Swara Bhasker recently confronted a prominent Hindi newspaper for an article that body-shamed her and attributed her weight gain to a lack of film roles. Sharing a screenshot of the tweet featuring the article on her Instagram Stories, Swara criticized the publication’s focus.
In her response, Swara pointed out the absurdity of the article, highlighting that it deemed it newsworthy to comment on her weight gain as a new mother. She questioned the understanding of childbirth physiology by those behind such articles. Swara’s marriage to politician Fahad Ahmed in January last year and the birth of their daughter, Raabiyaa, on September 23, 2023, contextualizes the timing of the body-shaming article.
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The article’s focus on Swara’s post-pregnancy weight gain and its implication for her professional opportunities underscores broader societal issues. Body shaming, especially targeting new mothers, is not only cruel but also perpetuates unrealistic beauty standards. Postpartum weight gain is a natural part of the childbirth recovery process and criticizing it demonstrates a lack of empathy and understanding.
Furthermore, the media’s emphasis on Swara’s weight over her professional achievements or personal experiences reflects deep-seated misogyny. This reduction of a talented actor and new mother to her physical attributes reinforces harmful stereotypes about women’s worth being tied to their appearance rather than their talents and contributions.
Articles like these can have a detrimental impact on the mental health of new mothers and women in general, adding to the pressures of motherhood and societal expectations. Additionally, linking Swara’s weight to her professional opportunities highlights discriminatory practices within the entertainment industry, where female stars are often judged more harshly based on their appearance rather than their talent.
Responsible journalism should prioritize informing and shaping public discourse positively. Sensationalizing a new mother’s weight gain fails this responsibility and promotes harmful stereotypes. There is a clear need for more respectful journalism that uplifts individuals, particularly women, during vulnerable times such as the postpartum period.
