Unacceptable

Not my typical blog post, but I could not help but say something because what follows deals with a difficult issue plaguing humanity. Body shaming is in fact a plague and in many ways none of us are innocent, myself included.

I have been in a locker room while “locker room talk” was transpiring, and I have remained silent. Toxic masculine culture is real, and it is difficult to speak out against. Typically, any mention of toxic masculinity to the wrong crowd evokes emasculating comments and ignorant jeers seeking to silence anyone who is too sensitive or melodramatic.

This is not an excuse, and I am not seeking exoneration for my own infractions and lack of action. Additionally, I am not attempting to become a privileged spokesperson for a cause many people have been fighting against for decades.

These people need to be heard, believed, supported, and acknowledged because they are fighting against demons distorting the images and lives of many people we care about whether we want to admit it or not.

What I do want to say is:

This is unacceptable…

I came across this post on my Facebook newsfeed today. Being a political moderate and left leaning Christian, I tend to ignore most things I see from Trump affiliated groups (whether official or unofficial), especially if they are poorly photoshopped. However, this image caught my eye.

A human being broken down into separate parts and likened to pieces of meat. A human being devalued because she does not agree with someone else. Yes, a human being who is a woman, therefore, apparently it is acceptable to degrade her femininity by judging physical attributes.

This is unacceptable.

Why then, do we continue to accept it? Is it because body shaming comments are still found on our television, in print, or even espoused by the people who represent our country and people with voices deemed important? Without a doubt.

Is it because we have shied away from healthy conversations about body, sex, and image in safe spaces because we were too afraid of corrupting impressionable minds? Add it to the list.

What about the spaces we have created which thrive off of exaggerated, distorted, and perfected images? You bet ya.

Now raise your hand if you have fallen victim or succumbed to one of these…I have both of mine raised.

Fortunately, we have the opportunity to rewrite this narrative, reconstruct these places, and shine a light on the beauty of imperfection; perhaps illuminating the perfect body is a false construct anyways.

In Genesis 2, during the creation of humankind God creates “Adam,” which can be translated as “man” or “humankind.” Therefore, in the familiar refrain towards the end of the chapter where God creates woman out of man, let us re-envision what this means.

God creates person out of person.

No greater, no less.

You might be saying, the second person was supposed to be Adam’s helper. Well yes, but the word employed there is the Hebrew word ezer, only utilized elsewhere to describe God as helper. This helper does not appear to be understood as less than to the other human.

This person was not reduced to their parts and their physical attributes did not give them their value. In fact, they were just as human as the other creation.

So why do we not treat them as such?

We must continue to write, to share, and to provide safe spaces to speak out about an issue that is destroying lives. We must not discourage individuals from speaking their minds and go against what someone may deem to be “traditional values.” We must not humiliate men who find such things reprehensible and choose not to participate in a culture of oppression and sexism. Further, we must walk patiently and with understanding alongside those who are attempting pull themselves away from toxic habits, relationships, and perspectives. Finally, we must acknowledge and encourage the voices and facilitators of action who have been fighting this battle; joining their charge and supporting them when they become tired.