An Overshadowed Problem: Skinny Shaming

I've heard a lot about how disappointed some people are in the fact that J. Crew is now adding a size 000 to their clothing. It's amazing that no matter what a company does, it always appears to be in the wrong. Why should it matter to everyone if J. Crew wants to allow more women to fit into it's clothing? I dont see this as some ploy to show that all women should fit into that size, it is simply allowing for a larger market for their clothing. Some women are born petite. Some are born plus sized. Human size varies from the small end of the spectrum to the large end due not only to personal habit, but also largely (and predominantly) from genetics!

Personally, I find that a lot of stores (J. Crew, Express, BR/Gap, among others) run really big. I can buy a size 00 shorts in the petite section and I still swim in them without a belt. This is simply because I was born petite. I'm 5'1 and lean, and trust me, I have a healthy appetite. I'm not trying to stay the size of your average 16 year old girl, but that's how I was made. I live off carbs and the only exercise I regularly do is run and I haven't changed weight in five years. Are you going to tell me I'm unhealthy for fitting into a smaller size of clothing? Sorry, but 0 is a size, and there are healthy women who need that.

The assumptions being made about the people who would fit into these clothes are incredibly offensive. Maybe it's because I am one, but regardless... what gives any other person the right to make a judgment call on somebody else's body? Their small size is not harming you, and you have no idea if they are having trouble gaining weight or what their personal story is. When you mutter under your breath that these women should eat a hamburger, take a step back... reevaluate why you have any right to shame on their body. Not everyone who’s skinny has an eating disorder, and not everyone with an eating disorder is skinny.

I have always believed that women are beautiful regardless of size and there are many people out there fighting to make others realize that larger women are beautiful. Why should it be okay to bash those who are smaller? Shaming at either end of this spectrum is not okay and it is never going to allow for beauty ideals to be realistic. All we can do is allow others the freedom to be happy and comfortable in their skin, and encourage self-confidence from within. Healthy is beautiful.

Size 00. Also I have hairy arms.

It seems to me that today, people will find anyway to put a negative spin on things. While I would in no way support this sizing addition if it were encouraging women that this was an ideal goal to be reaching, or if it were to insinuate eating disorders among other health issues, as of now I see no need for the amount of backlash this has received. While vanity sizing is real, and does play a role in shopping, someone who is not already similar to that size, is not going to be incredibly affected by the addition. While there are definitely those out there who attempt unhealthy regimes to reach unnatural sizes, it is unfair to place the blame on all women who are that size. With globalization occurring more and more every day, and it's importance paramount in company success right now, allowing for a larger market of customers is intended to increase sales, not to decrease body size.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view […] until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. (Shout out to my Chi O sister Harper Lee). Here's to hoping everyone can be comfortable in their own skin regardless of the number on the tag.

That time I fell in love with a fictional character

This is truly not that uncommon for me, actually. I love losing myself in a good book. But this was different...

Augustus Waters, if you're a female, who pays any attention to YA Novels, current chick flicks or popular media at the moment I'm sure you've heard of him. But if you haven't he's the male character lead in 2014's biggest romance movie: The Fault in Our Stars, adapted from John Green's YA novel by the same name.

I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't the novels biggest fan and it took me more than a month after the movie came out to go see it. You see, I had heard all about this book, TFIOS, and how absolutely incredible and life-changing it was before I got around to reading it. So, when I did get around to reading it.... whomp, whomp, whomp... I was underwhelmed to say the least.

Example A:

This was incredibly surprising to me due to my love of anything romantic, and how sappy I am. It was a moving book about two star-crossed lovers, and I was so disappointed. I think that had I read the book before I heard all about it, I would have liked it a lot more.

So then, when it's announced that the movie is going to come out and all of the @commonwhitegirl twitters are tweeting up a storm about how perfect Augustus is, I'm all eye-rolls. I can't wait to stop hearing about this book that I didn't even slightly enjoy.

Example B:

I guess I was really annoyed huh? Oops

Finally, this movie comes out and it starts finally not being the only thing I hear about in relation to books/movies. My little sister hasn't it yet though, so she asks if I'll go with her, and I figure why not give it another shot. This was earlier this week. And what do you know, I loved the movie, I thought it was fantastic. I laughed, I cried, I cried again, I laughed, and I couldn't hold in the tears.... and I fell in love. Granted, I've fallen in love with fictional characters before, many a time actually, but Augustus Waters was different. Not to mention the Ansel Elgort, the actor, isn't half bad either. Augustus Waters was quirky, nerdy, adorable, dedicated, eloquent, light-hearted, and ever-positive (and not a bad tush!). He was the perfect combination of dorky and sexy, and I ate it up. If he was a real person, and had not ***SPOILERS*** died of cancer, I'd be smitten. Honestly, I still am. He makes metaphors about cigarettes and calls Hazel by her full name and offered to write her a sequel to her favorite novel, and took her to Amsterdam to find out the ending of said novel, I'm in love.

Swoon.

2014: A Year for Change

I think that you can guess, as per the title, that 2014, has been a big year for me. Last summer, I started this blog, and I sort of kept up with it (AKA I did not really keep up with it, I blogged when I was bored and remembered to...). When I did stay on top of it, I loved it, it's your own personal outlet for anything in life. Most of the fall, though, I ignored it and didn't use it again until I went to Australia in January. And guess what... I only kept up with it for half the time I was there! Obviously, I am not good at sticking with things. But, I think blogging is something that's worth sticking with, so here I am, trying again. I tried out Wordpress, but for right now I think Blogger is fine for me. (Unfortunately, I still hate that every time I try to login, I'm intercepted and sent to my UMail- darn you UMass Email and Gmail combining...).

Mostly, I decided to return to blogging because I love reading about the lives of the bloggie people I follow. It's like reading a book, which I love to do (bookworms unite), but it's about someones real life. Blogs have helped to: inspire me, teach me lessons, make me laugh, opened my eyes to new viewpoints, realize I am not a cook, and find new and unique products and ideas for all walks of life. I also feel a little stalker-ish, but hey what are ya gonna do?

This year, I've really learned to love myself, and I am leagues more confident than I've ever been before in my life. I'm comfortable in my own skin, and not worried about where life is going to take me, because I am so lucky to have the experiences I've had so far and I'm looking forward to anything and everything about my future. I refuse to be complacent though, this summer I vowed to better myself, and in that I've included exercise, food habits, learning, and time for myself, among others- because I'm still figuring it all out. And mostly, I'm going to stick with this blog... thanks for coming!

Cheers!