Beyond the Gaze: A Qualitative Exploration of Young Women’s Body Shaming Experiences

Abstract

Young women’s bodies are constantly subjected to public scrutiny, making body shaming a persistent cultural practice with significant psychological and social impact. The study explored the body-shaming experiences of three college-going women from Kerala, employing a narrative approach to examine how they construct meaning around these encounters. Semi-structured telephone interviews elicited detailed personal accounts, which were thematically analyzed. Three main themes emerged: (i)The vulnerable self, (ii) The reclaimed self, and (iii) Beyond the self. The findings align with the concepts of self-objectification, gender socialization, and narrative identity development, demonstrating how young women reauthor their personal lives in response to unpleasant, intrusive experiences. The study emphasizes that body shaming is not merely a personal insult, but a culturally rooted practice that demands collective dialogue and social change.