member for 19 weeks 2 days
An incident happened to me this week that highlighted an issue near and dear. Let’s start at the beginning…. I’m a plus sized woman. And from reports the average dress size in the U.S. is a size 14. We’ve all heard that – right? Google “size 14” real quick, you’ll see ‘plus sized’ women’s clothing links by the bunches. Apparently you don’t have to be even my size (20) to be considered a plus size. I don’t have any answers but I need to get this off my 38D chest.
I’m a plus sized woman. I will NEVER be a size 14 or under. I came to terms with that when I was 18. I spend money on clothes and shoes and jewelry. I certainly have to spend more time shopping because of style and choice limitations. I like having styles that fit, fashionable and designer styles would be nice too. My size neither limits my ability to accomplish great things, nor does it diminish my intelligence.
I believe that being an “Alphawoman” means:
That you know your own mind.
That you have reasons why you believe what you believe.
That you are comfortable in your own skin – or working on it.
That you have learned no one is responsible for your own happiness but YOU.
That you have the grace to allow others beliefs, passions and positions that differ from your own.
That you respect the yourself, others and the world in general.
I do not believe:
That size is indicative of a persons worth.
That being beautiful means being a certain size.
That an ‘Alphawoman” would be held back by size, race, belief or appearance.
Didn’t it take long enough for women to be educated, vote and own property and business?
Can we really afford not to respect each other?
Comments
Login or register to post a commentWell I'm gonna let this off
Well I'm gonna let this off my 36C Chest! lol
You're awesome! I think it's important that woman are happy with who they are and use that as the life mantra to achieve anything. There truly is nothing more sexy than a woman who knows herself and respects herself. If what's on the inside is bogus, what's on the outside does not matter!
I remember Tyra said that one of the girls on her show was a size 8/10 which for Model world is a "plus size" model. What the hell?
xoxo Anje
"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle, but if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best"
Marilyn Monroe
I've been on both ends of
I've been on both ends of the spectrum and felt beautiful both ways. After I had my fourth boy I was 100 pounds over weight and NEVER thought I was fat or ugly. The only reason I even thought about loosing the weight was because It was affecting my health. Just thought I'd get that off my 34 SMALL B chest (yes...I lost my C cup with my weight UGH!)
I believe:
We are what we think!
That people who look down on overweight people are insecure about themselves.
That size is nothing but a number that more often than not is WRONG.
That women can look "thin" and be fat on the inside.
That women should dress for their type of body not by size.
Great post
www.fashiongrail.com
"Fashion is not something that exist in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."
-Coco Chanel
Size is a joke...
I have clothes in my closet that range from a 4 to a 12 that fit me perfectly. My shoes range from 7.5 to 9. About the only size you can really count on from a retail perspective is bra size...from my shrinking 34C point of view! ;o)
Love your definiation of Alphawoman!
34 B and growing
LMAO!
I was the skinny chick most of my life. HOWEVER~ it was purely my genetic makeup because my dad is a stick figure. My mom was (as she called herself) "fluffy". Growing up my mom and dad had me and my sister, then divorced and my mom re-married and they had my brother. We had the SAME meals, the same amount of exercise and the same junk food (YUM). My brother was always overweight, while my sister and I were very thin.
My issue with body size/body image is that these stupid (not all) actors/actresses starve themselves and have trainers and such and are toothpicks! Normal woman have to go to work, and clean house and care for children and go to cocktail events, and try to fit in gym time.
The only concern we need to have is the health of our heart. That extends from physically caring for our hearts and emotionally caring for them......
My 11 year old occasionally asks me....Do I look fat in this? IT DRIVES ME INSANE!!!! This is the influence of society.
So, thanks for posting this and GO ALPHAWOMEN! You are all beautiful and more importantly - Brilliant!
Sara
www.createplaylearn.com
a note on shoes
Has anyone else noticed that shoes are getting smaller??
I've worn a 10 my entire adult life and all the sudden 11's are fitting better..
Are they shrinking our shoes too?
I REALLY hate that!!
I've notice too
I think you are right and I am LMAO! So funny! Can shoes actually be shinking? Very funny! Thanks for the giggle!
