If you think you’re sick of hearing about this story and about me, just imagine how I feel.
Because this isn’t just a headline or a comment section debate for me. It’s my body. My life. My reality. And honestly, it’s exhausting.
Somewhere along the way, too many people decided that when a woman becomes visible, she also becomes available for public dissection. Her body becomes fair game. Her weight becomes a debate. Her fertility becomes gossip. Her pain becomes content.
That is the culture we should be ashamed of.
At the centre of all of this is a question we should have answered by now: why are we still commenting on women’s bodies?
Everyone has fat. It’s a normal part of being human. So what even meets the criteria of “fat” anymore? And more importantly, why do we feel entitled to decide that for someone else? Why is it even a conversation at all? Why is it anyone else’s issue?
Not just a women’s issue
I’ve had strangers comment on my body like it’s something open for discussion. I’ve seen people draw conclusions about my health, my habits, even my fertility, based on nothing but a photo or a moment they’ve decided to freeze and judge. It’s invasive, and it’s not okay.
You can follow someone, support someone, or even disagree with someone without crossing personal lines. But somewhere along the way, we lost that boundary.
If something I share triggers a strong reaction, it’s worth asking why before projecting it onto someone else. Because sometimes the reaction says more about what’s going on internally than what’s actually being posted.
“I’ve had strangers comment on my body like it’s something open for discussion”
And this isn’t just a women’s issue. Men are a massive part of the problem, and they need to be part of the solution. It’s not enough to simply not participate. Men need to actively call this behaviour out.
Women are constantly defending themselves. It’s exhausting. We shouldn’t have to carry this alone.
When men step in, it shifts things. It shows women that they are safe and supported. And the reality is, sometimes men will only take it seriously when it comes from another man. Peer correction has real power. It sets a standard and teaches younger boys what is acceptable.
What needs to change?
So what needs to change?
Women don’t exist for approval. We don’t owe anyone a certain body type or beauty standard. Being in the public eye, dating an athlete, or posting content online does not give anyone the right to pick apart a woman’s body.
It’s not a free pass to offer opinions that were never asked for.
“Women deserve to exist online without being reduced to their appearance.”
And we need to stop using the excuse: “Well, she posted it, she should expect it.”
No!!
Sharing a moment, a photo, or a life update doesn’t mean someone is inviting criticism or cruelty.
Visibility is not consent.
Confidence is not permission.
Posting is not an invitation for judgment.
Women deserve to exist online without being reduced to their appearance, no matter who they’re with or how many followers they have.
And it’s about time we all started acting like it.
Hear more from Chloe on the latest episode of The WHO Group Chat.
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