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Woman Starts Social Media War On “Psycho” Mom Who Won’t Force Her Kid To Date Or Lose Weight
Say what you will, but being a teenage girl is indisputably and inarguably hard. As in—years of dealing with a changing body, figuring out who you are, and feeling judged for every little thing—kind of hard.
For the 14-year-old in this Reddit story, it only got tougher when her best friend’s mom took it upon herself to “help” her become more attractive. The woman shamed her for not getting enough attention from boys and even bought her a dress that was too small, hoping it would inspire her to lose weight.
Of course, the girl’s mom wasn’t going to let this fly. Read on to find out what happened next.
RELATED:
The teen girl was enjoying a shopping trip with her best friend
Image credits: Image-Source / envatoelements (not the actual photo)
But things turned sour when her friend’s mom bought her a dress that was too small, hoping it would inspire her to lose weight
Image credits: Rawpixel / envatoelements (not the actual photo)
Image credits: LifeWasAWilloww
Body-shaming of children and teens can have serious consequences
Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)
As heartbreaking as this Reddit story is, it’s unfortunately just one of many cases where young people are shamed for their appearance. Studies reveal that over 90% of teenage girls and over 60% of teenage boys have experienced some form of body-shaming in their lifetime. In fact, weight-based bullying is the most common form of bullying among adolescents.
Experts from the University of Minnesota Medical School point to a body of research showing that body-shaming can have detrimental effects on physical, emotional, and psychological health. These include:
- Higher rates of depression and anxiety
- Low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction
- Increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors
- Higher likelihood of disordered eating behaviors
- Greater tendency to avoid healthy activities like physical exercise
Katie Loth, Ph.D., M.P.H., an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School, believes there’s a significant societal bias that influences how we perceive bodies and weight.
“We live in a culture placing enormous value on thinness and physical beauty. Pop culture perpetuates this perceived importance by limiting the images we see to only those including individuals who match society’s high, often unattainable, expectations for physical appearance,” she says. “We need to demand the images we view are respectful and honest portrayals of real people, representing the full range of diversity within our culture.”
Instead of focusing on weight in conversations with children, like the woman did in the Reddit story, Loth encourages parents, coaches, and health professionals to set behavioral goals. For example, emphasizing healthy eating and regular physical activity, which are more likely to lead to positive long-term behavior changes.
“We need to take a stand for our bodies,” concludes Loth. “We need to shift the public conversation away from the number on the scale and focus more on a much broader view of overall health.”
Most commenters agreed that the friend’s mom was out of line and behaved like a bully
Others, however, thought the daughter needed the push to lose weight
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What do you think ?
CanadianDimes 1 year ago
Right? In what way did her daughter say she wanted to lose weight and was unhappy with how she looked? That wasn't in the post anywhere. The only displeasure was from Gigi's mum.
Load More Replies...
Insomniac 1 year ago
Criticizing a child's body is an excellent way to give them an eating disorder. But not all will become thin. Some will eat their pain away and become obese instead. And that is usually lifelong. I hate every adult who fat-shamed me as a kid. They just made it all worse.
Spocks's Mom 1 year ago (edited)
This story is sad. My mom gave me an eating disorder saying/doing things like this. She as well bought me a pair of pants a few sizes smaller than I was at the time. She also told me I could use the pants as a weight loss goal. I wasn't even trying to lose weight. The other day, she told me my back would feel better if I lost a bit of weight. I am 5'6" and 136 pounds. I am at my ideal weight and she still does this c**p. Even after I told her to stop commenting on my and other people's weight. Some days my disorder still rears it's ugly head. I can last for a long time on just one small meal a day.
Lyoness 1 year ago
Your mom sucks. Mine is the same way. It's why I haven't spoken to her in almost 20 years. I hope you're able to tell yours to kick bricks.
Load More Replies...
Livingwithcfs 1 year ago
Op needs yo talk to the school about this. It's not safe or healthy gor a child of Gigis age to be pushed into being a sexual adult. I'd say it's even possibly grooming. This may sound a bit ott but it's a serious problem, Gigi is being taught some very warped ideas on how to be a woman. Op is right to stop her daughter spending time around her friends mother
Tams21 1 year ago (edited)
The daughter has clearly articulated what she wants and doesn't, the idea that the mom of a friend would contradict that goes way beyond any reasonable boundaries. Buying a clothing for a child "to aspire to" is also all kinds of wrong and can even cause eating disorders. Keeping the daughter away from an adult that clearly doesn't have her best interests at heart isn't just reasonable, it's what's required to protect her.
Alexandra 1 year ago
Gigi's mom sees women and girls only in the context of boys and husbands, not as independent persons who can decide themselves for themselves. Of course this woman tries to get people on her side, because she thinks that if you have 10 people who are wrong and one who is right, the one who is right must be wrong.
Vinnie 1 year ago
Yup, the toxic mother recruited some flying monkeys to s**t on the protective one.
