I recently stumbled upon an article "11 Things Curvy Girls Are Tired Of Hearing." It had several statements that naturally curvy girls often hear and how old hearing them can get. And while I wasn't able to relate directly to this article because well, I pretty much have the figure of a 10-year-old boy. I was able to relate in that as a naturally thinner person, there are quite a number of phrases that after the years have gotten really really old and ultimately make me and anyone else that's been left having to respond to these statements feel really awkward.
1. "You look like you need a cheeseburger."
Well, Janice, I hate to break it to you but one cheeseburger won't make me gain weight and I'm not actually hungry because I'm full from my other meals
2. "I wish I was as skinny as you!"
I understand this is meant to be taken as a compliment but it implies that skinny is the goal and that there's something wrong with thicker bodies.You don't need to be "skinny like me." If everyone had the same body it'd be a really generic and dull world.
3. "You have no ______."
"Wow, you really have no butt."
"Wow, you really have no boobs."
Gee Janice... I've been living so long in my body and had no idea!!! Thank you so much for shedding so much light on my life!
4. "I could break you in half!"
This one just leaves me with a really awkward laugh because I literally have no idea how to respond... Please don't break me in half, or attempt to..that would be really creepy.
5. "You don't need to workout, you're already skinny!"
Thanks, Janice! But believe it or not, I go to the gym to feel good, not to lose weight. Plus being actively fit and skinny are two completely different things.
6. "If you're fat I must be obese."
Ok no. When I eat too much and complain I feel gross or fat, or when I try something on and think I look fat, that does not mean I think you are also fat. I am aware that I'm not actually fat but like every other human being I sometimes complain.
7. "Guys like girls with curves."
Yes, I've gotten this statement before. Yes, it's body shaming. And yes, it needs to stop.
8. "You're so skinny you should model!"
I understand that this one is meant with nothing but good intentions and that it's meant to be taken as a compliment. However, it often implies that the only good models are thinner when that's really not the case at all and an idea we really need to move away from.
9. "You need some meat on your bones."
How am I even expected to respond to this? Seriously. Do I say thanks? Do I say ok? Do I say no I don't? What satisfaction do you get from telling me this?
10. "Is that your bone?!"
Yes, Janice, it is...you have them too. Please stop poking me.
Growing up naturally really thin, I often got many comments that I was "too skinny." I was told I was going to get sick because I was too thin. I was called skin and bones. I was asked if I ate and it was funny because anyone that knew me knew I ate more than anyone. We need to begin to move away from comments like these regarding others' bodies. Your body is the home in which you live Girls need to stick together and encourage each other. So to the author of "11 Things Curvy Girls Are Tired Of Hearing," I am with you!
