After Urban Outfitters started selling a T-shirt that had “eat less” written on it, Sophia Bush, well known for her role on One Tree Hill, did not put up with the nonsense.
Bush ran a campaign called, “Zero Is Not A Size,” which is geared toward women who have body image issues and lets them know that beauty comes in all sizes. But is saying that zero is not a size giving a shameful image to those who are naturally slim?
Many thin women often hear phrases like “zero is not a size,” “real women have curves,” and “thigh gaps aren’t attractive.” Do others realize that naturally thin women get hurt just as much by these statements?
UW-Stout student, Kaitlyn Suda, a naturally petite young woman, tells us her side of the story. “Saying ‘zero is not a size’ is like saying ‘brunette is not a hair color,'” Kaitlyn says. “It is wonderful that society is embracing and celebrating women’s curves, but I think it’s important to be sensitive to the fact that there are women out there who are size zeroes and who are perfectly healthy. I have a thigh gap, small breasts, and on occasion you can see my ribs; so what, I have insecurities, too. It’s painful to see all of these ‘body positive’ remarks basically saying that being skinny is not attractive and that real women have curves. Yes, real women do have curves. Real women have no curves. Real women have thigh gaps. Real women have love handles. ALL bodies are real, and it sucks that there is this new thing called skinny shaming that forgets that skinny girl’s feelings matter, too.”
Kaitlyn is not the only woman out there who is hurt by skinny shaming. With anything that you say, one should be mindful of others.
Although Bush stands up against the hurtful image that Urban Outfitters is portraying, does she realize how the campaign slogan may affect those who are naturally a size zero? I am fairly positive she did not mean any harm, but it is still a different angle that one should take a look at. People should not promote anorexia; however, people that are naturally tiny should not be judged, either.