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It's hard to be body positive. We try to accept our flaws and embrace individuality, but let's be honest that’s not an easy thing to do. Especially since when it feels as if we are surrounded by seemingly flawless people. Every day on our TV screens we see impossibly slender women with perfect proportions and everything on fleek.
Gross violation of privacy. And the girl code
So when Dani Mathers, 2015 Playboy Playmate of the Year, recently made fun of an unsuspecting woman at her gym, it riled us. And that's putting it mildly.
Mathers posted an image of a naked woman taking a shower at a gym she goes to with the caption: “if I can’t unsee it, then you can’t either”. Alongside this image, which was taken without the other woman's knowledge or consent, was a photo of herself looking like she was holding back the urge to vomit and/or laugh.
Charming.
Why the outrage is justified
The image caused obvious controversy, and of course Dani deleted it and posted an expected and hollow apology. (We have decided not to publish the image of the unnamed woman as it violates her rights.)
Body-shaming another woman doesn’t make you cool
If you walk around telling people that someone else is ugly, does that make you pretty? No. Mathers said it was just a joke, but like we've seen so many times, these are the kind of "jokes" that cause depression and suicide. We know what the struggle is like, so having it come from another woman makes it even worse.
No one is perfect
Mathers's surgery enhanced curves might appeal to the Playboy audience, but that doesn't make her perfect. Like any other human she is flawed, and would like it as little as anyone if her physical flaws were being laughed at. Judge not, and so on.
Taking a naked picture of someone else without their permission is a crime
You don’t take photos of naked people without their knowledge, let alone post it on the internet and make fun of them. It is mean and creepy and she should be prosecuted.
Anyone who is trying to improve their health shouldn’t be mocked
The woman in the picture is trying to live a healthy life and look after her body. She doesn't deserve Mathers's or anyone else's scorn. What message does this send to women who don't have bodies that conform to the ideals of beauty? Must they hide themselves? Must they give up an active life? No.
Body-shaming pulls women apart
I am a firm believer in women sticking together and empowering each other and body-shaming pulls us apart, which is the opposite of what we want. It puts women into groups based solely on our weight, so let’s not follow Dani’s footsteps okay?