Load More Replies... FreeTheUnicorn 1 year ago
Standing up for your daughter does more good than you will ever know. She sounds like a great kid and modelling good behaviour about how to set boundaries with toxic and cruel people is an incredibly valuable lesson.
KatSaidWhat 1 year ago
Gigi's mother has based her life on being attractive and a certain size and never done sports other than running after men and throwing shade. She is going to destroy her daughter and hopefully Bonnie will keep that mental maturity and just keep living her best life. Nobody needs a boyfriend at 14. YTA can foxtrot all the way into Harlem on a dark night.
Somebodys grandmother 1 year ago
OMG... all the stuff mentioned we are trying to get banned or restricted for children i denmark... that gigi-mother is a lunatic
Sarah Léon 1 year ago
In school, I sometimes told my friends I was sad guys won't ask me out. The truth is I'm a lesbian so boys were all very good friends and I spent a lot of time with them, but I was never in love with any of them. I just wanted to be like everybody. It's called being a teenager.
Broadredpanda 1 year ago
Excellent-count4009...do one you AH. You're going to be exactly the same as this witch who sexualises 14 year olds and encourages toxicity among young girls. YTAs are nothing but trolls and toxic MF!!! I can only imagine how your children are with mothers like yourselves! Shame on you all!!!
Surly Scot 1 year ago
What century does Gigi's mother live in? A woman can't be happy without a man in her life? We must doll ourselves up in makeup and fancy clothes and 80's hair JUST to be able to attract a superficial moron for a partner? Gigi's future of divorced with 3 kids at 28 and no self-earning prospects looks very sad because that's what her mother is pushing her towards. Can't believe in this day and age mother's are still teaching their daughters that boys are everything, even above self-worth. So many people shouldn't be allowed to breed.
Stannous Flouride 1 year ago
I absolutely love that a single woman athlete has used her social media skills to redefine what is considered "sexy" and I am sure has inspired countless young women to accept their own shapes. It is, of course, the indefatigable Ilona Maher. images-1-6...72f0b.jpeg 
Ece Cenker 1 year ago
Oh my gosh! A 14-year -old girl is "not let be happy with a BOY FRIEND"?!?! CALL THE FÜKING NATO!!
LB 1 year ago
S**t like this is why I got a boyfriend around this age. If you can call it that. I didn't want one but all the other kids were talking about relationships and whatnot in the final grade of primary school... that was a really f****d up place to grow up in. I still struggle with the things that happened because of this, sometimes.
talliloo 1 year ago
NTA. the girls are 14. almost sounds like lauren is trying to make gigi grow up too fast. an athletic body is shaped different than a 'normal' body (couldn't think of another word). i know bc i was very athletic/muscular in school. hated dresses/skirts bc they never fit right. so i lived in jeans/pullover shirts. my mom/grandmother were like lauren. i think mom celebrated when at age 18 i actually started using mascara. restricting contact w/gigi may not be the best idea as it could make bonnie feel more different because of the reason. she needs to be supported & told that her body is hers-not gigi's or any other girl she may see. as for the boyfriend issue bonnie needs to know that will come in its own good time. i know how it feels when other girls are getting starting to date as i was the muscular one that didn't wear makeup or dresses. unfortunately my mom was like lauren. i think mom celebrated when, at 18, i started using mascara and lip gloss. bonnie just needs support.
Laura A Ivett 11 months ago (edited)
All of the idiots who think that the OP was the YTA are absolutely unhinged, the OP never mentioned the girls weight, they're just assuming since Lauren said something it must be true, that just shows all of the YTA idiots in the comment section are absolutely toxic... ignorant, uneducated and toxic as f**k!!! I promise you this, Gigi will be pregnant by 16...
Ellinor 1 year ago
Did you just called a 14 years old CHILD a "hooker" because she dated more than 1 boy in her life ???
Load More Replies... CanadianDimes 1 year ago
Right? In what way did her daughter say she wanted to lose weight and was unhappy with how she looked? That wasn't in the post anywhere. The only displeasure was from Gigi's mum.
Load More Replies... Insomniac 1 year ago
Criticizing a child's body is an excellent way to give them an eating disorder. But not all will become thin. Some will eat their pain away and become obese instead. And that is usually lifelong. I hate every adult who fat-shamed me as a kid. They just made it all worse.
Spocks's Mom 1 year ago (edited)
This story is sad. My mom gave me an eating disorder saying/doing things like this. She as well bought me a pair of pants a few sizes smaller than I was at the time. She also told me I could use the pants as a weight loss goal. I wasn't even trying to lose weight. The other day, she told me my back would feel better if I lost a bit of weight. I am 5'6" and 136 pounds. I am at my ideal weight and she still does this c**p. Even after I told her to stop commenting on my and other people's weight. Some days my disorder still rears it's ugly head. I can last for a long time on just one small meal a day.
Lyoness 1 year ago
Your mom sucks. Mine is the same way. It's why I haven't spoken to her in almost 20 years. I hope you're able to tell yours to kick bricks.
