Skinny Shaming.

I never thought I would have to write an opinion on something like this.

In fact, I HATE that I have to write something about this, but I think it needs to be said.

A trend in pop culture has recently been exacerbated by Meghan Trainor's hit "All About that Bass."

Skinny Shaming.

While earlier it has seemed to hang on the periphery of thought, Skinny Shaming is now becoming more commonplace online and in pop culture. Skinny Shaming is the act of bullying someone because they are skinny. This can range from accusations of eating disorders, to name calling, to underestimating low self esteem because somebody is already thin and should just be happy with it. And it is often not recognized as bullying because the victim is not overweight.

One of the most commonplace forms of skinny shaming occurs when stores post photos of thin models for their clothing lines. The comments on these photos often include accusations of anorexia, that the company is not representing "real customers", and many other hurtful statements. The outcry from these photos usually results in them being taken down and replaced with models that are more "realistic". (and I do realize that many of these photos are altered, but there are people who are naturally that thin.)

Can we just look at this for a second? Here people are accusing someone of having a serious illness. They are accusing someone of not being a real person, solely based on their body type! And this happens all the time, outside of large company postings. I have seen similar comments on the Instagram profiles of regular people.

With the popularity of "All About that Bass" and other similar songs, Skinny Shaming has now entered the spotlight as a way of "empowering" overweight people to be more confident. Here is a line from "All About that Bass" that highlights this problem:

"Boys like a little more booty to hold tonight."You know I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll"

This horrifies me. Because I'm thin boys won't like me? Because I'm thin I'm a "Barbie Doll"? How is putting other peoples' body types down ok, let along empowering?
Let's try something to illustrate my point-Here is a reversal of this line to reflect the mindset of "Fat Shaming" (a perspective I DO NOT support, this is just to show the impact).

"Boys want a little less booty to hold,
You know I won't be no roll-figured cow"

If a song were to come out with lyrics similar to this, there would be a worldwide outcry. But songs that share the same perspective, just directed toward a different group of people, are topping the charts. These songs have the same impact on thin people as the altered line would have on people who are overweight.

I have had personal experiences with Skinny Shaming, going back as far as I can remember. I've been told to "shut up" when talking about my body, because I'm already thin. I've had friends make fun of me for wearing smaller sizes than them. Virtually every part of my body has been laughed at because I am smaller than average. It's hard to have high self-esteem when you are being bullied, and no one recognizes it as bullying because of your body type.

So what can we do?

1. Stop listening to "All About that Bass" and other Skinny Shaming songs. These songs are not empowering, they target a specific group of people and tear them down based on physical characteristics. Not ok.

2. Don't joke about body types. Skinny Shaming jokes are just as harmful as Fat Shaming jokes, and you never know how sensitive someone is about their size. One strong joke can hurt even the most self confident person.

3. Stop looking at body types at all. Compliment on the flattering fit of a dress, not how small she looks in it. There are a million things to compliment someone on other than their size (and almost all of them are more meaningful). Don't refer to yourself as "fat" or "anorexic", and don't let anyone else refer to you by those terms.

Everyone is individual, their eyes are individual, their personalities are individual, their fingernails are individual, and their body types are individual. You wouldn't mock someone because they had a different eye color. Don't mock someone because they are a different size.

You are not defined by your body type, don't degrade and define others by theirs.