The recent buzz over the internet famed “sexiest fourth grade teacher”, aka #teacherbae, Patrice “Tricey” Brown has stirred a myriad of conversations. I find some of the conversations a bit disheartening. I am amazed at the amount of negative comments directed toward Ms. Brown. I think to myself, “people can’t possibly know that they could be damaging not only Ms. Brown’s self-esteem, but the self-esteem of other little brown girls who are shaped just like her”. Such critics negate this important fact: we are not able to choose the physical characteristics we are born with.
It is true, there are standards of beauty. These standards have spawned the growth of big business in the beauty industry. Everyone wants to feel beautiful and accepted. We lose weight, gain weight, cut hair, add weave, fix teeth, whiten teeth, enhance body parts, tan our skin, and much more in order to build self-esteem. Some people even resort to plastic surgery to improve their self-esteem. Self-esteem and body image go hand-in-hand. To add, research indicates there is a relationship between self-esteem and depression. How we look on the outside can most certainly affect mental health, especially when we hear negative comments addressing the issue we hate most about ourselves.
When I was growing up, I was often taxed with the assumption that I thought I was better than others because of the way I look. I would hear, “she think she cute”, or “you ain’t all that”. So in addition to dealing internally, with the normal body image issues every adolescent experiences, I had to endure these additional outside biased judgements against the way I look. (Of course I thought none of those things about myself.) I want to introduce a concept of which most are not consciously aware. It might be hard for people to believe, but women whom others perceive to be beautiful have the same self-esteem issues as everyone else. It’s true. That’s why Maya Angelou penned the line, “Pretty women wonder where my secret lies”, in her poem Phenomenal Woman. She realized that self- esteem doesn’t come from how we look on the outside, but rather how we feel about ourselves within. This causes me to wonder, “how is Ms. Brown taking all of this criticism?” “Was she teased about her body as a child?” “Has she ever looked in the mirror and questioned her own beauty?” These questions should be put to thought before one chooses to be critical.
And, isn’t it interesting that all of this controversy surrounding #teacherbae is over a dress that many say is too sexy to wear to work. Here is where I need to challenge that specific criticism. It doesn’t matter what she wears, her curves will still be visible. Take a look at her instagram photo (below) where she is wearing jeans and a tee-shirt. Is this too sexy? Can you not still see the same shape? And, for those who might say that the dress itself is inappropriate, please take a look at the photo posted on Hot 97 twitter (below). All three women pictured are wearing the same dress. Is it appropriate for the other two women to wear the dress to teach a 4th grade class? If removed from the context of Ms. Brown, many would agree that the other two women are appropriately dressed to teach.
Critics, might I propose this sentiment? Those who deem that dress too sexy for a teacher to wear to work, might want to consider that it’s not the sexiness of the dress that is troublesome, but rather the sexiness of Ms. Brown herself. And if this is the case, “hating” on Ms. Brown’s body on social media outlets is a form of social bullying and body shaming. We can’t chose who to bully. So many people went to the defense of actress/comedian Leslie Jones when social media degraded her body image. Now some of those same people have turned around and degrade the physical appearance of Ms. Brown because she has curves. That is not fair! Listen, if I had her shape, I could give you a laundry list of things you would not be able to tell me….do you hear me? You would not be able to tell me nothing (double negative intended)!
So to Patrice Brown, I celebrate you and the body that the good Lord gave to you, and I encourage others to do the same. Let’s not be so quick to judge one another. Even what you think are simple criticisms might cut someone to the core, and could possibly lead them into a depressed state. (You never know how your words hurt others.) Instead, let’s practice the instructions of Paul. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves (Philippians 2:3).” Let’s celebrate the beauty of everyone and as always, let’s press on together!