Leo , in house contributor at Safespace talks about bodyshaming and how it’s ingrained in our society .
It’s back, it is big, It is notorious. It is the most-watched reality TV show in Africa with at least 309 million viewers which are spread across different parts of the continent.
Big Brother Nigeria is arguably one of the most anticipated events in Nigeria. This year, the show kicked off on the 24th of july with the unveiling of the contestants.
… na from that day gbege don start.
It is common knowledge that reality TV shows like this, are a display of the socio-cultural makeup of the participants and the viewers. And it didn’t take up to an hour before the body shaming in Nigerians jumped tf out. Irritating jokes that were sponsored by a preponderance of ignorance started flying around about the sagging boobs of one of the revealed contestants.
That’s. body shaming, a Nigerian societal problem and so we should talk about it.
Body shaming and Nigeria
Body shaming refers to the expression of humiliating comments about a person’s physical appearance. Body shaming in Nigeria is as old as the country itself.
It is a very common form of bullying that has been ingrained in the Nigerian culture. A lot of people body shame, yes, and your faves, our faves are not left out; mothers, uncles, bosses, pastors, even village people.
Body shaming in Nigeria is in the same geng as the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria, you know set awon multidimensional, appearing in numerous forms and mediums. It can be intentional, loud and obvious, see the case of Erica V Laycon (BBN 2020).
It can also be subtle, wrapped in comic expressions and jokes like moimoi,
“why are you so tall like a pole”
haha so funny omo’ya josh too funny.
It can even be disguised as compliments,
“Marriage looks good on you o, look at how you are big like an elephant.”
It can come from a place of concern,“you should eat well o, see how you are skinny.’
Body shaming is even worse when the person body-shaming is totally unaware, but it is what it is dfkm.
Some of these depressive remarks have also been accepted and normalized subconsciously that you become a weirdo who can’t take a joke for saying you don’t like them.
Imagine M.I being angry because I laughed at his height, isn’t he short? Mtcheew.”
But are we doing oversabi when we call out people that body shame?
If your response to that rhetorical question is NO, then one bottle of beer for you.
If not, you don messop but welcome to school. Let’s take a microscopic look at. the effects of body shaming on its victims shall we?
The effects of body-shaming:
Body shaming has a wide range of effects on the mental health of its victims. In most people, it is responsible for eating disorders, depression, societal anxiety, insecurities amongst others.
Seemingly harmless comments can go as far as ruining someone’s day (and/or life) forcing them to take it. It is always best to avoid commenting on people’s looks and body especially if you are not sure about how it will make you feel.
Finally…
If you have ever been body shamed, sorry it happened to you. You should understand that you look beautiful just the way you are. Las las, whatever it is you look like, your body is body goals, and that’s facts, on period, on everything.
Engage us on our social media platforms! Thanks.
