The "Plus Sized" Stigma

I'm ringing in the new year with my wonderful blog readers!  I took a little time off for the holidays, and I hope yours was as wonderful as mine.  Thank you for supporting me in 2013, and I plan to continue my commitment in 2014 to continue writing.

My blog this morning is spurred by a visit to a website.  I am a subscriber to the site AdoreMe.com.  It's a monthly bra/panties/lingerie website that is like Shoe Dazzle for underwear.  I went to look at my January "Showroom" where they put together styles they think you may like in your size.  Every month, I'm reminded that because I'm a 34DD I am plus sized.

I feel so torn about this term.  Sometimes I feel as though you might as well say, "This is the fat page."  Here is the difference in the models:

"Regular Model"

"Plus Sized Model"

I have to admit, I feel more comfortable looking at the "Plus Sized" model.  I feel as though I can relate to her better, and the set is more likely to look on me like it does on her.  I look at the "regular" model, and I can't relate.  So I like that there different sizes of models.  Gives thinner girls an idea as to what the clothing will look like on them, and my plus size girl lets me know if I am going to look good in what I order.

When you look up the definition of plus sized in the fashion world there isn't exactly one set size.  But a size 8 is considered ideal.  

Size 8.

Now it's easy to say, "Are you saying that size 8 is fat??"  And get defensive about it.  After all, why can't we just be "normal" sized.  Plus Sized models have the same type of requirements that regular fashion models do.  They have to be at least 5'7" and they have to be hourglass.  They're not going to mess with pear shaped, rectangular shaped, etc.  They are still looking for the most beautiful of the beautiful.

But some people don't see it that way.  

Some people see supporting plus sized as supporting obesity.  So I ask those...is a size 8 obese?  I hope not.  I think that's a normal size for some women.  Not all of us are athletes with metabolisms of Olympic proportions.  And a lot of us work...A LOT.  And very long hours.  VERY LONG hours.

There was an Australian blogger who decided to take up bloggers and plus size supporters like myself, and do a mock-up of what a  plus sized Barbie would look like:

I find this beyond insulting.  This is an example of how Plus Sized is equated to fat.  And that is why women are torn regarding that term.  So if I'm plus sized, I've now got more chins than a Chinese phone book?  Last I checked this is an example of a plus sized model:

Robyn Lawley

Are there obese people in our country?  Yes, of course.  We are becoming a large country that struggles with our weight.  But do I believe that being "plus sized" is unhealthy?  No, I don't.  Because your definition of plus sized may be different from mine.

What do you think of when you think of the term "Plus Sized?" Do you picture extreme obesity?  Or do you picture models I've pictured above?  Does the fashion industry feed you the lie that to be plus sized is to be "obese" in order to continue with their one definition of beauty?  They don't want to change.  It's harder to design and dress and real women.  Interferes with their artistic freedom...those curves do.

...but that's a blog for another day....

Sometimes acceptance is adjusting your definition and making your life subjective when your happiness is at stake.