So my friend sent me this article because she thought I might have something to say about it. (Me? Never.) And I did. So, here’s the link -
So this lady’s argument is that there’s this common theme today of saying “real women” are only size 14, with curves, and that thin or healthy women get shit on in regards to being “real”. If you scroll down, she tells you that she was one of the overweight women in the second set of pics, and then she became a bodybuilder. Can I tell you something? I agree with ONE of her points. And that is:
There has been a backlash against slender people since the body-acceptance movement. It’s true. I bet most naturally-tiny people have felt discriminated against at times, with the boatloads of body acceptance size 14 memes floating around the internet. The truth is, all women who don’t have botox and don’t photoshop their pics have “real” bodies.
But I don’t agree with the rest of the article. And here’s why.
1. One thing that bothers me is the name-calling. Lady, how ’bout you don’t shame people by telling them they have “shitty” eating habits.
2. She’s using her story in the wrong way. This gal apparently lost like 50 lbs or so. OK, good for you, I was overweight as a kid too and lost it (albeit through unhealthy ways.) Just because I am society’s standard of “normal” doesn’t mean you see me taking the “real women” movement personally. I’m confident enough to know I have a real body, a body that is just as real as those size 14-ers. It’s like a white person crying because black people have their own equality organizations.
3. I’m sorry, but if you’re a bodybuilder, I’m guessing you use extreme measures to maintain your appearance.
4. WHAT ABOUT DEPRESSION? This lady makes losing weight/getting healthy seem supremely easy. And you know what? It is, for some. But others have to battle co-existing illness like depression and anxiety which compound the ability to lose it. You don’t have a choice when you have depression; it’s a disease and you have symptoms that prevent you from making choices.
5. And oh yeah, there’s class status. Not everyone is white and middle class and is able to shop at Whole Foods!
6. And lastly, God. Lady, I am guessing when people say “God gave me this body”, they mean their genetics/biology. And guess what? That does have an impact. I’m never going to be Anna Kendrick-sized, but I’m also not ever going to be Geena Davis sized. Science does, in fact, happen!
Bottom line: I just hate that women like this get 47,000 likes on an article of this quality, which is basically a shot to get money and publicity through emotional manipulation. And my little blog just plods along…albeit happily…
(and if you’re wondering the answer to my title, it’s this…)
