Why Are Stretch Marks On Body Still Stigmatised?

Priya Ahuja aka Rita Reporter stretch marks post is a grim reminder of how much and how often women are judged. The virtual world of social media has created an unreal, impractical image of bodies in our heads.

The level of 'perfection' has been raised so high with the filters and camera angles that most of us forget how real bodies look like. Not only do we try to hide our realness by deeming them as flaws but also frown upon others who show the real ridges, marks, shades and everything real about our bodies.

While social media problematises some things for us, it also presents us with perspectives that eventually help us be at peace with our imperfect selves. Priya Ahuja aka Rita Reporter of Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma recently shared a picture of herself in a bikini set and proudly showed off her mommy tummy. She did not try to hide her stretch marks or conceal the loose fat on her tummy because why should she? Isn't it a fact that women go through bodily changes after giving birth? Then why is it still so difficult for people to accept those changes?

What are they really?

Stretch marks are a part of our body like the folds on our skin and the disproportionate colour of skin. Most of us have them and there is no mystery around them anymore. Then why the stigma? Just because some magazine cover come polished where the model's skin texture is made to look like a glossy sheet of paper, doesn't mean we start hating our own bodies. It's just a fact, our skin texture is nowhere close to a glossy sheet of paper. It irregular, uneven, sometimes has pimples, stretched at places and it is different for each one of us.

The stigma around a women's belly after giving birth is just as regressive. We need to understand that our natural bodies should not be altered according to what gets more likes on social media.

Credits: Twitter