Rachel Skidmore

Intercultural Communication 2150

December 2nd, 2014

Paper #2:
Body Shaming

Women all over the United States, of all ethnic groups are affected by weight discrimination in
some way, be it in the form of fat shaming or thin shaming. This discrimination against women
of larger body frames, as well as smaller frames is a part of pop culture and the name calling,
crude looks, teasing, and over all, shaming has got to stop. Although discrimination against
people of larger body frames has been more of a cultural mainstream topic, the discrimination
against people of smaller body frames is also becoming a part of the problem. Whether you're fat
or skinny, people feel as though they have the right to comment on your body type; at work, with
friends, or even with family. This body shaming of all kinds within all cultures has become a
problem that is affecting women, and young girls all over, and needs to be stopped at the root of
it all-by stopping discrimination all together.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the U.S. there is "an
estimated 33 percent of adults ages 20 and older [who] are overweight, 35.7 percent are obese,
and 6.3 percent are extremely obese" (Obesity 2014, May 13 CQ Researcher). Although obesity
exists, and there's always a push for people to become healthier for themselves, this weight based
discrimination is becoming a serious problem. Pop culture and the media everywhere seem to
portray this "anti-fat prejudice, [which] typically stems from misconceptions about health,
weight, and body positivity, and negatively affects millions of people every day" (Ross, J. 2014,
November 10. 9 Facts that Shatter Stereotypes About Fat People. pg 1. Everyday Feminism.).
This idea that the social stigmatization, of singling out overweight people, to make them change
their ways and become thin, is going to do just the opposite. Although the stereotype for heavier
set people is that they are lazy, and don't have motivation, it's entirely

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possible for someone who is thin to be a "couch potato" and a heavier set person to be an avid
exerciser. You simply just can "never tell exactly what someone's eating and exercising habits
are just by looking at them; [furthermore], destroying someone's self-esteem in the name of
'health' is never going to work" (Ross, J. 2014, November 10. 9 Facts that Shatter Stereotypes
About Fat People. pg 2. Everyday Feminism.).
The act of fat shaming, by calling names, and pointing out a person's flaws in their
weight, will essentially only increase the issue. This stigmatization and discrimination does
nothing but make people feel horrible about themselves, which does not help people lose weight,
but essentially leads them to be more likely to remain overweight. Furthermore, being
overweight certainly does not mean that a person is lazy or lacks willpower, as "research shows
that most diets will not work in the long run; if dieting worked, it wouldn't be a $60 billion dollar
industry; the truth is that we still don't know how to healthfully lose weight and keep it off"
(Ross, J. 2014, November 10. 9 Facts that Shatter Stereotypes About Fat People. pg 3. Everyday
Feminism.). Ultimately, the social stigma and discrimination against overweight people only
adds to the problem. Every person is entitled to their own body, and should never have to face
discrimination based off of what other people's standard of beauty is.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, thin shaming has begun to take effect on women
and young girls as well. The so-called "compliments" that are given to women of a smaller body
frame, such as "you don't have anything to worry about, you're already skinny" followed by a
glare, or "enjoy being small now, because you won't stay like that forever." Although thin
shaming is not on the same level of scrutiny as fat shaming, women are still being put under
scrutiny even for being thin. Comments like these only make you feel awkward, like you need to

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put yourself down because you're thinner than someone else, just to make them feel better.
Furthermore, the issue of thin shaming has not only reached middle schools but universities, and
young models as well. In a recent blog, posted by Charlotte Andersen, she describes her friend's
daughter, who is of middle school age, that had come home sobbing, because she was being
teased for being too skinny. "Her classmates had been teasing her relentlessly about her weight:
some calling her names and comparing her to animals, while others gave her unsolicited diet
advise under the guise of concern." There's also the case of Frances Chan, who is a student at
Yale University, who went into the student health clinic, only for a checkup for a lump on her
breast, but instead was accused of being anorexic, and almost expelled, unless she gained weight
(Andersen, C. 2014,May 7. Let's Stop Speaking in Pounds).
In the case of Ji Hye Park, a 17 year old Asian model who was photographed wearing a
piece from fashion designer, Stella McCartney, experienced the cruel brunt of thin shaming via
social media. This occurred when people were calling her "disgustingly, shockingly thin, and
clearly very ill," as well as people commenting that her arms look scary, and that they "thought
you (Stella McCartney) designed with real women in mind." This girl, who is young, and just
fresh out of high school, is now being personally scrutinized, and being treated as though she's
not a 'real woman', just for being herself and wearing an outfit as part of her job. Think of how
she will feel reading these comments that are directed at her. Furthermore, "when you call a
woman disgusting because of the way she looks, you are thereby approving all kinds of body
shaming- yes including fat shaming" (Biado, E. 2014, October 5. There's Nothing Okay About
Skinny-Shaming. Manila Standard Today). These are prime examples of women and young girls
that can't even go to school or have a job without experiencing weight discrimination.

