Ever been told how pretty you are, but that you'd look prettier if you lost some weight? Or that your breasts are too small or too big? Or that you should cover up your "big" thighs? Or that you are too skinny, too short, too tall, too dark, took sexy, too simple or too much anything?
If you answer yes to any of the above, you are not alone.
Women, and sometimes men too, from across the world often face body shaming in some form or the other. For many, it is recurring.
Many a time, it comes from people we know, people close to us, like our parents, friends, partners. How do you react to them? After all they just want your good, right?
No, it is not okay for people to reduce any person to their bodies. To make them feel that they are any lesser because they do not fit someone else's notions of beauty.
Body shaming can start when a person is very young and can leave a deep impact on them throughout their lives.
Sally Bergesen, the founder and CEO of athletic wear company Oiselle, recently tweeted about her experience of being body shamed. She was just 12 then and the shamer was her dad.
"Keep eating like that and you're going to be a butterball," she wrote.
She then asked people to retweet her and use the hashtag #TheySaid to share their own personal experiences.
"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, 2017
Ever since, scores of women have taken to Twitter to share how they were body shamed. Some also mentioned how hurtful the comments were.
"I don't know what you're doing, but you look SO MUCH healthier now. Props for losing all that weight" #TheySaid after I developed anorexia
— Ashley Scarlett (@ashleyyscarlett) June 1, 2017
You'd be really pretty if you lost weight. (Multiple people, throughout my life) #TheySaid
— KiwiKat (@Gibbermiss) June 1, 2017
#TheySaid "you're really gonna eat all that?" - my other brother, during his own bday party, when I was eating my FIRST slice of cake
— Diamond Murillo (@unhelpfulyoda97) May 31, 2017
#TheySaid "You should stop eating", "Being slim is the best body type", "no one likes fat girls"
— Queenwinters (@iQueenwinters) June 1, 2017
my mom and my grandma say this a lot
"You have such a pretty face. It's a pity you're so fat. No man will ever marry you." My Mother to me circa age 12 #TheySaid
— Elise Hines (@geekspertise) June 1, 2017
You have such a pretty face just think if you lost weight. My dad's favorite shaming thing to say #TheySaid
— Melissa Dufresne (@melissadufesne) May 31, 2017
"You might actually be pretty if you had boobs and a butt," or "Eat some cake twig," #TheySaid
— Sara Donaldson (@sara_donaldson4) June 2, 2017
If you lost weight, you'd swing bars better. Coach to me in middle of growth spurt-I'd just hit 100# & thought my career was over. #theysaid
— Heather Purkiss (@Caelfind) May 25, 2017
"Your thighs are so big! How are you supposed to wear skirts?" or "Your arms are too muscular! You look like a man!" My mom. #theysaid
— Ashley Pham (@makeshift82) May 25, 2017
"You better stop eating like that, you will be fat forever" My mom @ age 10 till present. #TheySaid
— Pam Rieser (@PBCUP1234) May 25, 2017
If you looked more like your sister I'd buy you that bathing suit. #theysaid
— Ky Hunter (@RambaKy) May 25, 2017
"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
I was told I have "good child-bearing hips." I was also told "not everyone's body is built for running." #TheySaid
— Marathons & Macarons (@GabrielleAmaraK) May 25, 2017
"Do u eat?" "Wait til u turn 30." "I want to force feed you" "looks like you put on a few lbs" "dolly" "sticks & bones" #bodyshame #TheySaid
— Jen St. Jean (@JenSaintJean) May 25, 2017
"Your butt is big. Seriously." A "friend" when I was 13. #TheySaid https://t.co/FLf2PsnWQY
— Lindsay Knake (@LindsayKnake) May 25, 2017
Bergesen later created another hashtag #SheReplied where she asked her followers to share how they responded or would respond to body shaming.
"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
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
#shereplied I have carried two sons and they are thriving. My body performs miracles. What does yours do?
— J. Foster (@FosterELA) June 1, 2017
Tell them this, folks: "I can lose or gain weight as I please, but it's much harder to undo an ugly heart." #TheySaid #SheReplied #HeReplied
— Meg (@GeekyMeg) June 1, 2017
"And what are we gonna do about you being an asshole?" - me, clapping back #SheReplied
— ladeitche (@KathyDeitch) May 28, 2017
this body does exactly what I want it to, #shereplied
— Kristiana Almeida (@MsKristiana) May 25, 2017
My body is only a physical representation of me. It's not WHO I am #SheReplied
— Nour Atrissi (@nouratrissi) June 1, 2017
"Projecting your body issues onto me is not ok. Keep it up and I will remove you from my life."#theysaid #shereplied
— Kaz (@Kazaargh) May 31, 2017
"Maybe you shouldn't assume you know anything about my awesome body." #SheReplied #TheySaid https://t.co/8KLGQd7NMq
— 5k to Ultramarathon (@5k2ultra) May 25, 2017
Well I can't lose weight to fit into someone's narrow mind! #theysaid #SheReplied https://t.co/vbiQaNpCoe
— Sarcasm Alert (@Agony_Cunt) June 2, 2017
"It's MY body not yours" is what I should have said #SheReplied
— Nour Atrissi (@nouratrissi) June 1, 2017