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Size 10
Published February 3, 2010 | 
She came skulking out of the fitting room, a pair of jeans hanging off her arm. Her red face displayed all I needed to know, but the careless way she flung the jeans on the counter behind me and turned away from them towards her older sister highlighted it. “I’m not eating anything tonight,” she said as they walked away, one fragile hand slapping at her narrow waist in disgust.
They were size 2 pants.
I wanted to scream after her: You would be just as beautiful in a size 4. I didn’t.
Dear tiny teenage girl: I think we’re both cowards.
You know what needs to happen, unfortunantly? MEN/BOYS need to start making noise about the fact that most of them don’t care what size women are. They either like you or not, and size usually doesn’t figure into the equation unless there is a big weight fluctuation, and even then, if you are in love–it won’t matter. I know it is usually almost a compitition amongst women as to the size they wear, but I truely believe that if men stood up, almost like a damn national campaign and just said “listen ladies–we can see your bodies…they are all okay w/us…just be happy inside yourselves and we will be SO attracted…” One of the best compliments I got from a guy I dated twice–once before kids, and once many years later after 3 kids–was that he loved how I was so happy w/my post children size 16 body, and even though BOTH of us saw my “flaws” neither one of us cared, because we were HAPPY. Wish I still had that size 16 body, but that is fodder for another time.
Hi Tatiana…you don’t know me as I have been lurking (such a bad word!) here for a while but have never commented before. I just had to comment on this one though, just because it is so profound and so very true. God knows I’m no where near a size 2 (or 4, for that matter) and it just breaks my heart to see these young girls starving themselves when it is so not necessary. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I love reading your blog (especially since I live outside of Toronto too and can relate!) and I think Maia is absolutely beautiful!
My comment is 2 fold:
First, I hate women’s sizes. They are different in every store.
Second, and much more important: I think it is our responsibility to teach our girls that size does not matter, that we are MORE than that little number on our pants, that we are all beautiful in our bodies, that our WORTH and VALUE don’t need to be wrapped up in that number. That we should worry about how we FEEL, how healthy and strong we are. We can’t expect the fashion industry to change overnight, although I wish we could. So we must do the changing! Realize the average size in our country. Love yourself. Tell your girls NONSTOP that they are gorgeous just the way they are.
Easier said than done, right?