Body Shaming: Kate Middleton Unfairly Slated on Royal Indian Tour by Shobhaa De

April 14, 2016 at 20:41 · Filed under Body Shaming, Life, Psychology and tagged: body image, Body Shaming, body shaming the curveless, body shaming thin people, duchess of cambridge, insecurities, kate middleton, kate middleton india, kate middleton royal india tour, shobhaa de

There are numerous examples of body shaming in the press. This particular one slating Kate Middleton (Duchess of Cambridge) for being thin is no better than doing it to overweight people.

In a world already bombarding us with images of what the perfect physique is, I find body shaming abhorrent. Why do women feel the need to do this to each other?

In response to Kate’s current Royal tour of India, a novelist, Shobhaa De, commented in the press:

“a saree needs curves. A saree demands a derriere,” she said. “Kate has none. Thank God, some misguided fashion guru has spared her and us so far”

This would be my response to this delightful lady.

Dear Shobhaa Ji,

In light of your recent comments, you’re certainly not a gracious or welcoming host. Clearly your mother didn’t teach you basic values such as decency and hospitality.

Kate clearly dresses appropriately as to cause no offence to anyone and I think she has done a great job so far. She’s certainly a charming, elegant, fun (impressing Sachin with her cricket skills) woman that has handled herself with great dignity. I disagree with your comment, and hope to see her in a saree, I bet she’d look stunning, and who better to showcase India’s most beautiful garment.

I hope you enjoyed your ten minutes of fame publicly criticising Kate for being curveless. As a fellow woman, I’m sure you’re all too aware of the inordinate pressure for us to measure up to society’s perception of ideal beauty.

What sort of example are you setting impressionable teenage girls? That they shouldn’t wear certain clothes because they don’t have the body for it? Surely they’re worth more than the clothes they choose to wear? Please do your fellow sex a favour, don’t make publicly inappropriate comments that erodes our self-esteem. It’s not warranted and certainly not appreciated!

I wear my saree with pride for my parental heritage. Like Kate, I’m also lacking in the curves department. Whilst I note your obnoxious comment, I’m afraid you don’t command enough respect for me to take you seriously. I’ll continue to wear mine, as I hope all women with curves and without will do.

In my opinion, Kate is one of the few educated and charitable female role models in the public eye. The only ‘shame’ that needs addressing is that at an age of 68, with all due respect, you’ve not grown into a wise, emotionally mature woman, instead you’ve retained your attention seeking playground bullying mentality…

Kind regards,

Abida

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