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This conflict of weight discrimination on the basis of fat vs. thin, has several elements at
the seam, which pose a bigger picture into the issue. First of all, "public scrutiny doesn't take into
account the matters of age, race, genetics, underlying health conditions, environment, and
socioeconomic status among other things that factor into a person's build" (Andersen, C.
2014,May 7. Let's Stop Speaking in Pounds).
For some people, being thin is very underestimated. For example, a lady by the name of
Wendy Lu has been given the "compliments" by people for being "blessed to have a tiny waist
and a fast metabolism". Little do they know that she has "severe acid reflux that has led to
Esophageal Stricture-a fancy term for a narrow esophagus, and loss of peristalsis, which helps
food move from the esophagus to the stomach" (Lu, W. 2014, April 14. Retrieved from
http://www.hercampus.com/school/unc/closer-look-skinny-shaming-and-body-image).
She has had to keep a close eye on what she eats, literally so that food would not get
stuck in her esophagus. For her, it wasn't a matter of watching how much chocolate she eats, so
she doesn't gain unwanted pounds, it was to save her life. After she underwent a surgery to aid in
the widening of her esophagus, she was finally able, not only to enjoy the taste of food, but to
actually eat when she was hungry. For if food got stuck, she would spend hours, sometimes up to
days waiting for it pass through her esophagus. As Wendy Lu states, "Being skinny isn't a 'gift'
or a 'blessing' for me. It's the consequence of a lifelong health burden, of not getting enough
nutrition when I was younger. It's a reminder to not take delicious food for granted, and to take
good care of my body". Body shaming can be severe, especially to those that do have underlying
health conditions, and can only do so much to keep themselves healthy. This is a prime example

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of how important it is not to judge and discriminate against someone, as you never know the true
struggle that they may be going through.
Furthermore, at the seam of this conflict lies the discrimination against fat people on the
basis of employment, kids being bullied and even the court system. Research shows that "fat
employees receive fewer promotions, and may earn less than their thinner counterparts; as well
as students that are overweight are less likely to be accepted into college despite comparable
academic performance". There is even discrimination in the court system, to where "male jurors
have been shown to be quicker to label fat women as 'repeat offenders' with awareness of [their]
crimes". "One study even found that obese kids were 65 percent more likely to be bullied than
their peers" (Ross, J. 2014, November 10. 9 Facts that Shatter Stereotypes About Fat People. pg
4. Everyday Feminism.). For weight discrimination to affect a person's employment, college
acceptance, and even their freedom in a court of law, is absolutely preposterous.
Another example of this conflict at the seam is shown through the example of the AAPI
(Asian American & Pacific Islander) vs. American cultures. For women of the AAPI
community, being fat is a sign of shame, in which a girl who weighs 122 pounds is considered
to be a size XXL by Chinese sizes. "Americans want to be slim, but the AAPI's that I know want
to be microscopic...Not only are we constantly expected to uphold the ideal 'small and delicate'
Asian-American stereotype, but because of the shame involved in discussing our weight, we
never get to have a healthy conversation about body image issues" (Don't Call Me Fat: Asian
American Body Shaming Needs to Stop. 2013, July 23). Therefore, body shaming in other
cultures exists so much so that it's a taboo to even talk freely about their body image issues, and
leads to the feeling of being estranged from both of their cultures.

