This is a standard sized mannequin at Forever 21:
These are plus sized mannequins at Forever 21:
Look again.
What do you see?
When I look at the first mannequin, the “standard” mannequin, I do not consider it standard or normal. I see the “plus size” mannequins as normal.
Standard mannequins portray a body type that very few women have. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, the body type portrayed in advertising as ideal is possessed naturally by only 5 percent of American females.
Plus size is usually considered sizes 14 through 34. According to Business Insider, the average American woman is a size 14.
Clothing is meant to be bought and worn, so why are retailers making clothing that does not reflect the average woman?
I believe that the problem with the current standard and plus size ranges is that it deepens insecurities in women. A lot of women are not overweight, yet they consider themselves “fat” and “unattractive” because they are told that to be fit, their size must be in the single digits. This system does not take into account the fact that no two bodies are alike. Some women have small waists and large bottoms, others have large busts but small bottoms -- women cannot all be defined as either “standard” or “plus size.”
I myself am a 21-year-old Latina. Standing at 5’6” and weighing about 170 pounds, I struggle to find clothing that I feel comfortable in. I do not consider myself overweight at all. I have grown up playing soccer and have an athletic build. I am broad shouldered, have thick legs, a small bust, and, as my friends say, a big booty.
When it comes to women’s tops, I wear medium or large depending on the style of the blouse or t-shirt. My struggle is with bottoms. When it comes to pants, shorts, skirts, etc., it is difficult to find a good fit. I can never get jeans past my booty. So, I go up a size or two and finally find a pair of pants that goes over my booty, but it ends up being too loose around my waist and legs.
Forever 21 is one of my favorite places to shop, yet their largest size in standard jeans are too small for me. But when I try on the smallest size of their plus size jeans, they fit me too big. I end up feeling frustrated and unattractive.
Women like me are not struggling with health issues or an unhealthy weight. We are just normal. We are beautiful and strong but not stick thin - and that is okay.
I am not saying that I have no concern for the rising obesity rates among Americans. Obesity leads to numerous health problems and the public should be encouraged to stay fit and healthy. But there is a difference between encouraging women to be healthy and making them feel less beautiful just because they do not fit one particular body mold.
As consumers, us women have a lot of influence over the corporations and retailers that we buy from. It is time for us to stop trying to fit the ideal body type that we have been conditioned to desire and start demanding that retailers make clothing that compliments the beautiful bodies we were born with.
