Teen girls and the "ideal size"

o0Amber0o · February 6th, 2007, 08:13 PM

I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this so mods feel free to move it but I just had to post it in light of the whole Tyra Banks issue and even bringing up how "fat" Christina Agulera used to be or how "fat" Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears supposedly are. This just shows you how distorted our views are on body size.
In our local newspaper we have a column where someone will go out and ask questions to random people and the people will answer (obviously) and have their picture in the paper or whatever. This week's question was:
What do you think is the ideal size for young women? Are you the size you want to be? What size do you want to be?

Girl #1:
Like one or two, because I think that is the appropriate size. I should be a little smaller, like a nine.

Girl #2:
One or two, that's the number people will feel comfortable with. I'm perfectly fine with my size."

Girl #3:
One or two, no one wants to be too fat or too skinny and that is the medium size. I'm happy with my size.

Since when is a size one or two a MEDIUM size??? When did this happen? If that's a medium then I must be a XXXXXXXXXLG!

The last two girls said a size seven or eight which is my idea of a happy medium. I was just so appalled that these three girls are thinking this (they're all 13) and I know it's because we as a society and in the entertainment business look at people who AREN'T a size zero and gossip about how fat they are. I think it'd be good to start thinking twice before you address someone as fat (be it celebrity or stranger on the street) because these girls are listening and it's getting into their heads. It's sad.

SVZ · February 6th, 2007, 08:32 PM

WTF? I thought that meant I wanted to DROP one or two sizes. Not be size 1,2 !

JuicyLucy · February 6th, 2007, 08:47 PM

Whatever size makes you feel comfortable and healthy is the right size. Noone needs to think the ideal size for someone is 1-2 or 7-8, everyone's body is different. A girl who wears a size 0-3 or 4 isn't nessacarily anorexic or 'too skinny' or unhealthy and someone who's 7-8 and up isn't nessacarily overweight or fat. Height comes into account, aswell as age and bone structure. I recently went from a size 0-1 to a 2 and i'm 5'7, I gained a few pounds because it's Winter and i'm not very active, plus i'm unemployed at the moment which makes it worse. A lot of you might think that's not a big deal or it's even a good thing, but to me it is because I know it's me being lazy. Plus, I want more definition. I'm thinking of taking up jogging this Spring or some sort of physical activity. I'm getting older and it's about time I had to do atleast alittle something to maintain my physique. But what i'm getting at is, the important thing is that you feel comfortable in your own skin and that you're healthy by doctor's standards, not your own or anyone else's. Now ladies, quit trying to pin point the ideal size or what's too big or skinny. We're all different and BEAUTIFUL WOMEN COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. End of story.

VanillaRice · February 6th, 2007, 08:49 PM

I think I would look dead if I was a size 0. I can't imagine being that little. My mom said the smallest she could get to was a size 6, so I'm probably the same. I have a large frame.

JuicyLucy · February 6th, 2007, 08:58 PM

See, everyone's different. You probably also have great curves that I could most likely never get.

CherubRock · February 6th, 2007, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuicyLucy

Whatever size makes you feel comfortable and healthy is the right size. Noone needs to think the ideal size for someone is 1-2 or 7-8, everyone's body is different. A girl who wears a size 0-3 or 4 isn't nessacarily anorexic or 'too skinny' or unhealthy and someone who's 7-8 and up isn't nessacarily overweight or fat. Height comes into account, aswell as age and bone structure. I recently went from a size 0-1 to a 2 and i'm 5'7, I gained a few pounds because it's Winter and i'm not very active, plus i'm unemployed at the moment which makes it worse. A lot of you might think that's not a big deal or it's even a good thing, but to me it is because I know it's me being lazy. Plus, I want more definition. I'm thinking of taking up jogging this Spring or some sort of physical activity. I'm getting older and it's about time I had to do atleast alittle something to maintain my physique. But what i'm getting at is, the important thing is that you feel comfortable in your own skin and that you're healthy by doctor's standards, not your own or anyone else's. Now ladies, quit trying to pin point the ideal size or what's too big or skinny. We're all different and BEAUTIFUL WOMEN COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. End of story.

