Why is being overweight a touchy subject?

[Samisrad]

Why is that whenever an overweight girl gets made fun of for being overweight everyone jumps on the "body image discrimination" bandwagon, BUT, when a naturally skinny girl gets called anorexic, bulimic, malnourished, disgusting, repulsive, or is being told to "go eat a sandwich", no one cares.

These are both forms of body image discrimination!

Why does everything seem to think that skinny girls aren't discriminated against?!

[secondbestkiller]

Skinny girls are sometimes discriminated against, but it is nowhere near the criticism overweight (or not even necessarily overweight, just larger than average) girls get. After all, being skinny is the media's ideal image of beauty. It's not nearly as looked down upon as being overweight. Though I agree that body snarking in general is just really crappy. Like, if you want to criticize America's unhealthy eating habits leading to obesity, okay, but don't criticize individuals, and if you want to criticize the unhealthy standards of the modeling industry, okay, but don't criticize the individual models. A lot of times when defending curvier girls, people do use the insults aimed at thin girls like you listed above, and that's definitely not right - just because they are saying that one type of body is good, they shouldn't put down another body type.

A lot of times (on this site in particular) if a girl asks a question like, am I too fat? People always say things like "real women have curves" and stuff, and because I'm kind of thin and not very curvy, I do find it a bit insulting... but on the other hand, I get messages from literally everywhere else saying "thin is good" and feel more pressure to be even thinner than I do to be curvier, and I think I could vouch for the majority of girls on that. Although fat-bashing is sometimes more subtle because it's more common and looked down upon, and insulting naturally thin people is more blatant and seen as more accepted, because they are often seen as ideal.

I don't think anyone should criticize anyone else's weight. Period.

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

Don't worry about the curves thing. Rounder girls have the advantage of curves. Slimmer girls have nicer legs. ;)

[Reeses-pieces777]

honestly in third world countries, there is mostly thinner people because they have no food. it's not right to make fun of either overweight or extremely thin people, some kids don't understand something called social etiquette or manners and that's why we heard dipsh*ts say dumb things like making fun of either overweight or very thin people. it really depends on where you are because where I am it seems that over weight people are made fun of more than the extremely thin people. There ideally shouldn't be discrimination at all.

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

On the other hand, you're telling them it's okay to be fat... And it's not. And you're telling them it's okay to be so centered on appearances that you're going to limit your eating significantly.

There's no nice way to say stop eating, or eat more. But it has to be said to encourage change. Rather than encourage something that is unhealthy.

[Samisrad]

NotJustAnotherGuy, I've read your comments and it seems that you think everyone should try to achieve a 6 pack by working out constantly, and not sitting on their ass.

Well you know, my boyfriend works a full time job, comes home dead tired when I'm sure all he wants to do is nap, but he will go out work on his truck, help me out with whatever I need.. ect. He has no time for the gym, are you saying he's unhealthy? Because I assure you, he's not.

[distt]

Frankly, 95% of the people who aren't in shape don't try to get in shape not because they can't ( like your bf), but rather because they won't. because of either society being TOO accepting or them lacking the willpower.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I actually really love your attitudes in reading your other postings. I do wish more girls were like you. You seem to really value what someone is about as opposed to what someone looks like. My girlfriend got really hot a few years into our relationship through losing weight, dressing sluttier and wearing whore make up.. she left me afterward due to me being a little overweight. I am not fat, I am chubby. In America today, as posted by others here before- men need a "jawline and a 6pack" to even get spoken to. I wonder when girls are going to wake up and really care about who someone is. I think everyone deserves a chance regardless of weight or anything else. As long as there is a single physical attraction, the rest can all be worked on. Everyone has their own impression of "perfection" just unfortunately it's all the same to everyone else too.

[Samisrad]

Thank you so much, that really means a lot to me.

I don't think men have to have a "jawline and a 6 pack" like you said. My boyfriend has the most amazing belly, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Lol.

