Women share their body-shaming experiences with #TheySaid

Negative comments we hear about our bodies can fester in our minds for years and shape the way we feel about ourselves. With a new hashtag, #TheySaid, women are fighting body shaming by taking the comments they’ve been dealing with alone and sharing them publicly.
Cosmopolitan.com reports that the hastag started with Sally Bergesen, the founder and CEO of athletic-wear brand Oiselle. She called upon Twitter users who have experienced body-shaming to share their stories using #TheySaid. The outpouring of tweets using the hashtag is saddening, yet inspiring, as so many women have come together to share stories about this common experience.
"Keep eating like that and you're going to be a butterball." My Dad when I was 12. Pls RT and share a body shaming comment. #TheySaid
— Sally Bergesen (@oiselle_sally) May 25, 2017
Women experienced body-shaming from family members…
"She thinks just because she's got big t*ts, she knows everything…" said my stepfather to my little sister when I was just 12 #theysaid
— Clint & Leesa Wilson (@wehavenobaddays) May 26, 2017
"You would be so beautiful if you just lost some weight" said my mom while I was getting ready for a job. #TheySaid
— Joni DuPre RN (@jcdupre11) May 30, 2017
"Why do you keep your old prom dress? You can't fit in it." -mom (my prom dress was literally THE first dress I felt PRETTY in)
— lactose, the intolerant (@cherchebonheur) May 26, 2017
mentors and peers…
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/868218393245003776
"Wow, you're still running? You're so much bigger than I remember." An old CU professor I ran into at Safeway…two summers ago. #TheySaid
— Kara Goucher (@karagoucher) May 26, 2017
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and complete strangers.
In my 20's, at a co-ed gym, waiting in line to weigh in, a@@hole man behind me says, "200 and what?" Seriously, dude? #theysaid
— Suzanne Beauchaine (@SuzanneBeauch) May 29, 2017
"You should feed her a sandwich" – said to my husband (and I) while at a party. #TheySaid during my #marathontraining
— Jenn Harowicz (@jennharowicz) May 29, 2017
"You don't belong in this bathroom" – at least one woman in every women's room I got into #TheySaid
— Kyleanne Hunter, PhD (@RambaKy) May 25, 2017
After beginning a chain of sharing hurt, Bergesen asked herself how we could arm our young girls with responses that will make them bulletproof to body-shaming. She started the response hashtag, #SheReplied, for women to tweet how they dealt with harmful comments.
As much as the #TheySaid tweets were affirming and inspirational, the #SheReplied tweets make us want to high-five every single woman who tweeted a response.
"To be honest, those types of comments have been shown to be really harmful to me and others." #TheySaid #SheReplied
— Sally Bergesen (@oiselle_sally) May 25, 2017
"I think you mean well, but those types of comments are hurtful." #TheySaid #SheReplied
— Sally Bergesen (@oiselle_sally) May 25, 2017
"I am magnificent." #SheReplied
— Lindsay (@LindsayKnake) May 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/867888925632745478
"Yes, and I'm going to love every bite of it" #SheReplied
— Sierra (@haddocksd) May 25, 2017
This feed of tweets reminds us that we are not alone in experiencing hurtful comments about our bodies. Unfortunately, body-shaming is still alive and well. But rather than letting these comments get us down, we can use them to empower ourselves and each other.
Create an arsenal of positive comebacks to remind yourself that your body is uniquely beautiful. Crush outdated beauty standards every day by existing in and loving your body. For every mean comment, give yourself a compliment. We can and are combating body-shaming and forming a world where future girls can feel safe and wonderful in the skin they’re in.