“I would never bully someone about their body - I don’t ever want other kids to feel as bad as I have about mine.”
[image description: a photo of a nine-year-old girl with short brown hair. She stands in her grade-school classroom. She wears a pink three-quarter sleeve shirt and a pearl barrette in her hair. Behind her, two children sit at classroom desks while pointing and whispering. Natalie smiles at the camera- ignoring the children and remaining strong.] ~ Photography: Jena Hovey
Natalie, 9 - Kansas
Natalie started to question her body after kids began to bully her about her weight in elementary school. At first, Natalie was confused about why her peers were even talking about her body, but after continuously being called fat, she began to develop feelings of body shame. Believing that something was wrong with her body, she paid closer attention to the physical traits that received more praise from her peers: skinny, pretty, athletic. She wanted to look like her friends instead of herself.
Bullying is a common occurrence that can happen among individuals of any weight and age. However, during younger years, there is a hyper-focus on weight, and it can be one of the most prominent targets of bullying. When anyone is a victim of weight or looks teasing, developing a negative body image will naturally occur. Natalie’s family recognized her struggles and has been working with her on shifting perspectives and building self-esteem.
Now, Natalie has pushed through her fear of her peers and has been learning to stand up for herself at school. She focuses on what she likes about her body and what she can do with it, like cracking her knuckles.
Natalie’s story affirms that we need to actively talk with our children about all bodies and focus on viewing them through how they feel and not their appearance.
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#SeeBodiesDifferently #MidwestBrokenMirror
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