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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be angry at the fact women MUST NOT BE FAT

278 replies

MagicMojito · 23/07/2014 20:21

I'm just so pissed off with the double standards!

I went into primark and there is a whole wall dedicated to "hide your fat" type underware Shock
and I dont just mean Spanx and the like, there were corset type tops, underware leggings to stop the wobble as you walk, a "no more back fat" vest - I shit you not, that's what it said on the label!! Rows and rows of the same type of fat hiding underware in all different styles and colours.

In comparison the men's underware department consisted of three rails, boxer shorts, briefs, socks and vests Hmm. Its the same in most shops now (although I was pretty shocked and impressed with such a vast range of products of this style)

In summer all over the tv/magazines its advertising how to get a great bikini body, fab abs, summer holiday slim down etc.

Winter its the little black dress diet for the office Xmas party!! -AIMED ONLY AT WOMEN

Aibu to just think FUCK OFF ALREADY?!
I realise this is nothing new BTW. I just had a realisation that things are only gonna get worse and I feel sad that this is the message that my dds are going to get brought up around

OP posts:
VampireSquid · 23/07/2014 21:29

I don't mean I judge people for being overweight, I mean by 'shouldn't be fat' that you can't be fat and healthy, that it's wrong to do the whole 'real women have curves' which is a response to the message most of society gives overweight women- both messages are bad and I haven't seen the first on this thread. Anybody should look how they want, it's their body, their choice.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 23/07/2014 21:30

Maid. I said women I didnt say anything about my weight.

Yes. You can say that women should be how they want to be without it being a personal issue.

So I won't see you at the pathology table.

Or at the good manners table, clearly.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 23/07/2014 21:30

YANBU
Being bigger than a size 12 is not a crime!
Having the odd wobbly bit is not a crime!

Having no Fucking intention of ever having a "bikini body" is not a crime.

Actually, I never wear one any way, because I burn really easily and like swim where you can dive, swim and go down water shoots in.

Oh, and I'm sure going to a water park if you're 40 plus with wobbly bits is a crime. (Unless you wear a kaftan and mind the kids stuff in the shade).

And most importantly of all being significantly over weight is bad for your health if you are make, too!

shakethetree · 23/07/2014 21:31

Fango - I was taking about the person wearing the t.shirt. I'd find it depressing doing up my jeans & seeing rolls of fat, I really would. I don't really care what shape other women are, that's their business, but slim ( or average build ) women do look better in clothes than fatter women.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 23/07/2014 21:31

Swimwear (Opps)

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 23/07/2014 21:31

I just dont judge other people on THEIR bodies.

Theirs and not mine.

And I have a life and more to worry about than how other people look in their tshirts.

Good grief.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 23/07/2014 21:32

Shake..ok sorry. I misunderstood as others had made comments that other people shouldn't be fat.

I think people shouldn't be judgy twats.

Darkesteyes · 23/07/2014 21:32

melissa83 Wed 23-Jul-14 20:33:09

It works both ways as I have not really encountered many women that love fat men or beer bellys

I think you've missed the point here Melissa. The OP was talking about marketing. If her OP had been about the fact that men don't like bigger women then your reply would have been more relevant.

It doesn't work both ways at all because stuff isn't marketed to men in the same way.

WorraLiberty · 23/07/2014 21:33

Primark are not saying any of those things are crimes Elephants

They're simply selling to people who want to buy them, because those people think they look better when wearing them.

CatKisser · 23/07/2014 21:34

Fine. See you on the pathology table..,
What a cuntish comment, maid
Would you say that to car crash victims? Aids victims?
Fact is, we could ALL go any any time and yes, we all know that being massively overweight isn't great, but quite frankly I'd prefer to be in the company of generous, warm, caring fat people than judgemental, snippy slender people.

CaptainTrollolololol · 23/07/2014 21:34

I think you mean slim or average build women look better in some clothes to some people than fatter women.

JustDontWantToSay · 23/07/2014 21:38

The point is that being fat (significantly overweight, i.e enough to need clothes to disguise it) is seen these days as being acceptable. It's not - it's abnormal in most cases and dangerous health wise. In fact I think there's a big push this year to make people realise that obesity is a problem. Being fat is unhealthy.

Original poster
MagicMojito · 23/07/2014 21:38

This is NOT a thread debating whether or not its healthy to be fat. It's about the fact that women are specifically targeted in a way that men arnt.

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 23/07/2014 21:38

I thought you were being lauded for being intellectual the other day maid.

So am surprised by the lame attack and the really shallow assumption that because I don't believe in judging women for their weight I must be massively overweight. Tsk tsk.

Darkesteyes · 23/07/2014 21:39

The nasty comments I received about my weight when I was bigger came from men not women .

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 23/07/2014 21:39

Well magic this thread shows that indeed you are right that women are targeted by other women.

Very sad.

GodDamnBatman · 23/07/2014 21:39

Yanbu. Where's the fat shaming for men?

It's called not getting laid. Grin

You're right though. Society is more forgiving of fat men than fat women.

WorraLiberty · 23/07/2014 21:41

This is NOT a thread debating whether or not its healthy to be fat. It's about the fact that women are specifically targeted in a way that men arnt.

They're not actually 'targeting' women though

They are supplying what women want and I'm all for extra choice

I bet men would love to wear boxer shorts so tight, they sucked their fat bellies in, but sadly they would probably crush the crown jewels.

If someone invented something that made men look like muscular athletes, I'm quite sure they'd be queuing round the corners for it.

FaFoutis · 23/07/2014 21:42

There should be lessons on feminism at school.

Darkesteyes · 23/07/2014 21:45

Ten years ago I lost 10 stone and went from a 28 to a 12/14 (no doubt certain posters would love to reply that I must have only got down to a 16 due to vanity sizing)

In the last year ive lost 2 stone 9 going from a 22 to a 16 but hey that must really be an 18 or even a 20 right?

Cos us that are losing weight just FUCKING LOVE LOVE LOVE to be told that .....hey you've not really got down to a 16 Dark Its just vanity sizing don't you know.

FUCKING SICK OF IT.

CaptainTrollolololol · 23/07/2014 21:46

Did women demand this kind of thing though? Or did they begin in an office full of men deciding how else they can milk the fact that society makes women hate their bodies?

I'm curious.

Original poster
MagicMojito · 23/07/2014 21:47

I believe that if men were targeted the same way as women are then there would be a demand for it, however I get the feeling that's not likely to happen...

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 23/07/2014 21:55

The point is OP, men seem to be far less interested in these things unlike women.

No-one's being targeted here

Suppliers listen to what the customer wants and then they supply it...that's how they stay in business.

If men spent as much time worrying about their appearance (and the appearances of other men) and reading fashion mags, I'm quite sure they would be supplied in the same way women are.

Player67 · 23/07/2014 21:55

I think there is definitely a market out there for fat hiding clothing. It has definitely more acceptable now, lots of friends don't want to lose weight but want to look good for a party or special occasion and will purchase these items to make them look good

If women didn't buy it they wouldn't sell it

MaidOfStars · 23/07/2014 21:56

we all know that being massively overweight isn't great

Agree. But what we are encouraged to do is be fat anyway. Love yourself, have confidence, big is beautiful.

People are (successfully) suing tobacco companies for billions - yes billions - of dollars for the promotion of a lifestyle that is killing people.

How goes it for the McDonalds of the world?

And as for the vanity sizing/shapewear in Primark (which is the point of the thread Blush )...don't buy it. Vote with your feet etc...