Body and Shame: Social Challenges of University Students (A Case Study of Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad)

Abstract

In this study “Body and Shame; Social Challenges of University’s Students” an attempt has been made by the researcher to explore the social challenges of body shaming among the students at Quaid-I-Azam university. The researcher tried to examine various aspects of body shaming among students. This research has been conducted using qualitative methodology and the interpretive paradigm of social research. The whole phenomenon of body shaming was figured out holistically. Purposive sampling has been used in this study and the sample size of this study was 20. Several, methods tools, and techniques were used for data acquisition. These include observation, in depth interviews, jotting, audio recording etc. The duration of this research was four months. This study carried two objectives. The researcher explored various types of body shaming to address the first objective. She explored body shaming based on body size, skin complexion, height, facial features, and other physical features. The perception of students about each type of body shaming and offensive names which were used for the degradation of those students who were facing body shaming were explored. The second objective of this study was to figure out the causes and challenges of body shaming among students. Cultural and societal of body shaming were explored during this research. The role of media, the cosmetic industry, and other factors which were operating body shaming were figured out. Finally, at the end of this research trouble formed in the lives of students because of body shaming. The uproar due to body shaming in social life, the adverse influences of body humiliation on emotional health, and the downsides of body shaming in bodily health were explored during this learning. Keywords: Body shame, Gender discrimination, Cosmetic industry, Social media, Short shame, Humiliation.