There's been an incredible influx of Facebook posts about how skinny chicks are gross and only larger ladies (or, realistically, average-sized ladies) can be attractive. As a skinny chick, this is something that I find rather troubling. Aside from the fact that it's hurtful to me, I don't see what positive outcome it can accomplish. It's just reverse prejudice. Society's beauty standards make bigger girls feel terrible, no doubt, but I don't think the solution is to shame skinny girls. Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty much the most vengeful person in the world, so I can see why a big girl would want to "get back at" a skinny girl. But, sometimes you have to stop and ask yourself if revenge is really appropriate. The message we need to be promoting is that women can have a variety of different body types, and that no one single body type is the most attractive.

I like being thin. It makes me happy, and I'm not going to let people shame me for it. I also would never say that a more voluptuous girl was unattractive for having curves. But the "real women have curves" mantra is really othering, making us curveless girls feel lesser. And that's not cool. I don't have curves and I'm pretty sure I never will. When I gain weight, it only gives me a big, round belly. When I lose weight, my belly flattens out. The rest of my body stays the same small size regardless of weight fluctuations, and that's my reality. That's what's "real" for me. Gaining weight doesn't give me boobs or a butt; it only gives me a paunch. So the idea that us skinny girls are somehow less attractive, unreal, or in need of a big sandwich is pretty rude, because we can't necessarily control our body types either. I can't.

I really need to amend the previous post with an acknowledgment of the sexist nature of the Miss/Mrs. labels. I am fully aware that labeling a woman according to whether or not she's married is totally backwards. I've heard that, at one time, prefixes used for men made this distinction as well, but I don't know whether or not that's true. What I do know is that labeling a woman by her status in relation to a man is sexist and demeaning. However, it's a symptom of the patriarchy that I embrace on a personal level. I agree that it's wrong, but I enjoy being referred to as "Miss" because I enjoy being an unmarried woman. I want everyone to know that I'm not married, because I'm proud of it, so I use the term. It's one of those societal pressures, like wearing high heels and makeup, that I happily conform to and partake in. I think it's okay to recognize that a situation isn't ideal but still see the fun in it and embrace it, while acknowleding what's wrong with it. That's why, as I said below, women can make their own choices regarding their last names, although I may find their choices bothersome.