Thighed and Prejudice

I find it funny how I didn’t hear about the current “thigh gap” fad until after it was already popular and people started to make a stink about how it’s so stupid. And here I was all along ignorantly frowning in the mirror at my own apparently very trendy legs, envying other women with lovely full thighs. Forget the term “thigh gap” and let’s call my own a full-on crotch-to-floor gap. Supposedly, many people (women at least) find this very desirable. I first heard this from my grandmother who had just watched something about it on the news. She mentioned it and talked about it as if it was some sort of crazy thing. I don’t think she stopped to think about whether or not I had one, but I love her, so I forgive her.

Now I’m not here to talk about trends and fashion and all that because clearly, that’s something (amongst many other things) for which I often miss the boat. I’m also not a fitness expert. Don’t ask me how much I exercise or what my diet consists of, ‘cause I’d be embarrassed to tell you. Vegetables? Vegetables are what you eat when you want to acquire jaw problems from the amount you have to chew them to swallow them. And I already have jaw problems.

…Excuse me a moment. My aunt just informed me that “the burgers are ready”. I wasn’t even aware that anyone was making burgers. But I’m down for one! Be right back…

So I just scarfed down that burger…and those potato chips…and those freshly made chocolate peanut butter cup cookies with the honkin’ 2 cup bar of butter in them that my aunt and I put in (the recipe wisely called for it! They were good!). I’m glad this happened just now, ‘cause now I can tie it into this blog post. Very convenient! Since we’re talking about food, let me just say that I really don’t watch what I eat. And I really don’t exercise. And when I say really I mean really. I don’t like that I’m so skinny and have such a fast metabolism, but that also comes with the good side of not having to watch what I eat or worry about gaining too many pounds.

“You’re so lucky!” say many. Ya, I guess I am. And for the most part, I agree. But, to be honest, I often wish people didn’t have to eat to survive. Eating can sometimes be such a hassle. I accidentally skip meals sometimes because I forget about them. Also, I passionately hate cooking! If I actually get around to cooking myself a real meal one day a week instead of eating sandwiches, canned soup, or frozen mini pizzas, I’m proud of myself. Nights like tonight where my grandpa made some extra burgers are a gift, because to me, cooking is so boring that I’d rather starve than cook. I guess food, to me, is still just a necessary part of life that can also be enjoyable, but in our society, it has become much more than that.

Anyway, I’m tired of reading all the comments online like “real women have curves”, “men don’t like skinny girls”, “thigh gaps are for flamingos”, and anything else that basically claims that if you wear a size zero you’re anorexic. Yes, most of my pants are a size 0, but no I’m not anorexic. Set food in front of me that I like and I’ll eat it if I’m hungry. The more sugar and carbs, the better. No, I’m not suffering from malnutrition—the doctor already sent me for tests after I came in for something entirely different. That was kinda annoying, but at least I know I’m healthy. Comments like the flamingo one, though meant to be funny and are a little funny when you think about them as poking fun at the whole thigh gap obsession, are actually kind of hurtful to people like myself who have looked at their legs in the mirror and thought that their ancestors must have been birds. Birds with cellulite. Yes, like myself, you can be thin and still have cellulite. People seem to think that it would be impossible for someone, whose ribs show and has a thigh gap, to have cellulite in their legs. Cellulite is less about how much fat you have than people think. And those comments like “real women have curves” and “men don’t like skinny girls”? Ouch. Just ouch. Don’t ever say that again, please! Ever!! I shouldn’t even have to explain why. “Just gain some weight.” Easier said than done, believe it or not. “Guys like big boobs.” Well that’s just great, mine are of the smaller variety. I guess I’ll be single my whole life. “Just gain weight if you want boobs.” Or want a larger butt. You can’t exactly choose where your body decides to store its fat. It just happens. And no, I’m not getting boob implants!

People, I am thin, and though others may not always help me feel like one, I am a woman. I often feel that as a skinny person, I can’t win. Thin is considered ideal, but when someone is actually thin, they’re told to gain some weight. I hope it isn’t true that men don’t like skinny girls, because I don’t think there’s really that much I can do about it. I’ve always been small and had more of an ectomorph body. I don’t like being made to feel that I am a little girl because I am not voluptuous.

I realize that a lot of comments, like the ones I quoted above, were stated out of the same frustration that I am feeling right now. They are often stated by women who want to be considered beautiful as they are. And they should be. And I’m sorry if they aren’t. Most people are not as naturally skinny as me it’s true, and so it would be stupid for them to try and be if they’re healthy as they are. So I understand the point people are trying to make. But I would appreciate it if they would not bash (unintentionally or not) others who have different bodies than their own because they want to feel better about themselves or because they want to feel less guilty about that extra brownie they ate earlier. Not that they shouldn’t eat brownies, but if they eat too many of them, don’t take it out on me.

It’s good to take care of ourselves and strive for ideals, but there has to be a point where we accept that we are beautiful. So beautiful that we don’t have to prove it to anyone! The people who don’t see our beauty for what it is are just not worth our time. Just as many women need to embrace their beautiful curvy legs of which I am insanely jealous, I need to take my own advice and embrace my stick-like flabby ones, though a little exercise probably wouldn’t hurt them. And that’s all I have to say about that!