How are Meghan Trainor’s signature beats so insanely addicting!? All About That Bass has joined Fat Bottomed Girls and Baby Got Back on the soundtrack for curvy girls everywhere.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy society is coming around (again) to the idea that all sizes are beautiful. Afterall, in 2010, the average size for an American woman was size 14. But, I have to ask: can we PLEASE just love our beautiful curves without hating on our thinner sisters? If a woman doesn’t have “a lil’ more booty to hold at night”, should they be put on blast?
These lyrics are from Trainor’s body-loving anthem All About That Bass:
I’m bringing booty back
Go ‘head and tell them skinny bitches that
No, I’m just playing, I know you think you’re fat
Seriously? “Skinny bitches?” Ok, granted she threw in the after-the-fact “just kidding”, but can you imagine how a thin-framed woman feels hearing this song? Probably the way I felt in the 90’s when “heroin chic” was actually a thing! I couldn’t find a pair of pants that fit for the life of me, and I felt like the biggest piece of crap. Remember those shameful Gap ads? *SHUDDER*!
Before you get all riled up in disbelief that skinny-shaming is actually a thing, hear me out. The emotional impact of “God, lose some weight” and “God, gain some weight” are the same.
Before you hee-haw that thin people don’t have body issues, check out #s 4 -7 on this list. Oh, and this article discussing Giuliana Rancic’s battle with cancer, and the medication that causes severe weight loss.
And while you’re at it, read this article by Janne Robinson. She’s a size 0. This quote from her article sums it up:
“I understand that our world might be sick of media shoving glorified, thin, air brushed models down our throats, but is the solution to throw all skinny women under a bus, because they don’t have hips to hold on to?”
People of all sizes need compassion, and no one deserves to be shamed. What is this Dr. Phil? Maybe Trainor’s intention with these lyrics are to empower. But girls and women hear that song every day, and those messages stick.
That nagging “I’m not good enough” feeling doesn’t discriminate. It comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. No single body is the same. We are all unique. Let’s know our worth, and squash this. After all, according to Wiki, Trainor herself “thought she was one of the chubby girls who would never be an artist.”
Can you image how many females (young and old) shy away from their dreams because they’re too afraid of how they’ll be received?
If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the a-ma-azing documentary Miss Representation with interviews from Cory Booker, Katie Couric, Jane Fonda, and many others. Here’s a preview.
“If women spent more time helping a sick neighbor, or volunteering at a homeless shelter, focusing on how to use all their energy to solve some of the worlds’ problems…if they spent a tenth of the time thinking about those things that they do thinking about their weight, I mean, I think we would solve all of the worlds’ problems in a matter of months”.
– Katie Couric, Miss Representation, 2011
How have you been effected by the media? Have you seen this film? What are your thoughts?Post below. We love hearing your perspective.
shop & blog 
Not all bodies are beautiful. I don’t have to like every single song. I also don’t have to think every single body is beautiful. After all, as an overweight male I can’t complain when girls rush to the muscular or skinny guys.
The problem with fat acceptance is that it doesn’t challenge the whole idea that women’s looks are important. Women need to know that they can be ugly and still be successful at life. I know my writing will not be judged by my looks, but I’m afraid a lot of women don’t feel the same.
I agree with you on the skinny shaming. The ‘skinny girls’ are the ones who also tend to have flat chests and buttocks – another part of the less-attractive pool. We need to question the ideas, not attack people.
LikeLike