Body shaming and gender stereotypes, 9 out of 10 teenagers have been criticized for their physical appearance. Even by adults

For many adolescents, the return to school, therefore to a full socialization with peers, can represent a moment of serious difficulty. Especially in the phase of sexual development, when the body begins to change more evidently. In particular from the psychological point of view. A speech that, in the case of girls, is further accentuated. Between body shaming (the annoying negative comments about physical appearance), stereotypes, false myths and poor information, hardly anyone is spared. More than 6,000 young people – between 10 and 17 – who participated in “Uncomfortable Questions on adolescence”, a research carried out by Skuola.net in collaboration with Lines and Tampax, in the context of “@School Uncomfortable Questions” initiative.

Because almost 9 out of 10 teenagers, at least once, have undergone body shaming. Furthermore, for about 3 out of 10 it is practically a daily occurrence to receive offenses on their physical appearance, which have the power to make those who suffer from them develop shame or discomfort. Who are the main culprits? Above all peers (this is the case in 60% of cases), but there are also those who suffer the phenomenon most of the time always at the hands of young people but of older age (8% of the interviewees say this) or even adults (the 20%).

The most evident consequence of such a widespread diffusion of these behaviors can be found in the very bad relationship that the very young have with their body: about 1 in 4 confesses to not being able to look naked even when alone, let alone in front of a hypothetical partner. So much so that the proportion of teenagers who are totally uncomfortable in showing themselves without clothes to others rises to 1 in 3. The “sensitive” topics, in particular, are body weight – a problem for more than half of the interviewees (55%) – followed by the appearance of arms, legs and hips (44%) and facial features or defects (43%). The “tragedies” of adolescents of a few generations ago seem to be less important: 70% have never felt uncomfortable when they received negative comments about breasts or genitals, acne and the like or about height.

Moreover, such a picture is grafted onto a tending emotional fragility that animates the adolescence of Generation Z, regardless of body shaming. In fact, having to list the prevailing feelings they have experienced (or are still experiencing) in the development phase, alongside a natural curiosity (so for 1 out of 2), in the first places we find sensations such as insecurity (he perceived it 44%), embarrassment (34%), discomfort (33%). Less frequent, however, the happiness or excitement of having grown up (they report only 3 out of 10).

As mentioned, when it comes to physical appearance and sexuality, the most difficult ‘destiny’ even during adolescence lies with girls. First of all, by isolating the female component of the sample, the spread of body shaming increases: the percentage of those who continuously receive negative appreciations rises from 30% (general average) to 34%. And then there are the inevitable commonplaces related

to the menstrual cycle: nervousness (the phrase “Are you nervous? You have periods!” if I have heard it said at least once as many as 8 out of 10 girls), irritability (a stigma that affected almost 6 out of 10), whining (so for 4 out of 10).

Analyzing the research as a whole, one suspects that these attitudes may be partly dictated by the persistence of another stereotype: that of the necessary correspondence between biological sex and gender identity. It is surprising, in fact, that in a generation that often defines itself as “gender fluid”, still only 2 out of 10 adolescents are aware that gender identity may not coincide with biological sex. This could also explain why preconceptions related to the strictly personal sphere are still widespread, especially among males: for almost 1 in 2 boys crying is a girl thing, for 2 out of 3 having muscles is for men.

A possible solution? Correct information. Because it seems the Zedders haven’t been used to inquiring about what’s happening at such an important stage in their lives. 29% of adolescents, in fact, do not care to better understand what happens when their body is changing. Among males, the percentage jumped to 43%. Furthermore, when you want to be informed, your favorite sources may not be completely reliable or complete, given that the most exploited are the Internet (67% are used) and the advice of peers (57%). Very few talk about it at school (44%) or in the family (36%), none at all with a doctor or sexologist.

However, even adults are not an absolute guarantee. In fact, adolescents who asked parents, teachers or experts for clarification did not always receive the answer they expected: a quarter of them returned unclear or even nil information. Only 1 in 2 found ample willingness to listen and concrete support at the right time.

In short, adolescence seems to be a challenge not only for those directly concerned but also for those who are called to give them a hand, in the family as well as at school. For children, teachers and parents, however, a possible answer can come from “Uncomfortable Questions @School”, an initiative promoted by Lines and Tampax, which in an indirect and playful way helps preteens and adolescents to have the correct elements to approach in a healthy and secure in interpersonal relationships, affectivity and sexuality. Starting from a platform developed precisely to provide comprehensive and complete information, based on research in the field of developmental age.