Love your body, through thick and thin.

What is body shaming and why do we do it?

The text book definition for body shaming is: the practice of making critical, potentially humiliating comments about a person’s body size or weight. When I say body shaming, telling someone they’re too fat probably jumps to mind. However, as our mentality and body goals change, so does the shift in body shaming.

2016 saw the most drastic change in the ‘ideal body’ as Kylie Jenner became a new role model for young women as she broadcasted her new physique on her social media platforms. How are you supposed to feel when you see her maintained slim waist with her newly formed curves all over Instagram and snapchat?

We’re constantly told about the issues with social media and the way it makes us feel like crap. But how can these little apps upon our mobile screens have such a significant effect on the way we view ourselves?

Through judgement and comparison, that’s how.

Now before you get all defensive on me and assure yourself that you would never be a part of the cut throat savagery of social media prejudice, let us just recap on how our old friend Instagram works.

It’s difficult to avoid the carefully controlled images of people’s seemingly perfect lives and bodies that fill your feeds. These have been publically shared for your stamp of approval with the double tap of a finger, boosting egos everywhere. Well, not exactly. With the new wave of self-love comes the tsunami of sister-hate. It’s been a year of loving the skin you’re in and the old ‘flaws’ become the new features to flaunt.

Ms Maloney has gained her few thousand Instagram followers through posting photos embracing her voluptuous physique.

“It used to all be about the thigh gap and visible hip bones. Times are changing now and that’s no longer deemed as attractive or trendy. We now want a fat ass and thighs but still enjoy the small waist.

“We find ourselves telling slim girls that they’re ‘unhealthy’, ‘too skinny’ and that they need to eat properly. But this is the same issue that we had with body shaming larger women in the past. We need to stop with the comparisons and genuinely start loving ourselves. Opinions on physical beauty will never be universal but the attractiveness of happiness and confidence will”.

To bring you back to my point, you as a part of society are the driving force behind the judgements on social media, whether you’re conscious of it or not. Start using media as a platform to spread love and support for your sisters, because we are all beautiful.