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The theory of Symbolic Interactionism can be applied to the seam of this conflict, as it is
in human nature to act toward people on the basis of meanings we assign to them. "The central
idea of Symbolic Interactionism is that symbols are the key to understanding how we view the
world and communicate with one another" (Henslin, J. (2013). Essentials of Sociology (10th ed.,
p. 16). Planet Friendly Publishing). Therefore, people who are labeled as 'fat' or 'thin' are given
those titles based off of the beauty standards, or symbols that pop culture in our society has
created. The origins for these symbols have come through everything from the actors and
actresses in tv shows, movies, and commercials, to the images of people portrayed in music, on
billboards or magazines, and even going as far as the standards set by "Victoria's Secret" models.
Therefore, because of the symbols of beauty standards that surround us, through popular culture,
we get an idea of what people should look like, and if they don't fit those standards, our initial
reaction is to put them down or try to change them.
In an effort to solve this conflict of body shaming on both sides of the fat vs. thin
spectrum across cultures, is through the use of Stella Ting-Toomey's Face Negotiation Theory. In
which she states that, "Face is the sense of favorable self-worth, and in all cultures people are
concerned about saving face; conflict is a face negotiation process in which people often have
their face threatened or questioned" (Martin, J., & Nakayama, T. (2013). Intercultural
Communication in Contexts (6th ed., p. 56). McGraw-Hill). Now in order for this theory to work,
we would need to step away from the way that most US societies function, which is through the
individualistic sense of focusing on saving your own face. Instead, we need to focus on a more
collectivistic society and on saving the other person's face. Although much of the conflict on
both ends of the body shaming happens through the use of social media, where people have

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more courage to say these hurtful things behind the screen of a computer and not to the person's
actual face, this theory still stands. If everyone were more concerned about the harmony within
relationships and that of keeping conflict from escalating or even simply avoiding it in the first
place, by trying to save the other person from embarrassment or hurt feelings, then this issue of
weight discrimination would cease to exist.
Furthermore, Rachel Sheinin, a past coordinator of the National Eating Disorder
Information Centre, shows that there are ways of fighting weight discrimination, through these
common practices: 1) Don't comment on someone's weight, even as a compliment for losing
weight, as that still focuses on self-worth through body image. 2) Start trying to appreciate
different achievements in yourself and others. Work toward the point where weight is no longer
something you raise your success by. 3) Allow yourself and others to begin enjoying food for the
pleasure it brings and for its nutritional value. 4) Challenge common stereotypes about fat and
thin in your daily life, i.e. that fat equals failure, unhealthy, lazy (Sheinin, R. 1997. Body Shame:
The Shaming of Women. Healthy Weight Journal, 11(2), 3-3).
"Sizeism is the fourth-most prevalent form of discrimination in the U.S; yet only six
cities (plus Michigan) have laws protecting against it" (Ross, J. 2014, November 10. 9 Facts that
Shatter Stereotypes About Fat People. pg 3. Everyday Feminism.). With this growing trend of
body shaming, on both sides, along with the solutions of personal practices as listed above, the
next possible solution would be to add weight discrimination into our laws, as another thing that
people are not allowed to discriminate against. This would go for employers, schools, and any
other government run facility that this may become an issue. We have laws that protect us
against discrimination upon race, gender, marital status, and many other things; weight

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discrimination should be the next addition to these laws. Ultimately, it comes down to the fact
that each individual person knows their own body and has a "norm" that they uphold for
themselves. A thin person may look skinny to others, but knows that she has gained weight and
feels self conscious about it. Just as a heavy person may know that they lost a few pounds,
although other people may not know right away, that person does, because they know their own
body better than anyone else. Although everyone has their own body "norms" and also have the
things they would change about themselves, it is better to judge someone based upon their
character, rather than the number on a scale.
It is important to know that it's not just one group getting the brunt of weight
discrimination, it is all groups, from fat to thin, American to Asian, and many other cultures.
This is no longer a battle only being fought by those who are heavier set, and it is a battle which
is long past due for attention to be brought and changes to be made within U.S. society.

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Works Cited:

Andersen, C. (2014, May 7). Let's Stop Speaking in Pounds. Retrieved from
http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/1036353/is-thin-shaming-just-as-badas-fat-shaming

Biado, E. (2014, October 5). There's Nothing Okay About Skinny-Shaming. Manila Standard
Today.

Don't Call Me Fat: Asian American Body-Shaming Needs to Stop. (2013, July 23).

Henslin, J. (2013). Essentials of Sociology (10th ed.). Planet Friendly Publishing.

Lu, W. (2014, April 14). Retrieved from http://www.hercampus.com/school/unc/closer-lookskinny-shaming-and-body-image

Martin, J., & Nakayama, T. (2013). Intercultural Communication in Contexts (6th ed., p. 56).
McGraw-Hill.

Obesity. 2014, May 13. CQ Researcher. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/

Ross, J. (2014, November 10). 9 Facts That Shatter Bullsh*t Stereotypes About Fat People. Pg 1.
Everyday Feminism.

Sheinin, R. (1997). Body Shame: The Shaming of Women. Healthy Weight Journal, 11(2), 3-3.

Tomiyama, J., & Mann, T. (2013). If Shaming Reduced Obesity, There Would Be No Fat People.
Hastings Center Report. Retrieved from EBSCO Host.