Body shaming a rising form of abuse

Body shaming is a great concern within our communities and has adverse psychological effects. It even leads to physical effects like self-harm. Body shaming, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is the action or practice of humiliating someone by mocking or passing critical comments about their body shape, size or colour. It's expressing mockery or criticism about a person's body.

I think we can all relate to this, you have either said it, been told about it in your face or heard someone being shamed. Rarely do people stop and think how the shamed person feels. Well, it's not okay, it's not right. Lately with the way social media has taken over the world, body shaming has gone to a new level. On Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp, you will find an increasing trend of all forms of body shaming.

This has become a norm and what saddens me the most is that younger generations are picking this up. They hear this and they think it's right and do that to the next person. A child who lives across my street has a tendency of passing snide comments and several times I have observed that the mother does not reprimand him or apologise on his behalf. As a result, the child will grow up seeing nothing wrong with labelling or body shaming.

Children are also victims of body shaming as parents also perpetuate this form of emotional abuse. Body shaming is not just between strangers but can also be perpetuated by family members and close friends. This has adverse psychological effects on a child. Their confidence and self-esteem can be dented for life. Remember, the environment that a child is brought up in has a toll on their day to day life.

On International Women's Day I was seeing a lot of positive, encouraging messages and words celebrating the day. I too was sending my own messages as this day is important to me as a woman. My major concern was body shaming of women then hit me that body shaming is broader than that. It is not a concept which only affects women but men as well. There are misconceptions about how a "real man" must look.

It is sad how most people do not realise how body shaming is hurtful and rude. We think it's fine to speak badly about someone's physical features. We have grown up in societies that don't understand the effects of body shaming and name calling. Body shaming and the subsequent low self-esteem often leads victims to self-harm or commit suicide.

Often, people tend to forget that the victim may have a medical or genetic condition that has caused weight gained or loss. Physical appearance is not always a choice. Others simply cannot afford correctional surgery or things like braces.

So before you comment or say a snide remark I would suggest you think twice before you become one of those rude people who think it's ok to express their personal opinion about another person's body. Also next time you hear someone body shaming another person tell them it's rude and it's a form of verbal harassment.

The author, Tadiwanashe Burukai, works with My Age Zimbabwe Trust in Masvingo. She is a development practitioner in the field of public health and has her focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights. She writes in her personal capacity.