As long as you are a good person, you're okay in my book, you know.

[peace-love-couture]

And guys don't expect perfection?It isn't limited to just females

[Opinion Owner]

Sam, you're gorgeous physically too. I really hope you always stay the same and don't let friends influence who you should be with regardless of their size or status. I was absolutely crippled and crushed when she left me. I never thought I'd lose her. I am actually still not 100% over her either and it's been nearly a year. Evangelina, I never said that guys weren't like that either it's just unfortunately much easier for guys to get good girls, than for girls to get good guys.

[peace-love-couture]

No it isn't.Good guys are a rarity.Guys nowadays are stereotypical

[Samisrad]

Thank you so much!

You really should add me or message me, you really sound like a great, logical, intellegent person. I understand you want to be anonymous but I would love if you would add me. Thank you again. :)

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

Aren't you suppose to love your significant other for all around character? Not just personality, but physical aspects too??

Strong jawline and a six pack aren't bad things to have... you make it out like people are suppose to eat chips and watch television all day (those people are losers).

Your body is a temple. As you must constantly train your mind, so must you train your body.

Anyone who let's their body go to sh*t, is not only unhealthy, but also weak minded.

[Opinion Owner]

When did I ever say people were supposed to be fat and lazy? I never said that anywhere in here. Nor did I ever say it was a bad thing for someone to have those things. I said it's bad that girls EXPECT it. Some people aren't ever going to have those things as hard as they try. I work out, I stay in shape, will I ever have a jawline? No. I have wide cheekbones. I don't care if I ever have a 6pack. I was a multi-sport athlete and do just fine. Stop putting words in my mouth

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

"I wonder when girls are going to wake up and really care about who someone is". Your looks are a part of who you are!!!! You want girls to love you for what you say to them? Not for what you do for them? Guys who go out to the gym and they tone up those abs, they do it to impress that girl of their dreams. They don't just sit around and text, and hope. They do something. I would think that's the kind of guy a girl would want. Not one who just wants his way, without putting in any effort

[Opinion Owner]

You are completely missing the point dude. I don't sit around, I work out daily. I don't sit around and wait for a girl to come along and text. My body isn't built for a jawline or 6pack, that's all I was trying to say. I run 5k's, and mountain bike and am in shape.

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

What's your PR for 5k? ;) Mine's 19:44 (had a bad knee last season).

And I was just saying, a girl should love you for not just personality but appearances also. I mean, do you really want a girl who loves your personality, but thinks your ugly?? That would just destroy your confidence, I would think.

[Opinion Owner]

21:12

[WeaponZero]

Honestly, here in the US we go overboard trying to be politically correct about everything. We go so overboard with it that we sometimes forget we overcompensate, in effect showing favoritism to the people we're trying to protect from discrimination but leaving all the less obvious targets, everyone else namely, open to it.

[EddyMetal]

Agreed. It's bull.

[peace-love-couture]

Actually,ahem...mhmm,after reading some posts on here,people are pretty damn ignorant when it comes to skinny people and make nasty comments...I see what you mean.

Even though I'm not skinny and I wish I could be thin more than anything rather than being an hourglass shape,I see a lot of people on here making fun of thin people and I guess in a way they are trying to make people of other *weights* and *body shapes* feel better but some people act like no one can be naturally skinny or thin,like every skinny person does coke or vomits

I realize I posted before,I just had a change of mind

[Pancakes]

I know. Girls are always snidely commenting on how skinny I am and how skinny my legs are. It's funny 'cause lots of us skinny girls would love to have more meat on our bones. You know what really gets me aggravated? The whole 'real' women aren't skinny argument. So what, I'm not a real woman becuase I'm slender? They're very insecure people who need to put us down to feel better about themselves.

[Samisrad]

Yeah, I know. I hear that all the time, "Real women have curves".

