In Response to "Sorry I'm a 00"
I truly, truly wanted to support your article. I wanted to believe everything you were saying was true. I hoped for a second I, too, would believe being a size 00 is a hard life. But upon reading it I couldn't quite get to that point. Let me give you a little background about my experience with body image.
I've never been ashamed of the way my body looks and I am incredibly, incredibly lucky for this to be true. But that doesn't mean every second of every day I have been happy I'm a size 5 with big thighs. I've seen girls walking across campus with thinner waists than mine and wished that I could pull off a crop-top like they can. Don't get me wrong I go out and rock a crop top but being self-conscious is very much part of that experience. I honestly don't remember the last time I was a 00. I think maybe it was fifth grade? But back then it was still 14/16 sizing and I couldn't have cared less about my pant size. For as long as I can remember I have had to try on pants time and time again because they never truly fit. Never have I been able to walk out of a store with a pair of jeans without trying them on. I have fluctuated between size 3, size 5, size 7, and even size 9 depending on the retailer. I have broken 100 on the scale and did it quite a few years ago and because of that fact I still hate getting on the scale (even though I know I am perfectly healthy). When you talk about skinny shaming and compare it to the comments and jabs pointed at girls who aren't size 00 or 0 I think you are missing the point. What you feel you face is completely valid--I am sure there are "skinny shamers" out there. But you never have to be scared to post an "outfit of the day" snap or wear a new pattern. You never got comments in middle school that maybe it would be a good idea to skip lunch because you were putting on weight. You didn't walk through the halls having random guys grab your leggings and say "nice ass". I understand that it must be hard for you to be told that for a guy to like you you need curves. But imaging what it's like to not be accepted by an entire society. To see close to zero representation in the media, on TV, and practically everywhere. The Dove Real Beauty campaign is breaking boundaries and the fact that you are scared of other body images being accepted in mainstream media says less about them and more about you. Loving other body types is not putting down skinny girls! It is including those with stretch-marks, no thigh-gaps, and poochy stomachs.
It must be really hard seeing your body-type represented all over TV, magazines, and movies. And getting comments about being too skinny is in no way comparable to being asked to starve yourself or "lose a little weight". I do agree that as women we need to support each other and our body types but I think you have a little learning to do in that department before you can criticize others.
I'm sorry that you have to go through your days as a "skinny girl", but next time you complain, think of the girls who longingly stare at size 00 jeans in the store and feel their self-confidence break every time someone makes a snide remark about their stretch marks or stomachs. Maybe to help kick-start your desire to have an inclusive community of women you can start complimenting those with other body types.
Yours Truly,
A size 5
