“Curvy is used here as a euphemism for fat.”
Got your attention? It got mine too.
Long before I posted my first post on Mind the Curves (Mind the Fat doesn’t have quite the same ring to it), I grappled with the thought of what I’d do if I suffered the wrath of the more critical Internet populous.
Until now, for the most part, I’ve received nothing but positive feedback, ranging from chummy ‘You go girl!’s to heartfelt messages about how I am an inspiration, which have almost brought me to tears.
And then today I spotted a string of comments on a post of mine that ran on Women24.
The comments ranged from concern for my health, to calling me lazy and fat.
And, just like that, with one little drop of acid, the entire glass is bitter.
I understand that by writing this blog and putting myself out there I am, in a sense, inviting this criticism. That doesn’t mean that I’m any better prepared or less affected when someone criticizes me. I’m such a fragile little hatchling on this body positivity journey myself.
But, it occurs to me, maybe in this situation lies a golden opportunity to confront those who are so ready to criticise another’s body and perpetuate the trend of body shaming.
I believe that there’s a lesson that we can all learn together here.
Confrontation, of any sort, is not my strong point. So I’d like your help to put together a list of how to respond when someone criticizes your body. Please drop me a line on the blog, via email or on social media to tell me, in your words, why is the body positivity movement important to you? How would you respond to someone who criticises your body?
Hopefully we can help prepare each other for this sort of criticism, and maybe open the eyes of a few people along the way.
Red lipstick kisses to you all,
The Girl in the Pearls