Load More Replies... Livingwithcfs 1 year ago
Op needs yo talk to the school about this. It's not safe or healthy gor a child of Gigis age to be pushed into being a sexual adult. I'd say it's even possibly grooming. This may sound a bit ott but it's a serious problem, Gigi is being taught some very warped ideas on how to be a woman. Op is right to stop her daughter spending time around her friends mother
Tams21 1 year ago (edited)
The daughter has clearly articulated what she wants and doesn't, the idea that the mom of a friend would contradict that goes way beyond any reasonable boundaries. Buying a clothing for a child "to aspire to" is also all kinds of wrong and can even cause eating disorders. Keeping the daughter away from an adult that clearly doesn't have her best interests at heart isn't just reasonable, it's what's required to protect her.
Alexandra 1 year ago
Gigi's mom sees women and girls only in the context of boys and husbands, not as independent persons who can decide themselves for themselves. Of course this woman tries to get people on her side, because she thinks that if you have 10 people who are wrong and one who is right, the one who is right must be wrong.
Vinnie 1 year ago
Yup, the toxic mother recruited some flying monkeys to s**t on the protective one.
Load More Replies... FreeTheUnicorn 1 year ago
Standing up for your daughter does more good than you will ever know. She sounds like a great kid and modelling good behaviour about how to set boundaries with toxic and cruel people is an incredibly valuable lesson.
KatSaidWhat 1 year ago
Gigi's mother has based her life on being attractive and a certain size and never done sports other than running after men and throwing shade. She is going to destroy her daughter and hopefully Bonnie will keep that mental maturity and just keep living her best life. Nobody needs a boyfriend at 14. YTA can foxtrot all the way into Harlem on a dark night.
Somebodys grandmother 1 year ago
OMG... all the stuff mentioned we are trying to get banned or restricted for children i denmark... that gigi-mother is a lunatic
Sarah Léon 1 year ago
In school, I sometimes told my friends I was sad guys won't ask me out. The truth is I'm a lesbian so boys were all very good friends and I spent a lot of time with them, but I was never in love with any of them. I just wanted to be like everybody. It's called being a teenager.
Broadredpanda 1 year ago
Excellent-count4009...do one you AH. You're going to be exactly the same as this witch who sexualises 14 year olds and encourages toxicity among young girls. YTAs are nothing but trolls and toxic MF!!! I can only imagine how your children are with mothers like yourselves! Shame on you all!!!
Surly Scot 1 year ago
What century does Gigi's mother live in? A woman can't be happy without a man in her life? We must doll ourselves up in makeup and fancy clothes and 80's hair JUST to be able to attract a superficial moron for a partner? Gigi's future of divorced with 3 kids at 28 and no self-earning prospects looks very sad because that's what her mother is pushing her towards. Can't believe in this day and age mother's are still teaching their daughters that boys are everything, even above self-worth. So many people shouldn't be allowed to breed.
Stannous Flouride 1 year ago
I absolutely love that a single woman athlete has used her social media skills to redefine what is considered "sexy" and I am sure has inspired countless young women to accept their own shapes. It is, of course, the indefatigable Ilona Maher. images-1-6...72f0b.jpeg
Ece Cenker 1 year ago
Oh my gosh! A 14-year -old girl is "not let be happy with a BOY FRIEND"?!?! CALL THE FÜKING NATO!!
LB 1 year ago
S**t like this is why I got a boyfriend around this age. If you can call it that. I didn't want one but all the other kids were talking about relationships and whatnot in the final grade of primary school... that was a really f****d up place to grow up in. I still struggle with the things that happened because of this, sometimes.
talliloo 1 year ago
NTA. the girls are 14. almost sounds like lauren is trying to make gigi grow up too fast. an athletic body is shaped different than a 'normal' body (couldn't think of another word). i know bc i was very athletic/muscular in school. hated dresses/skirts bc they never fit right. so i lived in jeans/pullover shirts. my mom/grandmother were like lauren. i think mom celebrated when at age 18 i actually started using mascara. restricting contact w/gigi may not be the best idea as it could make bonnie feel more different because of the reason. she needs to be supported & told that her body is hers-not gigi's or any other girl she may see. as for the boyfriend issue bonnie needs to know that will come in its own good time. i know how it feels when other girls are getting starting to date as i was the muscular one that didn't wear makeup or dresses. unfortunately my mom was like lauren. i think mom celebrated when, at 18, i started using mascara and lip gloss. bonnie just needs support.
Laura A Ivett 11 months ago (edited)
All of the idiots who think that the OP was the YTA are absolutely unhinged, the OP never mentioned the girls weight, they're just assuming since Lauren said something it must be true, that just shows all of the YTA idiots in the comment section are absolutely toxic... ignorant, uneducated and toxic as f**k!!! I promise you this, Gigi will be pregnant by 16...
Ellinor 1 year ago
Did you just called a 14 years old CHILD a "hooker" because she dated more than 1 boy in her life ???
Load More Replies...
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