Contrary to Popular Belief Size Does Not Matter

It's absurd he ideas that people women make themselves slaves to.  For example the idea that being thin is the eptiome of beauty or happiness annoys me to no end. I've often been a witness to this statement , "If I lost five pounds, I'd be good."  It's just so frustrating to hear comments like this.  How did we buy into this false dream that we've all been fed? I realize that the media, magazines, movies (the leading lady is always thin) and commercials always remind us that being skinny is "it".  I'm also keenly aware of this as people often have told me that I'm "lucky" because I'm skinny. I just would like to say what the fuck does that mean? No I'm not writing this to throw a pity party for myself but to impart some knowledge.  Let me make this declaration, I have never benefited directly or received special treatment because I'm thin.  The only "privilege" is that I can walk into most stores and find clothes that fit.  This only leaves me with a fuller closet and emptier pockets. This is not my idea of "lucky."  The idea that thiness equates to beauty is an artifcial and might I add completely meaningless idea that needs to die.

Thinness has not shielded me from heart  break, despair, loss or any type of misfortune.  I, like anyone walking this earth is subject to misfortune, sadness and pain.  That being said my thinness in the grand scheme of life is extremely inconsequential! I do realize that the there is a reason that being skinny is valued among most women, the media, as pervasive as it is, shapes how most women value their bodies.  But I'm also an advocate for taking responsibility of changing how you view yourself and demanding that other people recognize your intrinsic value.  You can choose to say that what sociey dictates as the standard of beauty is artificial bullshit and you don't have to buy into it.  It is just that simple, size does not matter, in the grand scheme of your life.  Choice is a beautiful thing.

Instead, we should make a conscious effort  to consume media that supports  healthy (meaning balanced and not one dimensional) images of what we consider beautiful.  Thank goodness for the internet it has allowed bloggers to expand the definition of beauty.  The interwebs has "democratized the idea of beauty" so to speak.  You will find countless sites dedicated to beauty that is often ignored and diminished by mainstream media. You'll find blogs dedicated with blogs for beauties with freckles (I absolutely adore anyone with freckles).  At least there are sites that recognizes beauties with such "flaws".  Thank goodness that everyone is not trapped in a narrow minded box.

I can recall as an eleven year old watching Fashion File and my father walking into the living room and exclaiming in his very East African and Ugandan accent, "eh who are these malnourished people?" and I responded, "they're not malnourished daddy, they're models, I'm watching Fashion File."  At that time time my father did the most loving thing a father could do for a young daughter.  He, with very little words, told me that being skinny is does not mean beauty nor does it signify health. After all, he did refer to them as malnourished and now as an adult I often chuckle at this memory. To this day I do not look at anyone who skinny and automatically think, beautiful.But that is typical of my father, giving love and dropping the most profound insight with very little words. I wouldn't be the that woman I am without him.

The idea that thinness is beautiful is a plastic concept that we have all been fed and it does us no good but teach women to devalue themselve when there is absolutley nothing wrong with them! But, as I said before before, I prefer that we take accountability. We should be aware that we support this BS. If we buy the magazines, watch the movies and buy the magazines we are complicit in maintain the false idea that skinny is beauty or perfection.  They (don't ask me who they are, I just know that they just suck) sold us a dream and we keep buying into it.  I'm here to tell you don't have to anymore.  Your value as a human being should be measured by the impact you leave here on this earth, the people you touch, and that your dress size is laughable in the grand scheme of your life as a human being with intrinsic value.