Jennifer Lawrence, star of "The Hunger Games" saga, stated that when she was filming those movies, she refused to change her physical appearance.
The producers had asked her to lose weight to play the starring role; to which she flatly refused. "I'm young, I'm growing and I can't diet," was what she responded to that request.
She did it for her health, but also because she knew that she had a great responsibility as she was the protagonist of the story. “I don't know if I want all the girls who are going to dress up as Katniss to feel like they can't because they don't have a certain weight. And I can't let that seep into my brain either."
How many times has someone (without asking for their opinion) made comments like this to you?: "It's time to lose weight, don't you think?".
Body shaming is a term that has been around since 2003, notes the American Journal of Public Health. This refers to someone who makes fun of another's physical appearance.
This practice seeks to constantly point out the "imperfections" of someone. The Cambridge Dictionary points out that it is the action of criticizing someone for their size or appearance.
Marian Blanco Ruiz, a doctor, and researcher in the media and gender violence at Rey Juan Carlos University points out that body shaming is a gender issue and represents symbolic violence.
“We potentialized to receive gratification from third parties and our environment. If our environment only congratulates us when we approach the canon (being thinner, makeup, or combed), we seek to get closer to that canon to fit into society.
With body shaming, a negative evaluation has been carried out on the body and physical appearance of people, and in many cases, it has affected their self-esteem.
The FAD Youth Foundation points out some aspects that we must consider so that the comments of others do not damage our self-esteem.
Accept your body as it is. Love it, value it, and take care of it. Strengthening self-esteem will prevent third-party comments from affecting your emotions and thoughts.
Stop thinking that everything on social media is perfect and real. How many of the things they post are true? Do not forget that many people disguise their reality in order to get a like.
Jennifer Lawrence is an example of self-love. She made the right decision because of her image, but because she knew that it could affect the lives of many other people.
It is important to stop believing that having a statuesque body is necessary to be accepted in society. Work on yourself, strengthen your self-love, and accept and love yourself as Jennifer Lawrence loves herself.
