To coincide with International Day of the Girl Child, the Human Services and Social Security Ministry on Tuesday launched the “Be Real” anti-body shaming campaign.
Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud
The campaign has been developed by the young influencers of Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud’s Young Influencer Programme, with her guidance.
The objective of the campaign is to bring awareness to the negative factors surrounding the topic, and minimise body shaming though sensitisation sessions.
It aims at encouraging women to reject stereotypes and aesthetical violence – a reference to the social pressure some women feel to conform to beauty ideals.
Minister Persaud, in her remarks at the launching, emphasised that body shaming is something that we should eradicate, should root out.
“We want girls to be confident in their own skin. Too often, there (are) supposed role models out there, and everyone aspires to be like them, to look like them, and to conform to some social identity that has been constructed, really not catering to the diversity of the world. We need to shatter those things, and we need to let girls know they are beautiful exactly the way they are,” the Minister said.
“You are beautiful because that beauty has been passed down from generation to generation…you are a pool of genes, you are a genetic beauty…”, the Minister said.
As such, the Minister called on the general public to desist from body shaming. She said adults especially should lead by example.
“Don’t comment on people’s body type, their hair, their complexion, their mental aptitude; don’t do those things, because those things leave serious scars. How do we expect women to look at themselves? And how do we empower them with confidence to make them into adults who will take the world by storm?” she admonished.
She said body shaming should not be done on social media, on the streets, in communities, in homes, and particularly not in schools.
“We should not allow our children to see themselves as a competitor or comparison to another child, but as their own beautiful creation,” she urged.
Minister Persaud did not fail to explain that boys and men also suffer from body shaming, and this campaign includes them.
“I want this message to ring loud and clear across the country: we need to create a kinder world and a gentler society, a safe space to allow people to grow and to develop…”, the Minister implored. (G9)
