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- Victoria Beckham Reveals Dyscalculia Bullying: ‘Kids Called Me Thick’, as she talked about how it affected her mentally.
- Learning disorders often go unrecognized, leading to harmful labels.
- Bullying impacted her mental health and self-esteem profoundly.
- She developed resilience that aided her in her public life.
- Victoria’s story promotes awareness about learning difficulties and mental health.
Victoria Beckham, renowned around the world as both a former Spice Girl and a trailblazer in the fashion industry, has opened up about her personal battle with dyscalculia, a condition that complicates one’s ability to comprehend numbers.
In an intimate discussion on the Call Her Daddy podcast with Alex Cooper, aired on October 22, Beckham recounted her childhood experiences. She revealed how her struggles with academic performance and learning disabilities led to severe bullying, both physically and emotionally, by her classmates.
Struggled Academically Enormously as a Child with Dyscalculia
Reflecting on her school days, Beckham described herself as “quite shy” and “awkward.” She spoke about self-identifying as having dyslexia and dyscalculia, even though these learning challenges were not formally recognized during her youth.
Dyscalculia hindered her ability to grasp mathematical concepts, posing significant challenges similar to how dyslexia disrupts reading comprehension. This made her academic journey particularly frustrating and often led to misunderstandings among her peers.
Children Called Victoria Beckham ‘Thick’ Due to Learning Difficulties
Her learning difficulties were exacerbated by relentless bullying from other children, who dismissed her as “thick.” This derogatory treatment took a toll on Beckham’s confidence, making her more reserved. She recounted painful memories of intense bullying, including incidents where classmates would throw cans at her during school.
This mistreatment extended to her college years, where she was also subjected to criticism about her appearance and abilities, telling her she was not good enough and too fat to be on stage. Despite the emotional toll, Beckham acknowledged this adversity gave her resilience and a “thick skin”.
The Emotional Toll of Unrecognized Learning Disorders on Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham shared that during her childhood, mental health and learning difficulties were not openly discussed or supported. She felt ashamed and embarrassed, keeping these struggles private and enduring them in silence. Her parents were supportive but unaware of the extent of her misery, which was exacerbated by the bullying. This lack of recognition for her conditions contributed to feelings of isolation during her formative years.
The fashion icon reflected on how being different from her peers, in interests, aptitude, and personality made her an outsider. While many of her peers engaged in after-school activities like smoking or hanging out, Beckham attended dance and acting classes. This difference, combined with her learning disabilities, made social integration challenging. However, these experiences fortified her character and prepared her to face criticism without losing focus on her goals.
Understanding Dyscalculia: The Learning Disorder Affecting Victoria Beckham
Dyscalculia is a neurological condition that affects brain areas responsible for math and number-related skills, causing individuals to struggle with understanding and using numbers. It is less known than dyslexia but similarly impactful on academic performance and self-esteem during childhood. Dyscalculia affects about 5-7% of the population, but awareness remains low, often leading to mislabeling children as “slow” or “thick,” as in Beckham’s case.
Beckham’s openness helps highlight the struggles faced by many children with learning disorders who are misunderstood and bullied. Her story encourages recognition and support for learning difficulties like dyscalculia. It also reinforces the importance of mental health conversations starting early and providing affected children with tools and confidence to thrive despite challenges.
