Log onto Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest any day of the week and chances are you'll be bombarded with infographics depicting curvy women in bathing suits pitted next to waify fashion models with giant, bold lettering that reads "Curvy Girls are Better than Skinny Girls," or "This is more attractive than that" with arrows pointing toward the fuller figured woman. And while I think it's fabulous to love the skin you're in, it's not okay to put someone else down -- ever.
As a curvy girl myself, I have advocated for society to be accepting of girls that aren't skinny for what feels like an eternity. I've battled with my own private weight struggles for the bulk of my life, and have finally gotten to a place where I love my body, even if that body doesn't fit into a size 6 (did I mention I'm still struggling?). So while this surge of confidence seems to have swept the plus-sized community recently is absolutely wonderful, it does make me uncomfortable when it starts to get ugly. Calling a thin woman unattractive, or implying that because she is skinny, a man won't want her, is just uncalled for. It's crude, it's pointed and to be honest, it makes you look insecure.
Instead, can we all just agree that we're all uniquely perfect in our own way? Can we just start celebrating ourselves for who we are and not be so caught up in the competition? We each get our "thing" and I'm okay with the fact that my thing isn't having perfectly sculpted arms. But it doesn't mean I should hate on the gal who's got 'em. In fact, more power to her. She looks damn good, in my opinion.
We've all got our personal preferences. Me? I like my curves. And I'm glad the Internet does, too. If you think my curves are gross, then luckily you don't have to sleep with me, or be me. Or maybe you love them, and that's great too. But none of that needs to be turned into an "Us vs. Them" thing. There's truly something for everyone. That's what makes this world so delicious.
Now I know some of you are probably thinking that I'm completely disregarding the whole anorexia thing. We cannot ignore the fact that there are women out there who are portraying an unhealthy, unattainable goal by starving themselves into a size 00. And there's nothing sexy about being sick. But I want to be very clear in stating that thin does not necessarily equal unhealthy. There are plenty women who are naturally thin and they should not be scrutinized for it. Telling a thin woman to go "eat a sandwich" is pretty much as rude as calling a fuller-figured girl fat.
And I want to be equally clear that curvy does not equal fat and unhealthy. I know women who wear a size 14 and run 5 miles every day. I can bet my next paycheck that most people who see these women in the street assume they're lazy slobs that haven't seen a gym in years.
Assumptions hurt all around.
There is one main thing we need to be concerned with here, and that is health. If a woman is eating well and working out, well then I could care less what size she is, and it shouldn't bother you, either.
So let's vow to end this war on weight and start supporting and empowering each other to love ourselves just the way we are. Let's be champions for good health and self-esteem. Let's stop tearing each other down and instead, educate each other on how to treat our bodies and ourselves with the utmost compassion and respect.
And please, for goodness' sake, let's just pin pretty couches and inspirational quotes. Okay?