The intense public scrutiny that many women face regarding their bodies was recently highlighted by a host of reactions to actresses, including Anne Hathaway and Charlize Theron.
While both women are uberly talented and so gorgeous, their recent red carpet appearances had many concerned for obvious reasons.
The duo was seen making their way to the red carpet premiere of the movie The Odyssey. While the 50-year-old Theron did face plenty of online speculations linked to her lean frame and to weight-loss medications such as Ozempic, a pregnant Hathaway was met with serious comments fixating on and objectifying her natural maternal body changes.
Expert doctors note that these contrasting reactions arise from a similar issue, and that has to do with a cultural standard where women's bodies are treated like public property. Doctors warn that social media accelerates this judgement and normalizes toxic commentary that distorts how everyday women perceive their own natural physical changes.
Both stars historically push back against these unrealistic expectations, but we've seen Hathaway openly challenge body shamers and defend postpartum weight gain. Theron, on the other hand, dismissed plastic surgery rumors by asserting that her altered appearance has to do with aging and nothing more.