What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love And Understanding?
I don't know why someone would come to this particular site and rant about how overweight people don't exercise, how we need to put down the cheeseburgers, and how we are "catered to" in society. She seems angry because all this somehow makes it impossible for her to get size zero clothes. Somehow I don't think the size zeros of the world have it that hard in terms of clothing options. Unless she's looking for some horrifying outfit involving applique and animal prints. I think those only come in size twenty and up.
posted by mo pie at 6:10 AM
15 Comments:
What? We're being catered to? Where's my catering? Why was I not informed? I want some chicken tikka right now, dammit.
That Anonymous person is a jackass who really needs to find another form of exercise that'll let her work out her anger issues, but I'll say one thing in her defense: My mother-in-law is a size zero too, and she really does have a hard time finding clothes that fit. The only place where she can find a good range of sizes is in the "Junior Hoochiemamma" section of department stores, but as she's a very conservative Christian lady that just ain't an option.
Where the anonymouse got the idea that this is the fault of fat people is beyond me. Maybe if she ate a little more she wouldn't be so cranky.
I think Mo hit the nail on the head when she said that size 0's haven't had many problems. There are many instances of privilege in our society, and for a long time "super thin" people automatically benefited from it. It seems like anonymous is used to being an example of an ideal in our society, and therefore she is used to being treated exceptionally well, even without making any extra effort to deserve that treatment.
But maybe things have changed, just a bit. People are speaking out more. Actresses who are losing extreme amounts of weight are even being attacked in magazines for being unhealthy. All of a sudden when anonymous goes shopping the world doesn't automatically cater to her anymore. Suddenly SHE is attacked for "not eating", instead of being held up as an icon.
Wait... being attacked by strangers for something that A. Is none of their business, and B. Assumes unhealthful habits by you just because of how you look? Sounds... familiar.
The point is, it's wrong no matter who does it. Anorexia is a scary, debilitating disease and to snark at someone for being "anorexic" because they are thin is cruel, hateful, and ignorant. However, in this case anonymous has two choices. She could suddenly realize that all the hate in this direction is wrong, and make an effort to change society. Or she could let fear and anger that her world is no longer comfortable cause her to lash out and expect society to change for her.
Unfortunately, she chose the latter.
I would respond to your great comments, but it's really difficult to type while holding a cheeseburger. I don't know how the rest of you manage it.
On the one hand, yes, her stance is laughable.
On the other... I know people who are very thin (either naturally or due to illness) and yes, size inflation has made it difficult for them to buy well fitting clothes. Some upscale retailers run smaller but are significantly more expensive. Juniors clothes tend to be smaller, but don't offer much for the business-woman. Personally, I give them the advice I use... get yourself a good tailor.
It's too bad Anonymous is taking her hate out on fat people because it seems like she has a lot in common with us - not being able to find nice clothes in the proper size. Being on either end of the extreme makes finding clothes harder. Ditto with shoes and bras. She has more in common with fat people than she probably realizes.
I've noticed that even "normal" weight girls always have something that makes it hard to find clothes. Either their butt's too big or they don't like their arms etc. etc. People just like to think it is easier for everyone else. The grass is always greener, yada, yada.
I think citycat nailed it. Bottom line, though, is none of us really has the right to judge anyone by their size, whether it be larger than average or smaller. Can't we all just get along and sing Kumbaya?
If it's "fat" women's fault that our little friend can't get size zeros that fit, it must be the fault of all you pear shaped women that I can't get clothes to fit my apple shape. How dare you?
When I was in high school, I was a size 16/18 and my best friend was naturally a zero. I found this very convenient, as all I had to do to go somewhere was carry her under one arm. (I was also ten inches taller!)
Well, if I were snarky, I would say that prolonged anorexia and/or bulimia can unbalance your serotonin levels and make you EVIL, but between Mo'nique and Kelley, who posted after her, I think she's been pretty much snarked.
As for appliques and animal prints, I'm just howling. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Had a rough day and I needed that.
Yes, and it's the fault of all the apple-shaped women that I can't get tops and jeans that aren't too big in the waist (which I can't)... This could go on forever.
I think it's all in your attitude. Some people, whatever their circumstances, like to complain about something. Others really do have something to complain about, but don't.
In any case, it's not as though clothes manufacturers are only allowed to make so many sizes, and if they add an extra one at the top end of the range, they have to lose one at the bottom (economic considerations apart). Maybe if you can't find clothes that fit you, you should write to a few manufacturers to say so. My mum once got the design of a product changed this way - maybe it would work for clothes as well. Who knows, you might at least get a gift certificate...
Everyone has these vanity sizing issues. When I go shopping with my thin friends they are just as frustrated as I am trying to find something that fits propertly. My friend who is 110 lbs soaking wet? Things don't fit properly. My size 10-12, beautiful curvy friend? Things don't fit her properly. My sister who's a swimmer, muscular, flat tummy size 6? Nothing fits properly. Me, size 20? Yeah, you know....
Sucks to be as angry as Anon. is about it though. We all get frustrated. My skinny friends end up angry and weepy as often as I do, and at the end of the day most of us have our own body demons to deal with, fat, thin or somewhere in between.
And make mine a *bacon* cheeseburger, thank you.
Kristin
What I don't understand is the comment a few up from anonymous,
"And I have found that most manufacturers are making there clothes "smaller" my daughter who is 5'6" and 150 pds has to buy a 3x in most tops. All the tops are cut really small and tight and the pants seem to be following that trend."
I'm shorter, and weighed well over 150 2 years ago, and never got into multiple X's. Where in the world is that woman shopping? Send anonymous there!
And as an hourglass, I blame ALL of you for my inability to find clothes that fit!
We're all shaped differently, and that's what makes the world a beautiful place, and also what keeps all the tailors in business. Your tailor is your friend, and at least the size 0 person generally gets more attractive options to start with than the size 16+. You can always alter a piece of clothing to be smaller, but it's hard to alter things to be bigger.
Anonymous can have some of my fat. Maybe that will solve her size 0 problem.
I have to stand up for the low-end size people here and say it IS hard to find clothing that's appropriate. One of the main problems is you either have to buy it in the juniors' section or in the petite section, and just because you're thin doesn't make you petite. Some of us have manly shoulders and elongated torsos :) Just as a beautifully proportioned size 16 wouldn't want to wear a mumu, someone who's a size 0 and over 19 isn't really going to want to walk around everywhere with her belly hanging out, or in petites which for some inexplicable reason always come festooned with giant cloth-covered buttons and stupid little bows, arrgh, why?! As far as advantages, well...you know, I had a heck of a time paying for a hotel room the other day, and I'm going to blame it on my rather adolescent looking shape. The desk clerk took one look at me and was convinced I wasn't old enough to pay for the hotel room with my credit card (I'm 24.) She thought I'd taken my mom's. I've been bugged at the airport because "people under 16 can't fly without a parent." As far as prejudices in general, I find with clothing they cut so much of it for bigger breasted girls and not so much for ladies with a round bottom. When I look around I see more of us are bottom heavy than not. It's as though the companies think by making clothing to fit the ideal proportion of having a big chest and small hips, somehow we're going to be able to morph our bodies into that proportion. I don't care what size anyone is, that's just not fair!
I DO like the open discussion on this site...I'm sorry one angry person had to lash out irrationally. Sometimes idiots are just going to be idiots.
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