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Flora Fadzai Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter

FOR almost half of her teenage life, Ms Cynthia Ndlovu (24) of Nkulumane suburb in Bulawayo endured negative comments about her appearance, leaving her embarrassed

Men have verbally abused her through body shaming, making her feel guilty for her body features. Body shaming is subjecting someone to humiliation and criticism for their body features.

Ms Ndlovu said living in Nkulumane suburb did not make her life any easier as she had to endure passing through groups of men sitting on bridges and standing at street corners who passed negative comments on her body features.
She said they would call her names and make fun of her body calling her ‘magriza’ and ‘olady’

According to Ms Ndlovu, this form of abuse made her feel insecure and not comfortable about her body and she subsequently lost self-esteem.

It also affected her performance in extracurricular activities at school.
“Boys in street corners and at bridges would blow whistles and ask me to stop. Since l was now used to them l knew it was just a way of making fun of me hence I would just ignore them,” she said.

She said each time she ignored them they started calling her names and mocking her because of her body features.
“Some would even attempt to block my way by standing in front of me,” said Ms Ndlovu.

Ms Ndlovu said some of her peers at school would go to an extent of snatching her food, claiming they were helping her to lose weight.

As the country commemorates 16 days of Activism against Gender based Violence, Ms Ndlovu said it is also important for people to be taught about verbal abuse and its impact.

“This is a form of abuse that we should be fighting against during the 16 days of Activism against GBV. Nothing hurts more than words spoken against you,” she said.

Ms Ndlovu is not the only woman who has suffered verbal abuse at the hands of men
Most girls face verbal abuse daily especially from boys with words such as ‘uvuthiwe’, ‘ufit’ loosely thrown around.

A Chronicle news crew spoke to a few people on the streets seeking their opinions on verbal abuse against women.
Ms Lisa Ncube (21) said what most men do not understand is that words have a lasting impact on a person’s life.

She said by just calling a girl ‘darkie’ it makes a woman lose her self-esteem.
“Guys think we are happy when they make these funny remarks. You will get a guy telling a girl that ‘uvuthiwe’ that is really wrong. Does that mean when men are looking at us women, they see fruits that are ready to be eaten,” said Ms Ncube.

She said there is a need to teach young boys that being verbally abusive has negative impact on the girls’ lives.
Mr Leeroy Makhuluma (25) said: “By saying this is abuse, we are now being extreme because naturally boys play like that and teasing girls should not be a big issue but should instead make the girls strong.”

Beitbridge based social worker and expert on GBV issues, Mrs Babongile Gora said verbal abuse is worse than physical abuse although its scars are not seen. She said most women who endure verbal abuse find it difficult to open up because they cannot nail the perpetrator.

Mrs Gora said men who make comments deemed to be a form of sexual harassment should be reported to relevant authorities or the police. — @flora_sibanda.