Body shaming is not a new phenomenon. Thanks to the media, society’s expectations of what defines beauty are warped and can be downright unrealistic. Jenna Kutcher is a well-known body positivity influencer on social media. A few years ago, she made a post about a DM she received from one of her followers. The message indirectly body shamed her. The message left her feeling “taken aback”.
“I was taken aback“
Jenna Kutcher is very open about her husband, Drew Kutcher. They have been married for 11 years, and are just as happy in love as they were from the start. Much of her Instagram feed is of the two of them hugging, cuddling, spending time with their two children, and walking along the beach. Moreover, Jenna is confident to post pictures of herself in her swimsuit.
In 2018, Jenna made a post on Instagram. The picture was of her and her husband walking along a beach in Hawaii. The caption described an incident that triggered her insecurities, however, she posted about it as a reminder for other women. The caption read: “Someone once slid into my DMs and told me they couldn’t believe I had managed to land a guy as good looking as @kickingitwithkutch. I’ll be honest that I was taken aback.“
Read: Mom Pregnant With Her Fourth Child Calls Out Shamers Who Criticize Big Families
“I chose the man that could handle alllll that“
Jenna is married to a man with a chiseled physique. As a result of his appearance, his nickname is, Mr. 6-Pack. Jenna used to think she wasn’t worthy of Drew because of her size. In other words, it seemed bazaar that a curvy women would land the guy with a six-pack. The DM she received reminded her of those thoughts. “Part of my insecurity with my body has stemmed around being married to Mr. 6-Pack himself. Why should I, a curvy girl get him? I feel unworthy and when I write narratives in my head that because I am not thin, I don’t deserve him.”
Read: Gen Z gals on growing out their body hair: It’s ‘sexy’ and ‘empowering’
Then, Jenna said Drew helped rewrite her inner dialogue. She went on to explain how Drew loves her unconditionally and reminds her of her beauty in dark times. “This man has embraced every curve, every dimple, pound and pimple for the last ten years,” she wrote. “And [he] has always me reminded me that I’m beautiful even when my inner dialogue doesn’t match.”
The body shamed influencer is not worried about keeping her husband’s attention on her. No matter what she looks like, she knows she chose the right man to marry. “So yes, my thighs kiss, my arms are big, and my bum is bumpy but there is just more of me for him to love and I chose the man that could handle alllll that (and so much more!).”
Body shamed
No matter how fast our species develops, and how rapidly society’s expectations change, there are still those who are being body shamed. According to Psych Central, body shaming is making negative remarks about someone’s body. “Body shaming is the act of making negative comments regarding someone’s weight or size,” reads the website’s definition. “So, people who are overweight are frequently subjected to being “too fat” and people who are underweight are often criticized for looking “too skinny.”
So, contrary to popular belief, body shaming is not only directed towards curvy people. Moreover, it is something that occurs between all genders and non-binary people. “Body shaming can occur against any gender, and the statistics are alarming.”
Keep Reading: Mom shamed for breastfeeding in public, refuses to cover up, and continues feeding baby like a boss
Sources
- “Body Shaming: Uncovering It and Understanding It.” Psych Central
- “‘Curvy’ Blogger Reveals She Was Body-Shamed for Being Married to ‘Mr. 6-Pack’.” People. Michelle Ward Trainor. March 20, 2018.