In all honesty, and not to be rude at all, but I think people may just tell overweight people that just so they don't feel bad about themselves, and they don't realize they are hurting us by saying so.

[Pancakes]

I'm glad I can complain about the curves issue without people telling me I'm being silly :P

[Samisrad]

:) I don't think your silly, I understand completly lol.

[Voltaire]

Welcome to the world of double standards. Same thing with black people having exclusive rights to use the "n word", and if anyone else says it, it's racist. Not to mention how a guy who has lots of sex is considered the man, and a girl who does it is considered a slut. Some things just defy explanation.

[peace-love-couture]

Nigger....um,i'm biracial but you could just say it...

[Voltaire]

Ever see the "With Apologies to Jesse Jackson" episode of South Park? Not too anxious to start that up here. And besides, I'm white, so I can't.

[EddyMetal]

I'm White, well Viking Warrior actually, and I say "nigger" freely. It's just a word dude. No use walking on eggshells for ignorant people.

[Voltaire]

Maybe where you live. Around me people get put in hospitals for that sort of thing. Better to walk on eggshells than to not be able to walk.

[missjustina]

I know what you mean. When I was a kid in grade school I got made fun of almost everyday for being skinny and short

it took such a toll on my self-esteem, it's probably why now my self-esteem is almost non-existent /:

and whenever I complained people just laughed and didn't get it. But I'm glad I'm not alone.

[Anonymous]

I think thin females are sometimes perceived as having no self esteem issues. I mean, the idea is that everyone strives to be thin, so why would a thin person be insecure. I think that could be the logic.. it's not that people don't think thin people are discriminated against, just that it doesn't really affect them the same way. I dunno, just a thought..

Someone also pointed out to me the other day that people seem to think they can comment on other people's eating habits when the person is eating healthy. Like if you always order salads when you go out people have no problem making smart remarks about dieting or telling you to eat more. But if you were to order the most fattening thing on the menu, no one would say a thing. I think this can stem from the same logic..

[peace-love-couture]

I defend both.I see no reason for anyone to criticize another persons weight.Maybe it's because I have been obsessive about my weight since I was 5/6 and I know what it's like to be overweight,i know what it's like to be underweight.

But at the end of the day,how many people are sitting around making fun of skinny or thin girls?None.Fat people get all of the jokes aimed at them.There are people who starve themselves to look thin or super skinny,it isn't as looked down on as being overweight.

[Samisrad]

I posted a comment on this already so I apologize if their are two, but I don't think it worked.

My point was, people DO sit around making fun of thin girls, it's just over looked because we are what society see's as "perfection". People don't understand being asked "Do you ever eat?" hurts the same amount as being asked "Do you ever stop eating?". It's discrimination, and yes, it does happen.

[peace-love-couture]

Exactly.Society will glamourize a skinny,super thin,anorexic or bulimic girl before they do a overweight girl.

And thin people are not made fun of as often as overweight individuals are.I never denied it happens did I?No,I said it isn't as common.Yes,it is hurtful,but I can't change everyones opinions or tell them to throw a B.F over it.That's society for you

[Samisrad]

Actually you said "How many people are sitting around making fun of skinny or thin girls? None."

So you may have meant "Not that many" but you said "None". I digress, the question was just to make aware that it is wrong to discriminate anyone, no matter how society views them.

[peace-love-couture]

You can't cure discrimination...that's just how society is.Thin people make fun of overweight people,overweight people make fun of thin people.it isn't limited to either

[Samisrad]

Some people, don't make fun of anyone.

[peace-love-couture]

Uh...ok?

[SweetHeart09]

i agree! They assume we take it as a compliment or a harmful joke, when in fact its very hurtful :(

[ambermarie]

because every one knows that the skinny one is just fine unless everybone on her body is showing than I can see how she can get offended but if they look healthy they shouldn't get ass hurt about it

[EddyMetal]

Actually I've seen a lot of people get chastised for making fun of skinny people.