Body Shaming
Appearance is a big deal, not only in my school but I’d guess in every school. You make more friends if you’re thinner, have a smaller face, and better teeth. People just tend to take you more seriously. You make more friends and receive a lot of attention. But if you’re “ugly” in everyone’s eyes, people give you dirty looks and some people have the guts to call them “fatty” or “elephant”. I’ve witnessed such things in my school.
Research participant
Our research zeroes in on the pervasive issue of body shaming, with a specific focus on its impact within school environments. We're diving deep to investigate whether students have encountered body shaming, and how the negative comments they receive from others influence their self-esteem. Moreover, we're delving into the intricate world of beauty standards: who sets them, who enforces them, and just how much importance students place on these societal ideals.
At its core, this study is driven by a fundamental goal – to unearth the intricate dynamics of the body shaming culture that unfortunately thrives within schools. We're on a quest to understand the far-reaching consequences of this culture on students. This research is not just about gaining knowledge; it's about recognizing the potential harm body shaming can inflict on students and advocating for the creation of more inclusive and secure spaces within schools.
It’s mostly our friends who jugde us...that’s what I personally feel
Research participant
We began our research focusing on key themes and believed these were the most important questions to ask our peers.
• How would you define beauty standards?
• How much do you care about beauty standards?
• Who decides what these beauty standards are?
• Do you think beauty standards are realistic?
• Do you believe a culture of body shaming exists in your school?
• Have you ever received comments on your body's shape or size?
• Have you ever felt insecure about your body because of the comments you may have received?
• Have you ever commented on someone else's body shape or size?
• What do you value more in a person?
And as any research project goes, we were full of assumptions that would later be clarified by some very succinct realizations.
Assumptions
• Lack of awareness about body shaming and the unhealthy effects it has on student well being.
• Unrealistic mindsets about beauty standards in school.
• Lack of inclusivity of other body types in the school.
Realizations
• A body shaming culture exists as a large proportion of respondents have been shamed about their bodies and have also commented on other peoples’ bodies or shapes themselves, including in school.
• Body shaming has a negative impact on students’ self-esteem.
• Social Media/Influencers are the biggest determinants of beauty standards.
• Students view beauty standards upheld by society as unrealistic.
• There is not a clear-cut definition of beauty among students as their definitions vary from physical, such as certain features and body shapes, to non-physical, such as confidence, personality, and pure intentions. What is clear, however, is that a majority of students value both inner and outer beauty in others.
The data that we collected
71 of our fellow peers participated in our survey. They included students in different age brackets, from different nationalities, and in different schools. The use of both open-ended and closed-ended questions allowed us to delve deeper into the perceptions and experiences of students about different issues, such as personal experiences with body shaming. 55% of our respondents are 15-17 years old, 25% are between 12 and 14, and 20% are 18 and over. 69% of respondents are female. Of course we understand that there are some limitations to the data that we collected. So for full transparency we’ve listed those limitations here. Remember that these are just a starting point for us and you to dig deeper into this critical issue.
Data details and limitations
Limited Diversity:
83% of our respondents are Indian students enrolled in both Indian and other schools in Kuwait. 7% are Kuwaiti, and the remaining are from diverse backgrounds (Egyptian, Lebanese, Pakistani, etc).
Small Sample Size:
The number of respondents in the survey is relatively small, which limits the generalizability of the findings.
Key insights from our data
62% of us think that a body shaming culture exists in schools in Kuwait
80% of us have experienced body shaming, including teasing, bullying and name calling about our body shape and size
39% of us have admitted that we’ve commented on others’ body shapes in the past
Our conclusion
The main takeaway from our research is that a body shaming culture exists in schools, impacts students in negative ways, including by making them feel insecure, and is rooted in unrealistic beauty standards, which put pressure on students to conform. The data shows that a more inclusive and body-positive environment needs to be promoted in schools and society as a whole, and that beauty standards need to be challenged. This would put less pressure on students to conform, make them feel less judged, and improve their self-esteem.