• ABOUT
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
  • Login
21Magazine
  • CULTURE
    • Entertainment
    • Community
    • Books
    • TV & Movies
  • STYLE
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
  • WELLNESS
    • A Girls Guide
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Self
    • Friendships
    • The Single Life
  • LIFE
    • Real Asf
    • The Single Girl Diaries
    • Adulting
    • Career & Money
    • Astrology
  • Pitch To Us
No Result
View All Result
Plugin Install : Cart Detail need WooCommerce plugin to be installed.
21Magazine
  • CULTURE
    • Entertainment
    • Community
    • Books
    • TV & Movies
  • STYLE
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
  • WELLNESS
    • A Girls Guide
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Self
    • Friendships
    • The Single Life
  • LIFE
    • Real Asf
    • The Single Girl Diaries
    • Adulting
    • Career & Money
    • Astrology
  • Pitch To Us
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
Plugin Install : Cart Icon need WooCommerce plugin to be installed.
21Magazine
No Result
View All Result

6 Ways You Might Be Body-Shaming Women Without Realizing it

The Editors by The Editors
in Self
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

As long as you have a body, you have probably felt like its been subject to scrutiny at some point in your life. The worst part is, body-shaming is usually camouflaged as a compliment, when really its an insult.

Body-shaming is never okay, even if said with good intentions it doesn’t mean it will hurt less, which is why we need to do better in being more aware of comments we make to our loved ones, or even strangers.

Nigerian aunties and uncles are the kings and queens of passing unsolicited comments about our bodies. A lot of us grew up insecure due to the years of accepting backhanded compliments from loved ones. It’s not okay.

We’re adults, so we should know better and understand that bodies come in all different shapes and sizes, and sometimes you might mean well by encouraging a friend to shed some pounds, or applauding a friend for losing weight, but what we need to understand is that we’re accidentally shaming others without realising it.


1. “Did you lose some weight? You look SO much better”

This has to be the most insulting of all because even if you mean well, what you’re really saying is: You looked so much worse when you were fat.

Instead of commenting on a woman’s weight, why don’t you just mind your business by keeping your statement simple and short? Instead, just say: You look great. Period. 

2. “Girl, you’re so lucky you’re skinny. You can eat whatever you want”

Another reason why you should always keep weight comments to yourself, is because you never really know what a person is going through. 

Again, you might mean well but what if the person has an eating disorder? Or what if they are struggling with a disease/condition? 

Honestly, the next time you want to comment on someone’s body, just don’t.

3. “You’re pretty for a plus-size girl”

Or “stop saying you’re fat, you’re actually pretty.”

Both comments are so insulting because you’re implying that plus-sized women are generally not beautiful.

4. “Are you sure you’ll be able to eat all that food?”

Just so you know, this is rude as f***.

If you say this to anyone, plus-size or otherwise, you’re not being helpful. You’re actually being sizeist. 

If a woman wants to eat a big portion of food, it’s because she wants to. Is it your mouth? focus on your own plate and nourish your own body. 

Even if you didn’t mean it in an insulting way, it’s still going to sound rude.

5. Commenting on women’s postpartum bodies

Why is society so obsessed with a woman’s postpartum body? 

A woman gives birth, and suddenly people are secretly keeping an eye out for how long it would take for her to regain her figure. 

Instead of commenting on her body, whether you’re trying to praise her or not, why not just ask questions that I’m sure will be appreciated; How are you doing? How are you feeling?

6. “Oh wow. You’re really tall for a girl”

Someone should come and tell me what us tall girls are supposed to do with this information. 

I can’t do anything about being tall, same way you can’t do anything about being short. 

When people say this, are they implying that your height makes you less feminine, or what? I’ve never really understood it.


What are some ways you think people body-shame without even realising it? Tell us in the comments!

Tags: backhanded complimentsbody shamebody shaming
ShareTweet
The Editors

The Editors

The Editors of 21 - young African women conquering the world, one day at a time.

Related Posts

pretty privilege
A Girls Guide

We Asked 6 Women Whether Pretty Privilege Exists. These Are Their Stories

a woman's guide to solo travel
A Girls Guide

A Woman’s Guide To Solo Travel

tampons pads tampons vs. pads
Wellness

Tampons vs. Pads: Is One Better Than The Other?

unspoken side effects of pregnancy
A Girls Guide

The Unspoken Side Effects Of Pregnancy: 9 Women Share Their Experiences

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Kayan Mata

The Single Girl Diaries: My Kayan Mata Experience

big dick horror stories

Women Share Their Big Dick Horror Stories And The Responses Are Going To Make You Laugh

what your birth month says about your Sex Life

You Didn’t Ask, But Here’s What Your Birth Month Says About Your Sex Life

cheat manipulate

“He Lied About Having a Brain Tumour Just to Manipulate and Cheat on Me”

popular nigerian foods

Sorry, Not Sorry: Rating 15 Popular Nigerian Foods

guide to moving back to nigeria

The 21 ‘IJGB’ Guide To Moving Back To Nigeria

QUIZ: Plan A Wedding And We’ll Reveal Which Zodiac Sign You’re Destined To Marry

QUIZ: Plan A Wedding And We’ll Reveal Which Zodiac Sign You’re Destined To Marry

the single girl diaries

The Single Girl Diaries: The Time The Worst Date Of My Life Ended With The Best Sex Of My Life

fatal flaw fatal flaw friend theory

The Fatal Flaw Friend Theory Will Change How You View Your Friendships

Lori Harvey dating

Can We Stop Judging Lori Harvey For Um, Simply Just Dating?

Relationship weight weight gain

Is Relationship Weight Real? (Yes, It Is and Your Partner Is Making You Fat)

pretty privilege

We Asked 6 Women Whether Pretty Privilege Exists. These Are Their Stories

21 Logo white
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact 
  • Press
  • Career
  • Terms of Service

2022© The 21 Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • CULTURE
    • Entertainment
    • Community
    • Books
    • TV & Movies
  • STYLE
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
  • WELLNESS
    • A Girls Guide
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Self
    • Friendships
    • The Single Life
  • LIFE
    • Real Asf
    • The Single Girl Diaries
    • Adulting
    • Career & Money
    • Astrology
  • Pitch To Us
  • Login

© 2022 21 Magazine - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In