Dear Teacher, Screw You. I’m Not Fat
I wish I could go tell my 13-year-old self to ignore the well-meaning but misguided older woman who suggested my tummy stuck out
Some words are forgotten seconds after being spoken.
Some words are remembered for a lifetime by the listener.
How It Began
As a girl, I had the joy of participating in dance and baton instruction.
I gained many great life lessons from the experience. The newly learned skills taught me hard work and practice reaps rewards. These skills taught me I am capable and talented. The performances helped me to gain the ability to face fears, anxiety be damned.
So many great things.
Then, This Happened
Receiving accolades, trophies made me proud.
I know I was a person capable of great things. I was able to learn new skills, perform and achieve praise. My self esteem soared, my parents beamed with pride.
So what could go wrong?
I matured.
As my body grew toward adulthood, all of it grew. One sad day, my teacher asked me to join her in the hallway outside of the classroom. This woman, sad smile on her face, advised me that I need to start wearing a girdle because my tummy was sticking out too much.
The body shaming began.
From that day forward, I became painfully conscious of my faulty physique. I cringed when I stood before the mirror of the classroom. I hated what I saw, envied the other girls, and only saw a body with curves in all the wrong places.
Words Matter
The message here?
Teachers, think before you speak. The comments you make about your students, especially the little girls, matter.
One small, innocuous comment could be carried for a lifetime.
The comment may very well be the start of a lifetime of body shame, hatred for one’s own body, and even the start down a path of unhealthy diet.
Better yet, be the voice of self-love. Every human body is a miracle, worthy of adoration. If a body doesn’t fit into the fashion magazine’s definition of beauty — who cares?