I like everything you said here. I completely agree.

I'm a size 2-4, small-framed and in shape. Yet I still get comments that I'm skinny, etc. No matter what size a person is, it won't be good enough for someone. It's best to be healthy according to your own size and frame, and not worry about what someone else deems as "womanly."

JuicyLucy · February 6th, 2007, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CherubRock

I like everything you said here. I completely agree.

I'm a size 2-4, small-framed and in shape. Yet I still get comments that I'm skinny, etc. No matter what size a person is, it won't be good enough for someone. It's best to be healthy according to your own size and frame, and not worry about what someone else deems as "womanly."

You're exactly right, and instead of obsessing over something you don't have why not embrace what you do? You can be any size and still be fit and have a beautiful body.
Examples of gorgeous, curvacious bodies:
Carmen Electra
Jennifer Lopez
Tyra Banks
Naomi Campbell
Jessica Simpson
Aria Giovanni
Queen Latifah
And the list goes on...

xoxo · February 7th, 2007, 03:57 AM

i agree that size is very personal and varied..the same weight on 2 people (who are the same height) can look totally different based on their build, bone structure, etc...

phishtickie · February 7th, 2007, 05:28 AM

There simply ISN'T an "ideal size", that is all such bullshit!
Besides, ideal size for WHAT, exactly???

JuicyLucy · February 7th, 2007, 05:35 AM

Exactly. There is no 'ideal size'.

Aella · February 7th, 2007, 05:51 AM

The whole concept of ideal size is ridiculous-like others said, it doesn't take into account body structure, fitness or height.

I'm 5'7, and look best at an UK 8-10 (I have no idea what US size that is...a 6?). My mother who's 5'8 and has wide shoulders/an athletic built is a UK 12, and she's certainly not carrying more body fat than me.

Honey · February 7th, 2007, 06:27 AM

Juicy said it all I think.

We are all such different shapes, I have big boobs, if I was a size 2 or 4 I'd probably look really sick, plus I don't want to be this size. Most important thing is to look after your body inside and out as best you can.

The idea of a perfect size just disturbs me. Embrace your female body girls, and don't let anyone put you down x

JuicyLucy · February 7th, 2007, 06:30 AM

Damn straight!
It doesn't matter what age you are, embrace what you do have and make it work for you!

xoxo · February 7th, 2007, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuicyLucy

It doesn't matter what age you are, embrace what you do have and make it work for you!

totally...you must find the clothes best suited to your shape/figure and just go with that..and be healthy, too, of course...

Lani · February 7th, 2007, 03:11 PM

Like I've said many many times. The media, fashion industry, cosmetic industry and the weight loss industry has bred body dysmorphia. Pick up any magazine and you see the exact same body shape, they may as well just use computer models because lets face it, no matter what size or look a model has they do shape them and change them digitally to fit a mold.

I remember reading and interview with the Dolly magazine editor and she said that they would really really love to use girls of all shapes and sizes, but the designers just do not make clothes to work that way. They make them to fit an 'ideal' body shape.

Also, weight loss companies, cosmetic companies, and whomever else feed on this ideal image. IF we werent made to feel totally shit about ourselves we wouldnt fork over the cash on their products now would we? I've spent easily into the thousands trying to 'fix' my skin. Yeah I have acne, but shit, its a natural state of being - so why am I made to feel like some horrible deformed monster because of it?

Of course, all this logic hasnt helped me. In my current state of being I am just perpetuating the cycle really. Despite knowing that I am meant to be curvy - even if I were super fit and healthy. Despite knowing that women are meant to have a fairly decent amont of body fat to be healthy. Despite all the knowledge I have. I still, emotionally, have no idea how to deal with being and hanving any of thoes things. Food, eating, fat..whatever, becomes the enemy.