them heavier, which makes them a target for more fat shaming… you see? For someone to want to make a lifestyle change, they have to feel good, and hopeful, about themselves. And fat shaming does just the opposite. It simply does not work. So let’s stop it!

3

It’s Cruel

God, more than anything else, fat shaming has to stop because let’s face it – it’s downright cruel. Whether you’re shaming yourself, or someone else, the effect is still the same, and it’s awful. It’s mean and cruel and cold-hearted, and we strive to be compassionate, loving, and kind, don’t we?

4

It’s Bullying

Did you know that in most cases, fat shaming is really just another form of bullying? It’s true. You’re putting someone else down, mostly to make you feel better about yourself, and in the process, especially over time, you’re making someone else feel terrible about themselves. The line is subtle, and doesn’t even bear scrutiny. Unless you’d like to be a bully, to yourself (if you’re shaming yourself) or to someone else, just stop.

5

It Sets a Terrible Example

Chances are, you’ve got a tiny, impressionable human looking to you to learn how the world works, and how we find our place in it. Children, teens, even peers who look up to us – they’re all paying attention and they see how we interact with other people. And let me tell you, I’d be embarrassed for my daughters to see how we women shame each other – that is not the example I want to set of how we’re supposed to interact. I’d much rather have them see us lifting each other up, supporting each other, celebrating our successes, wouldn’t you?

Famous Quotes

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

Niccolò Machiavelli
6

What’s inside?

Fat shaming is horrible, isn’t it? When we do it, to ourselves or to others, we’re saying that the whole of a person is in the layers of their skin, and not with who they are at heart. We’re saying what’s inside doesn’t matter; that their weight is the entirety of who they are, and that’s just wrong. I would hate to be judged solely on my appearance, or worse wholly on my weight. It’s despicable, and according to Jennifer Lawrence, it should be illegal for the media in particular to call anyone fat. Why? In an interview with Barbara Walters, Lawrence explains simply, "Because why is humiliating people funny?" She's right - and she goes on to say that "fat shaming" should be regulated like cigarettes, and she has a point - they're both incredibly harmful!

7

There’s No Empathy There

I’d like to think if I was struggling with something, that my fellow humans, especially women, would come to my aid. Fat shaming is the opposite. In order to help someone, you need empathy, and fat shaming is the opposite of that. There’s no empathy, there; there’s no helpfulness. It’s all about cruelty, and about abusing someone else’s feelings to make ourselves feel better about our own insecurities. Ouch!

I'm sure you already knew most of these reasons we need to stop fat shaming, but were any of them new? What do you think of fat shaming, and do you have any stories to share?

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

What's the difference between fat shaming and skinny shaming? Body shaming goes both ways, no body type should be shamed, fat, skinny or whatever

I totally agree with this article.... We are who we are, girls! Be proud of it!

I think because a lot of girls strive to be skinny and the media portrays skinny as better-think of models and actresses

And skinny shaming?

The reason this article addresses "far shaming" is for numerous reasons. Some if them being that fat shaming occurs a lot more than "skinny" shaming, fat shaming also carries a lot more cruel jokes and remarks, and most importantly because "fat" is not an accepted body type in society while "skinny" is the standard.

Skinny shaming is the same way. If heavier girls have no problem saying skinny girls need to gain weight, there should be no problem with telling them to lose

Skinny shaming sucks too. Focus on shaming in general not just one or the other.

People should also stop with the "Men love curves. Only dogs like bones." This creates the thing where our bodies are for men and pits all females against each other. Bodies are beautiful no matter what. As long as your happy & healthy

@Arexy, so true

interesting that it says fat shaming is wrong but then goes on to say they can't make a lifestyle change if they're being shamed. implying they need to change. how about stop fat shaming because some people want to be fat and some people have no choice due to genetics and medical conditions.

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