Life Skills & Value Education – CLASS-VI – UNIT-5 Body Shaming

• Meaning

Humiliating others on their physical appearance in front of them or others is called body shaming. Body shaming is also known as Name-Calling. For example –  Telling a person that he is too fat –  as fat as a hippo,  too skinny

– as skinny as grass, or his legs are too thin –  as thin as a matchstick.

• What are people body shamed for?

 People are often body shamed for various medical conditions like obesity, cleft lip, crooked teeth, crooked eyes, vitiligo, albinism, strabismus and more.

• Understanding a few terms

1. Albinism

Humans, animals and even plants can have albinism, a condition that gives people a kind of pale appearance. It is noncontagious, incurable and an inherited medical condition by birth (congenital).

2.Cleft lip/palate

They are birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly during evolution. They can be treated with surgery.

3.Vitiligo

A disease that causes the loss of skin colour in blotches. Vitiligo occurs when pigment-producing cells die or stop functioning. It can affect people of any age, gender or ethnicity.

4.Strabismus

Disorder in which the eyes don’t look in exactly the same direction at the same time. Causes of strabismus can include nerve injury or dysfunction of the muscles controlling the eye.

• How is body-shaming manifested?

Body-shaming manifests in many ways:

1) Criticizing your own appearance

Criticizing your own appearance through a judgment or comparison to another person.

For example- “I’m so ugly compared to her.” “Look at how broad my shoulders are.”

2) Criticizing another’s appearance in front of them.

For example- “With those thighs, you’re never going to find a proper outfit.”

3) Criticizing another’s appearance without their knowledge.

For example-  “Did you see what she’s wearing today? Not flattering.” “At least you don’t look like her!”

Body shaming often leads to comparison and shame, and perpetuates the idea that people should be judged mainly for their physical features.

• How can body-shaming affect a person?

Body shaming can negatively affect a person in many ways. Body shaming may lead to:

1. Low self-esteem
2. Eating disorders
3. Anxiety
4. Depression
5. Body image disturbance
6. Body dysmorphic disorder

•How do we challenge body shaming?

1) Practice identifying why you are upset about a situation.

2) Identify who in your life is body-positive.

3) Find something (or things!) you LIKE about your body.

4) Body Positivity is Important.

5) Acceptance: Stop Hiding. 6) Self-Love: Be Kind to Yourself.

Download PDF : ashamodernschool.in Class-6-Life-Skills-2025-26