One of the comments, which cuts many of us the deepest, is that all too familiar jibe about one’s weight. You can chalk it up to our own conditioning that tells us that a person is no more attractive after tipping over a certain number on the scale. Then there are the lessons most women learn in childhood. We are taught that our looks are our only currency in the world, and we are to maintain them at all costs.
So, when that uncle whom you see twice a year at family gatherings takes one look at you and announces, “Beta, bahut weight gain kar liya hai,” it affects most of us. Our parents and relatives are often blatant body-shamers. Be it a jibe about weight gain, or a comment about how you are “too thin”, we all know how it goes.
Thanks to the body positivity movement, most of us know that these statements reflect the conditioning of the person making the comment more than anything else, but it will be false to say that we are completely immune to the hurt it causes. You may find yourself looking for a comeback next time you are faced with a relative unimpressed with your body. We are helping you out with a few here:
1. Haan I know, achi lag rahi hoon na!
Once you let people know that you are comfortable in your skin, they will stop giving you gyaan about how your current weight is not “healthy”. Once you let them know that you are unfazed by their criticism, it will stop very quickly.
2. Aap ne bhi!
We do not recommend using fat-shaming to counter fat-shaming but if someone refuses to end the conversation despite you letting them know that it is not a conversation you want to have, all bets are off.
3. I am eating in protest of fat-shamers like you
Sometimes, letting them know that their seemingly sugarcoated jibes are still considered fat-shaming by your standards, should help put an end to it. Eat another portion of cake while you tell them the many ways their behaviour is problematic.
4. I have a mirror too, I know
As simple as that. End the conversation and walk away.
5. Yes, the past few months have been fun
Let them know that you have no problem being a few pounds heavier. Once you remove the shame from it yourself, no one else can devalue you.
