The term plus size is used for anyone with a body shape and size over a size 16, but should it be used? To me it connotes negativity of a larger woman that isn’t in keeping with the idea of “the perfect body”. In an era where photoshopping is everywhere from billboards to Instagram, us women need to feel empowered by our body shapes and stick together, no matter what size we are. Celebrities who have just given birth feel pressured by the media to lose their baby weight in a short space of time and get back to their pre pregnancy weight. But who decides women should be a certain size and can’t be beautiful despite their shape?
As a size 16 myself, I often feel segregated when shopping for clothes. Whether it is online or in-store, sizes 16 and 18 are often the beginning for the term plus size. I don’t enjoy looking at clothes and realising the ones I love stop at a size 16. Sometimes I need a size bigger and when I go to do so, I am faced with a whole new choice of clothes especially for the “plus sized” girl. But why is that? Just because we aren’t a size 12 or supermodel thin, why should we have to shop differently to anybody else?
In Britain the average dress size is 16, but in clothes stores they sure do make it difficult- especially when sizing differs from shop to shop. I could be a 14 in one shop but an 18 or 20 in another. Celebrity fascination, brings negativity about our image. As women we should be empowered by what we are. Not feeling uncomfortable every time we come away empty handed from a shopping trip. As women, we should be united and enjoy who we are. We shouldn’t look in magazines and wish to be like someone else, or covet their bum or thighs.
“The perfect body”
It’s not realistic, especially when the models who are a size 6 or 8 are still photoshopped and are pushed and manipulated into body shapes that are in no way normal.
Catwalks and magazines would be much better if clothes were modelled on the average sized woman, considering that size would be most popular. Victoria’s Secret has recently come under fire for their ad campaign featuring thin models and the slogan “the perfect body”. All models are similar heights and shapes, making it an impossible representation of the average woman. Mannequins are now being used that are of similar shapes to the average women, so this pressure and judgement on our size should end. I strongly believe in girl power, and not letting a label pull you down. If you’re happy, enjoy it and stay positive about who you are. If everyone was the same the world would be a boring place, so just remember that next time you hear the term plus sized used negatively, being a woman is a great thing so enjoy it no matter what your size.
