'Unwanted sexual attention': Psychologist slams sexist remarks about Sydney Sweeney's figure
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON: The premature development of adult bodies in children, especially young girls, can result in their objectification, making them vulnerable to sexual harassment, said chartered psychologist Catherine Hallissey. This may have contributed to the bullying experienced by several of Sydney Sweeney's supporters. Hallissey also slammed sexist remarks made about Sweeney's figure.
This was in wake of actress Sydney Sweeney's recent revelation on how she was subjected to ostracization and trolling during her early years due to her body developing faster than her peers. She received criticism for her nude scenes in the popular TV show 'Euphoria'. In an interview with The Sun, Sweeney expressed that she felt left out as she had developed breasts before other girls her age. Despite her success in the hit HBO show, she has faced criticism and been objectified for her role in nude scenes. “You have a character that goes through the scrutiny of being a sexualized person at school and then an audience that does the same thing,” she added.
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'It can be honestly awful'
"When children develop breasts at a young age, it can lead to issues with self-image. On top of that, it can lead to sexual attention that is unwanted and inappropriate. This can significantly increase feelings of body consciousness, body shame, and dissatisfaction with appearance", said Hallissey.
Moreover, after Sweeney's interview was released, trolls on Twitter criticized her for speaking out about her physical appearance, with some claiming that she was 'complaining' and shouldn't have discussed her breasts publicly. However, her fans were quick to defend her and recognize the continued scrutiny that women face for their bodies.
One fan wrote, "Anyone mocking this probably wasn't catcalled at 10/11 and wasn't told to cover up for wearing the same things other kids were allowed to wear. When your body becomes sexualized as a child you can start to hate it and blame yourself. It can be honestly awful."
Another fan added, "TRUE. I was first to have boobs also, and everyone made an anti-stefanie club so no one was allowed to talk to me at recess… soo I was called a slut because only the boys would talk to me." "I had the biggest boobs in middle school when I was 13 and girls used to call me a "monster". To this day it's stuck with me.," shared one person. Many others also shared their own personal experiences of being body-shamed while growing up and empathized with Sweeney. They recalled incidents where they were teased by their peers for their breast size, just like the 'White Lotus' star.
anyone mocking this probably wasn’t catcalled at 10/11 and wasn’t told to cover up for wearing the same things other kids were allowed to wear. when your body becomes sexualized as a child you can start to hate it and blame yourself. it can be honestly awful
— chad, patron saint of chaos (@endofanerajc) March 19, 2023
TRUE. I was first to have boobs also, and everyone made an anti-stefanie club so no one was allowed to talk to me at recess… soo I was called a slut Becuase only the boys would talk to me
— Stefanie G (@stefbabyg) March 19, 2023
I had the biggest boobs in middle school when I was 13 and girls used to call me a "monster". To this day it's stuck with me.
— Tatiz✨ (@tatizag3) March 19, 2023
'People need to be nicer'
Sweeney has not only faced sexualization but also body shaming, as evidenced by her tearful Instagram post in 2021. In the post, she called out online bullies for their hurtful comments, saying, "People need to be nicer on social media because this is really f--ked up." Unfortunately, Sweeney's experiences with online abuse didn't end there. Last year, trolls even went as far as to attack her and her family, making jokes about their alleged involvement in the January 6 insurrection.
The attacks were sparked by a photo of a person wearing a T-shirt with a black-and-white American flag with a blue streak across it, a symbol associated with the pro-police Blue Lives Matter movement. Moreover, Sweeney found herself embroiled in controversy when she made comments about not having any financial balance to take a break. Some people pointed out that she lives in a $3 million home, while others criticized her for not acknowledging her privilege.
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.