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Addressing Body Shaming in Our Schools

Body shaming can take many forms — from teasing about weight or height, to comments about clothing or appearance, to gestures or comparisons meant to shame. The aim of California Education Code § 232.7 (Assembly Bill 10) is to promote safer, more inclusive environments where all students feel respected and free from stigma. When students experience shame, exclusion, or negative comments about their bodies, it can impact their sense of belonging, mental health, and readiness to learn.
 
What Parents & Educators Should Know (Grades K–12)
 
For Parents & Guardians
Children and teens often internalize harmful messages about “ideal” bodies just by seeing or hearing comments — whether from peers, media, or sometimes even adults. Comments that may be intended as “harmless teasing” can still carry emotional weight and contribute to self-esteem issues, anxiety, or disordered eating. As caregivers, it's helpful to:
  • Model body-neutral or positive language (e.g. focusing on what bodies do, not how they look).
  • Open conversations with your child about media, social media, and how they feel about their body.
  • Encourage critical thinking: when they see images or comments that body-shame, ask “Who made that message? What’s its purpose?”
  • Reach out to school staff if your child is affected by body-shaming remarks or environments.
 
For Educators & School Staff
Schools are powerful in shaping how students see themselves and others. Educators can:
  • Integrate lessons and classroom practices that foster body respect, media literacy, and inclusive language.
  • Interrupt or address body-shaming comments — even when framed as jokes — rather than ignoring them.
  • Use restorative practices rather than purely punitive discipline when harm occurs, so students feel heard and relationships can be repaired.
  • Provide professional development around body image, bias (e.g. fatphobia, racism, ableism), and trauma-informed practices.
  • Ensure that reporting mechanisms are accessible and confidential, and that support systems (counselors, peer groups) are in place.
 
By proactively addressing body shaming, we help cultivate a school climate where all students feel safer, more accepted, and more able to focus on learning.
 
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Additional Resources can be found on the CDE website here: California Department of Education — Assembly Bill 10: Body Shaming Model Policy & Resources