I only weigh 105 pounds. My jeans are a size 2, and some of them are still baggy on me depending on the type of jeans they are. And all of my T-shirts are a size small. I am what most people in today’s society would classify as skinny.
I hate all these labels that we have for people today because everything is relative and labels are stupid, but for the purpose of this article, I will agree that I am skinny. I always have been. From the time I was a little kid I have been classified as “a string bean” and “thin as a rail,” and I was told that I “eat like a bird.”
Seems like harmless comments, right?
Wrong.
Yes, I am one of those people who believe “skinny shaming” is a real problem. Skinny shaming is when people make demeaning comments about someone because they are thin. It’s often insults and criticism that is hidden behind the compliment “you’re so skinny.” I guess someone decided that if you only weigh a certain amount you are not allowed to have body image issues. Here are a couple of things I wish people would take into consideration.
First of all, a lot of people who are considered skinny still have a long list of things they would change about themselves.
Second of all, I am not skinny because I starve myself or because I make myself throw up after I eat.
This is so important.
Skinny does not mean starving. Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia are very serious conditions and should not be joked about.
Like I said before, I have gotten the “you eat like a bird” comment so often in my life that I’ve learned to expect it. I cannot eat a large amount of food without feeling sick. This does not mean I have an eating disorder.
It may seem like I’m complaining about something that I’m supposed to take as a compliment or I’m getting annoyed because people are simply concerned about my health. But think about it this way, no one likes being told they are eating too much, and most people would not even say that to someone out of fear that they are being rude. So why do people think it’s OK to do the opposite?
I eat. I am not skinny because I starve myself. I’m not skinny because I think guys will like me more if I’m thin. Hell, I’m not even skinny because I eat super healthy.
I’m skinny because that’s my body type. I’m naturally small in height and weight.
In society’s terms, I am someone who should not be concerned with my weight or what I eat. And yet I seem to think about it all the time. Every time someone says I eat like a bird or they tell me I need to put some meat on my bones, it makes me a little more self-conscious about my body and what I eat.
I urge you to simply think before you speak. Words are powerful and can have a bigger impact on someone than you think.
