Let me and my body be

Ashima Sehajpal Batish 

We grow up fat or slim or somewhere in between. We grow up tall or short, or again, somewhere in between. Complexion, too, is a plus-minus of fair and dark. The basic stats of human physicality remain the same, yet we give into vanity. We categorise ‘us’ — that short girl, that fat woman, the one with dark skin or pale complexion. Body shaming isn’t new to us — as a doer or as a victim. Social media comparatively is. 

A casual banter between people about themselves or others becomes a moot point on social media. Since anonymity is a norm, everyone participates. If one has a problem with the skin tone of Priyanka Chopra’s armpits, someone else has it with her legs and the Prime Minister fitting in one frame. Then there are those who don’t like Mithali Raj’s picture on Twitter in a ganji, or have an issue with her sweat mark. But then, body shaming is not new to us, social media is, and women giving it back to body shamers definitely is.

Some retort in words, some by posting more pictures to prove the point. Indian women cricket team’s captain Mithali Raj chose not to ignore. To the snide comment on her ‘sweaty armpits’, her response couldn’t have been more befitting, “I am where I am because I sweated it out on d field! I see no reason 2 b ashamed f it, when I’m on d ground inaugurating a cricket academy.” (sic) 

Trolls are always trending. And trollers have an opinion on everything. Actor Aahana Kumra, seen in Lipstick Under My Burkha, posts her bikini pictures from a beach and she is vehemently trolled. Why? For her belly fat. She was advised, “Go to a gym,” “Lose belly fat”. Unfazed, she rebutted, “Do we shape the world? Or does the world shape us?”

She did ‘report abuse’ many offenders on Twitter, whose accounts were then taken off the social media. “I can’t deny that nasty and sexist comments did affect me, but it was temporary.  Do we really have to be bothered about what the world says and not focus on our strengths? I put the same thought in the tweet I later posted,” says Aahana. While she was trolled for supposed belly fat, Aneri Vajani, seen in TV soap Beyhadh, was criticised for being too skinny. Not the one to take it lying down, she hit back with the hashtag #MyLifeMyRules, “Whats wrong with you people, if you are fat and you post a picture, the world has a problem, if you are skinny… the world still has a problem. …the picture is for me and I posted it on my account.”

With cameras flashing all the time, celebrities are under constant pressure to look fit and fetching. They can’t take it easy; social media won’t let them anyway. The airport look has to be as perfect as the party dressing-up. Guard down, and trolls trigger in no time. Actor Tannishtha Chatterjee, who has been a victim of body shaming on national TV, suggests two ways to deal with crass humour on social media, “First, ignore. And second, retort appropriately.” Can these put a full stop to sexist and body-shaming trolls? “No, only education can put an end to prejudice. Also, celebrities with a huge fan following should frequently talk about moral issues. Unless these become a part of our pop culture, trolls will continue.”

It’s not just celebrities who are image shamed for their shape and size. Even commoners get subjected to it, only we don’t get to read their reactions. Sejal Pradhan was recently fat shamed by a distant relative. Her retort received 2.3k shares on Facebook. In a brilliant response, she lashed out, “My weight, whether I gain it or lose it or keep it the same is in no way asking for your opinion. Have I ever asked for one? No.” 

Mohit Rai, who styles the likes of Kareena Kapoor, says, “It’s only when women don’t ignore and instead fend off that trollers will learn a lesson.” Of all,  he admires how Priyanka Chopra responds to objections. “When she is questioned about the complexion of her armpits, she posts another pictures with her arms held high. When her bare legs are criticised, she posts a picture with two pairs of bare legs — of hers and her mom’s.” That’s how you shame trollers. And those who still don’t get it, aren’t even troll-worthy. 

Even in man’s world

There is no gender bias here. Women are image shamed, so are men. Once a fit man when makes an appearance with a double chin or a paunch, trollers get their prey for the day. From behind their screens, they come up with spiteful one-liners. Fardeen Khan wasn’t forgiven for his weight gain. Most recently, Uday Chopra and Harman Baweja kept trollers busy after their ‘healthier’ versions made it to the internet. Shobhaa De’s jibe at a policeman’s paunch during BMC elections in Mumbai kept debaters of the cause of body shaming busy for an entire week.