No one should ever be made to feel badly about their bodies. But unfortunately, it's all too common for someone—even a well-meaning relative or a friend—to make an upsetting comment about the way you look that can linger in your memory for years.
Sally Bergesen, the founder and CEO of athletic-wear brand Oiselle, encouraged people on Twitter to share stories about times they were body-shamed using the hashtag #TheySaid. She tweeted her own experience, when her dad commented, "Keep eating like that and you're going to be a butterball," when she was 12.
Soon, girls and women chimed in with their own stories.
Athletes have dealt with body-shaming, too.
And so have people who suffered from eating disorders.
The hashtag resonated powerfully with a lot of people.
While it's awesome that Sally is spearheading an online movement that validates people of all sizes, it's important to note that her company Oiselle's largest size is a 12. On Twitter, one user confronted Sally about this discrepancy.
Sally engaged in a thoughtful conversation, promised to offer an extended range of sizes in the future, and acknowledged that her company needs to do better.
