The media and society in general have crafted this strange paradox for girls with thin bodies, where we are constantly having traditionally "skinny" models and headlines about losing weight thrown at us while at the same time, being told those same bodies are "unachievable" and even unhealthy. It's confusing and complicated, and for those of us who fit into the "skinny" mold, has led to a whole lot of frustration. Here are the 7 things us naturally skinny girls are most sick of hearing.
1. "You're not anorexic are you?"
Please, PLEASE do not automatically assume that because someone has a thinner than normal body that they are anorexic. Anorexia is a serious mental and physical disorder, and to ask a girl this is downright rude. Not only does this make the assumption that a girl simply could not be so thin if she didn't starve herself (some of us truly were born this way), but it could be difficult if the person potentially has dealt with/is dealing with an eating disorder. Unless you have serious reason to believe someone has an eating disorder, please don't ask dumb questions like this.
2. "Eat a hamburger!"
Okay, can we just destroy this notion that thin women don't eat "real food?" This presumption is made all too often, especially when it comes to models. Yes, many of us tend to eat rather healthy (some just have crazy fast metabolisms), but that doesn't mean we "don't eat" or never indulge in what you deem the types of foods a skinny person would never go near for fear of gaining a single pound. And please stop calling my food "rabbit food." Much appreciated.
3. "Real women have curves."
I began hearing this one everywhere a few years ago when the so called "body positive" movement began, even in legitimate campaigns. Needless to say, there are A LOT of problems with this, starting with the fact that this seriously undermines non plus sized women, assuming that we are somehow not "real" or less womanly because we are "just skin and bones" (I will never forgive the "only dogs go for bones" thing I saw everywhere.) This also further pushes divides between the sizes, and forgets that thin women have curves too. We have waists, and hips, and all the rest. Slogans like these drive the idea that thin bodies are somehow masculine or underdeveloped, and frankly if you are going to call a campaign "body positive," it should be positive towards all body types.
4. "Don't complain! You look good in everything!"
Under the right circumstances, this is a compliment. However, this one very easily crosses the line into undermining any insecurities thin women may have. Women in general should really quit the self body bashing (remember that scene in Mean Girls in front of the mirror?), but when someone voices an insecurity and you immediately shut them down because of their size, it just makes them feel guilty and worse than before.
5. "You would look so much hotter if you gained a little weight."
Can we stop telling women what to do with their bodies please? Especially when it's something like this, which acts under the presumption that a woman should change her body to fit what others find more appealing. How about we let women be whatever size they are healthy and happy at?
6. "Guys prefer curvy girls you know."
Ummmm okay? Similar to saying that guys prefer girls who wear less makeup, there's just a million things wrong with this. Let's start with the obvious one: women should not do anything solely for the purpose of pleasing a man, especially when it comes to their bodies. Whether it's wearing as much makeup as you want, ordering whatever the hell you want at a restaurant, or the size of your body that makes you the happiest, do it for you and no one else. Also, saying something like this groups all men into one rather offensive category. Guys have different tastes and types too, and shouldn't all be grouped into one skinny-girl-hating category.
7. "I wish I had a body like yours!"
Another one meant as a compliment, but it's pretty self deprecating and negative. Comparison is the death of progress, and while we all might be guilty of comparing ourselves to other women and wishing we could have this feature or that one, we should really do our best to stop. Appreciate what someone else has without putting yourself down.
