Actually, Zero IS A Size

Zero is not a size... it's a disorder. Real women have curves. A woman without curves is like jeans without pockets; you don't know where to put your hands. These and similar sayings have been very common over the past few years.

It's no secret that the media has put pressure on women to be thin, and it's also no secret that society and media has been criticized for setting the expectation that women should be a size zero. I'm definitely against pressuring people to fight their natural body shape and develop unhealthy tendencies. But getting rid of this expectation to be thin has just been putting into place yet another expectation for women's bodies. I mean, we have to have curves in order to be real women, right?

I know that it's wrong to expect everyone to be a size zero. But I think it's just as wrong to expect no one to be a size zero. This once again encourages women to fight their natural body shape in order to meet a societal definition of "beautiful."

What concerns me further about this is that some even go so far to assume that being a size zero means that you have an eating disorder. We all have different genetics, metabolism types, and workout regimes. These factors cause us to be different sizes, and that's just how it's always going to be.

It is easier to define beauty in one way. Beauty is being thin, or beauty is being curvy. But this is also inaccurate. Beauty does really come in every shape and size, as cliché and overrated as it sounds. I know that you can read and hear all about different body shapes and ideas of beauty without really understanding the idea of self-acceptance; it's to find articles on body peace. It is difficult to actually learn how to accept your body and appearance, but then again, anything worthwhile requires a struggle.

Okay, so you now feel like you've heard this "body peace and acceptance" spiel a million and two times before, but I can't help but write about such an important and relevant issue. And you'll hear it probably a million and two more times because learning to accept and be thankful for your body really is that important.