THIS is why we have whacked body images

Yeah so…this picture made the rounds on Facebook the other day and comes from a page that promotes a more realistic view of body imagery. Most folks celebrated it. “Yes! Curves! We love them!"

 

I, however, called BS on this photo.  

 

Ok so the woman on the left. Her size looks pretty accurate on the low end (and I'd even argue she's probably about a 2). But then you get to the woman in the middle. She’s a 12? Really? Because I’m a 12 and not nearly that small framed. And even people I know how are “natural 12’s" (meaning they came to be a size 12 on their own, not through any weight gain or loss) don’t look like that. To me, she looks more like a size 8.

 

Meanwhile the woman on the right looks more, to me, like a 12. She’s what I and every other 12 I know looks like. For what it’s worth, her body shape is the one I find most appealing.

 

THIS is a good example of why society, in general, is so whacked out about body image. I know this picture seeks to do a good thing but even it can have some toxic connotations. For us 12’s, how do we feel when we see a “fellow" 12 who looks SO much smaller than us? And for the woman I believe to be a real 12, how do other women who look like her (and are 12’s) feel when they are told they are a 16?

 

Yes, it’s just a number but like it or not, in many ways we let that number define us.

 

Personally, I’d love to see “real" real women. Women who look like they’ve given birth a few times. Women with a few lumps. Women with a little muffin top action going on. Let’s see THOSE women rockin’ it. I have seen those pictures out there and I appreciate them because I CAN FIND MYSELF IN THEM.

 

But I just thought I’d put this up for discussion. What do you think when you see this picture and pictures like these? Do they help or hurt your work toward a better self image?

Exactly!  My first thoughts were the one in the middle looks a lttle bigger than me so she's about a 4-6.  The one on the right is most likely a 0-2 and the one of the left is probably a 10 or 12.

Even the plus size models wouldn't be considered plus size in the real world.  They are bare minimum on the plus size range.  It always made me upset because I wanted to see models that looked like me to see what they clothes would REALLY look like.

What you said, and everyone else.

AND - even if the one in the middle IS a 12, she's a 12 with perfect skin, perfect hair, and no stretch marks, loose jiggly thighs or saggy boobs.  For that matter, so is the 16.

I am between an 8-10 and I would say the girl in the middle is smaller and better proportioned than me.

This does not surprise me at all.  In my closet I have clothes that range from a 6 to a 12.  How do you even REALLY know what size you are?  Most of my pants are 8 and 10, dresses 10 and 12 (I have a big rib cage and big hips, tiny waist).

I don't know that this picture can do anything to actually help someone with their own body image issues, because they already don't really know what they look like, so they wouldn't know which one to compare themselves to. 

Oh, and Miss size 8 in that pic....yeah, maybe a 4 on a fat day.  Personally I think the size 12 model is the most visually appealing but my body is more aligned with the look of the shapely size 14 model.

 Tempted to go take a picture of myself in panties and a tank top and post. but I'm not that brave.  I agree Nik.. those numbers are off.. 

 I agree.  No way the sizes they are showing are accurate.  I am a 10/12 and look more like the alleged size 16 (although the weight distribution is different) than the alleged 12. Well, I *think* I do, anyway.

Lora

I'm a sixteen right now, and look nothing like that. Even the plus size models that they use at Lane bryant aren't that small. I know, I asked, they're all a size 12. But, Did you know that the mannequins that they use at Lane Bryant are a size 10? I think that's ridiculous, considering they don't even carry that size! A little OT, but I would always get mad, cause I never looked as good as though mannequins, and Nobody ever would, cause who shops at Lane Bryant if their a size 10? No One, that's who.

Francis...I'll do it! I'll do it tonight after the gym.

It'll be my new role: exhibitionist!

Yeah, to piggy-back on my 'biggest fear' post from yesterday, this is part of the reason why.  No matter what I do, I'll never look like ANY of these, even though I'm in a size 8.

Humbling... sad, too.  It's enough to **** me off.


tori

i can't see it any other link to it?