Women of all shapes and sizes are (unfortunately) subject to judgment and scrutiny based on their bodies. We've written extensively about the very specific prejudice that exists toward women who are considered larger, but we've heard stories from many of our naturally skinny readers about the frustrating comments they've encountered based on their smaller frames. Sadly, no matter your body type, you are not immune from hurtful jibes about your appearance.
HuffPost Beauty Editor Dana Oliver recently wrote a blog post about the "skinny-shaming" she's experienced:
Whether a physician's assistant is forcing me to get an EKG because my weight and height don't correlate with what she's learned in med school or I'm getting backhanded compliments from juice-crazed fashion insiders for being "so darn skinny," my size is always a hot topic. But what everyone seems to forget is that it's my body, and if I'm healthy, why all the criticism?
The beauty of human beings is that they don't all look the same. Unfortunately, our frustrating standards of attractiveness get in the way of acknowledging the awesome diversity of women's bodies. Everyone probably slips up from time to time and says something you later regret about another woman's figure. So to avoid those mean-spirited comments in the future, we asked our Facebook and Twitter communities for things that you should never say to a skinny woman.
Readers, strike these phrases out of your lexicon once and for all:
1. "You look anorexic!"
2. "You're so thin, you make me sick."
3. "Eat a hamburger!"
4. "You look like a toothpick."
5. "You're probably too skinny to breastfeed."
6. "Do you ever eat anything?"
7. "Must be nice to be so thin."
8. "Do you have an eating disorder?"
9. "You'd look so much better if you'd just put some meat on your bones."
10. "You're too healthy."
11. "How can you be insecure when you're so small?"
12. "You know, my other friend just got help for her bulimia."
13. "You're so skinny, I hate you."
14. "Do you need help?"
15. "You're skinny. You never have to worry about what you eat.
16. "'Real' women have curves."
17. "Why do you need to work out? You're skinny!"
18. "How much did it cost to get your body like that?"
19. "Of course you're cold! You have no fat on you."
20. "I wish I had your problem."
21. "Be careful or you'll get blown away." (On rainy or windy days.)
22. "You look like a boy."
In other words, don't make assumptions about a woman's health or eating habits based on her looks alone -- regardless of her size. Almost all of us could stand to be kinder to ourselves about our appearances, and to other women about theirs.
Do you have anything to add to this list? Tweet @HuffPostWomen using #NeverSayThis.
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