Sara
www.createplaylearn.com
Yes, Yes, Yes....
I’m in the same boat. I can’t figure it out. I’ve always been a very perfect size 8 foot. Never even had to try on shoes … I could power-shop through the shoe departments! “Love those… size 8… charge it!” Not anymore … my little piggies no longer feel comfortable in 8’s. I know gravity takes its toll over the years, but facing shrinking boobs and expanding feet when I have not even reached the ripe age of 40 yet??? I apparently need to invest in one of those devices that hang you upside down by your feet. Anyone tried that?
I thought clothing people were supposed to undersize our clothes so we felt good when we went into dressing rooms and gladly handed over our hard-earned cash? What is the reasoning behind this reverse psychology? How are we supposed to shop for clothes and shoes on the internet when we don’t know what size we are anymore?
Do you think it has something to do with the fact that all our stuff is made in China now and typically Chinese people are smaller in size/build than the average American?
Shoes
I've noticed that my feet seem to me growing as well. I've been a size 8 my entire adult life, and now I need to find the 8 1/2 shoes. I's very discouraging to know that not only are my boobs going to sag. and I'll get that turkey neck (UGH!!), but I'll have huge feet as well. Oh, I just depressed myself. Gimme chocolate!!
I say HAIL to the Plus-Size Woman
I was 5'11 in the 5th grade---and I am very Masala Latina: Spanish, Brazilian, Puerto Rican, Portuguese---so no matter what I weight, I am ALWAYS a Plu-Size Girl. I learned a long time ago to never give-a-damn what anyone else thinks. I'll wear short skirts and high heels and I swing my big bootie for all it's worth. No one is ever going to tell me that my butt is too big for a sweet pair of Daisy-Duke shorts, either. All my life, my friends with the Cosmo-Cover Airbrushed bodies have always been so insecure about how they look---and men have always followed me around like dogs in heat---ONLY because I have the confidence so many of them lack: AND THAT is what makes a man want a woman. Not a fake silicone rack and a lipo'd butt. Marilyn Monroe was a size 14/16. The glamour girls of Yesterday knew the importance of CURVES. These days, NO WOMAN is more confident than the Africa American woman. Just like Chris Rock says: "An African American woman just knows she is a thing of beauty. She'll stuff her size 11 feet into a pair of high heels, and her big ol butt into a tight skirt, and she'll head-out and dance the night away!" I've always believed that if woman of other races could get some of that attitude, WOW!
And...it is a TOTAL MISCONCEPTION that REAL men want stick skinny women---THEY DO NOT. It is also a TOTAL MISCONCEPTION that men think Plus-Size women are FAT. Men LOVE the big booties, the voluptuous curves, the Dolly-Parton-Breasts.
I say HAIL to the Plus-Size Woman---and pass the chocolate chip cookies!
Lovely post!!!!!
"We generate and create in our life, the results that we believe we deserve."
Self-Confidence Is Beautiful!
Deanna, good for you. We should all be happy and secure in the body we have. Our bodies do not change who we are and how we feel about ourselves inside.
Since I am the clothing business, I can tell you all that sizing is varies from brand to brand and even style to style within a brand. Sometimes my 32E chest (they aren't THAT big) wears a small, sometimes a medium, and sometimes a large. I really should be on the smaller side of medium but it depends on the designer. So don't pay attention to size!
I am not sure shoes are shrinking but I can tell you that bras aren't even consistent anymore. I am GENERALLY a 32E, sometimes a 34D, and occasionally a 34E.....depends on the bra. Oye.....
I saw love yourself, love your body, and embrace who you are.
Hear, hear!
Everyone's said all that I've been thinking! Deanna, I'm so glad you posted this: you're absolutely right. You are an Alpha Woman, and that is often a difficult thing to be when you're also plus-sized. I'm glad, too, that so many of us are in agreement!
Meghanne
NOW: Love Your Body
Just as I wrote that last comment, I stumbled upon NOW's Love Your Body Campaign page. They've recently held a poster contest, and the grand prize was given to an absolutely amazing idea, which you can see here.
Meghanne