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Children and Body Image
We need to talk about it. Too soon.
Whenever I see or read about beauty pageant stories of 6–7-year-old girls and I see the mothers doing their makeup and curling their hair, I cringe. The same thing happens when a child actor is pushed by a parent. Or when I see a mum forcing her 3-year-old daughter to go to ballet classes against her will. I cringe, and I feel deeply sorry for the child who is bound to bring her mother’s dream to life, whether she wants it or not.
I have three daughters, and they are way too young to have body image issues. But it doesn’t mean we don’t have to talk about it. Sadly, we have to.
Bullying starts at primary school
If you were never called fat or chubby in school, you are lucky. It is an awful experience and it is so detrimental to future body image that I can’t even explain. I wasn’t obese, or overweight in school, I was normal, yet I was called chubby, and I still remember it. I was 9, just starting a new school, unknown people, hostile environment… and booomm! “What do you want, fatty?” Rings in my ears ever since. I was ashamed, I blushed, ran away and cried. That was the first…
