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Sally Bergensen is the CEO of Oiselle, a Seattle-based athletic apparel company by women, for women. She recently took to Twitter to share a body-shaming story from her childhood that, despite taking place when she was just a twelve-year-old teenage girl, is clearly something she's never forgotten.

"Keep eating like that, and you're going to be a butterball," her father had said to her, and now she's encouraging other women to share their experiences of being body image shamed by using the hashtag #TheySaid. And as you can see below, many women were quick to come forward with their own stories of friends, family, and sometimes total strangers making hurtful comments about their body type, size, or being way off the line of beauty standards. The hashtag has even spawned a sister hashtag called #SheReplied, which people are using to share ways to respond to the next person who says something unpleasant about the female body. Scroll down to see some of the responses to uncalled for public shaming so far.

More info: Twitter

#1

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Laury M.
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then they wonder why 14-year-old girls get stuck with eating disorders before they're even full grown.

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#2

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Stille20
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh, I'm so sorry. I have when people think saying you lost weight is a compliment. It doesn't take into account why the weight loss has happened. Also, it's none of your business what my scale says.

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#3

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Brigitte
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The worst body-shaming comments come from relatives; they feel like it's ok because they're family.

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#4

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Hans
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such coaches should loose the job. I remember also a school sports teacher who would exclude a boy from ball games because he was too fat. Way to make sure people will not find fun in sports!

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#6

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Sierra Hall
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Keep it up! People are ridiculous. They should never shame someone for trying to be active and healthy!

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#7

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ItsPam Duh
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm so sorry. I am on antidepressants that have caused weight gain and I have experienced such negative feed back. People can be cruel.

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#8

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Lara B.
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Body shaming from a different perspective. After a nasty break-up in December i started suffering from depression and just stopped eating. I was down to 44kg in no time and people kept telling me how awful i looked. I knew that it looked terrible, but no need to keep f*cking telling me that all the time. That really hurts. Now I am getting better each day :)

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#9

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Mimis Nachbarin
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Since when do boys not want fat girls?!? Maybe not all of them, but still a lot of them. Your mom would be surprised...

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#10

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Marceline
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looking beautiful with a swimsuit doesn't have to do with a girls/womans weight or body shape! It has to do with self-confidence, and feeling comfortable for who you are! You look amazingly beautiful!! P.S.:Great choise of swimsuit!

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#14

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Anastasia B
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same thing happened to me... I was 15 and it was my aunt. I never wanted to be a model anyway but why say such a mean thing?

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#16

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Aunt Messy
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get that nonsense from time to time. Guess what? I'm 54. I plan on doing whatever I want for the rest of my life and I need muscle and bone mass to do it.

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#21

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Pol Macqueron
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It makes no sense: at 13 yo, she's responsible for you and moreover she's supposed to be supporting you and love you no matter what

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#23

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Lara B.
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't believe how horrible some moms are!! Reading these posts makes me really angry and sad. Love my mom more than ever after seeing this...

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#24

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Flora Polvado
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly, I would kind of expect this from a thoughtless jerk of a teen sibling, it's the parents that make me see red!

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#25

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Rhân
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, some doctors should change their job. I really don't get it. Okay, if someone really has an unhealthy body, especially as a doctor you should be honest and help your patient. But this argumentation makes no sense and is just rude. Also if mental issues aren't your field of work, you should be careful with words. (Not only because weight gain could be a side effect of depression)

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#26

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Laury M.
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We really need to do away with Western-based beauty standards.

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#27

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Valentina
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"ex" it the key word here. Getting rid of toxic people in one's environment is the best way "to loose weight"

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#28

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M O'Connell
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew a girl in college who was a power-lifter. If you didn't know that, an a*****e would assume she was overweight. I think she was about 240lbs of muscle.

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#30

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Laury M.
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I understand how much it must have hurt, but then she probably dodged a bullet.

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#31

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Lakia Hawkins
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG sooo sad, reminds me of when I was 13 and my friend told me guys that date fat girls only date them for 1 thing...yes and she was supposed to be my best friend, funny thing was I wasn't even fat at the time as I look back at pics I looked great, sometime a persons motives can be jealousy as well.

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#32

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Lakia Hawkins
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That has to be the most horrible thing someone could say to their child :-(

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#33

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Sherlock Holmes
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A three year old?? A three year old NEEDS some chub - they're growing very quickly! A skinny toddler is a sick toddler most of the time!

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#35

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Yasmin Piontek
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would he look at 10 y/o girls' thighs in soccer shorts, huh? But srsly, such a jerk

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#36

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Laury M.
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's horrifying that pregnant women get body-shamed. SHE'S GROWING A HUMAN BEING.

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#38

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#39

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jo_shortland
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could never out on weight before I had my daughter and used to get a lot of comments too which are very hurtful "you are too bony" "Ooo careful you might snap a leg" but it's not your fault

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#40

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Leoninus Fate
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this is so sad, My brother does this to our sister, she has the same problems but diff background as me, our brother lost tons of weight after getting all his med problems fixed, we haven't, our sister has the opposite of me {im under, she's over} and our brother calls her whale, bakery, fat, chub chub, and other words, she's 28 and 200 pounds, he is 24 and weighs 160 pounds with me at 29 at 120 pounds, our brother even got on tv for losing his wight.....{i guess pm or message me if you want that link}

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#42

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Mimis Nachbarin
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am sorry, but this is the most idiotic, wrong, mean and simply absurdest thing I ever heard a mother saying to her daughter. Seriously.

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#43

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Kim Lorton
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, like someone pointed out so accurately above this post, they are supposed to be taking care of you! So, if they think this, and all those other nasty thoughts, why not say these things instead... let's all take a walk after dinner, it's such a nice night! Hey let's go to the beach and play frisbee before the sunset! You know, daughter, I've put on some weight. I think I need a walk, would you take one with me and keep me company? We could walk the dog together, how about that?

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#44

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Wombat34
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's she supposed to do about her boob size? Anyway, this is horseshit. No guys care about boob size. They're all good!

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#45

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Bag Of Donuts
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know this one. The sister of my ex boyfriend told him I looked better when I've been a bit skinnier and with Make up.

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#46

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Queen Bee
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is so awful how people are treating such young kids : (

#47

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Laury M.
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That should be something to be proud of, though. From the use pic it seems that she enjoys running? Having the calves of a demi-god is a plus.

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#50

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Kim Lorton
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good for you! That's an intense workout and takes stamina and strength!

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Note: this post originally had 218 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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