Why is thin ''in''?

[poshsinglemum]

Just wondering really. I have curves but I don't think I am fat yet I feel that I have to diet etc to fit some mysoginistic ideal. Do men really prefer thin women?

Gosh thanks Marsha I think they're beautiful too but I am of course biased!

I'm also one who thinks money has a lot to do with it.
Nowadays, in the West anyway, you are more likely to be heavy if you're poor.

I think it's money as well. Fat is associated with poor. The richer you are, the more personal chefs and expensive delicious food and personal trainers you can afford.

What struck me the other day was - that "lollipop ladies" thing (which I really dislike as a phrase) - you know where there is a teeny body with an out of proportion head stuck on, which is something that many people aim for (the ultimate in thin)... That this body shape (slim lissom body with disproportionately large head on top) is a look exemplified by my DD1. She is 3. Is it really the new aim of grown women to have the body shape of a toddler? Possibly with plastic comedy breasts on the front?

I was really quite amazed by this woman I saw.

If you can imagine, plumped lips with something, stretched back face, plumpety plump but with the skinniest legs.

Because really only the youthful get to be ultra skinny with lovely gorgeous round faces and natural plumpness.

I just could not imagine a man doing the same.

OK the odd famous one does, but not usually a man on the street, at work etc

but Marsha, the slebs we see in photos and mags with the teeny tiny bodies and unlined faces look really odd in real life. They photograph well but it looks all wrong in reality. The camera changes all the angles and proportions.

Oh yes. The problem is all the faces start to look very similar. After the 'work'.

Women fear wrinkles don't they? In a way men often do not.

I think everyone fears wrinkles, because fear aging & ill health, and eventual death.

But advancing age in a woman means irrelevance in todays' society, in a way that doesn't happen for men til much later.

The other scary thing is that I think being filmed puts a lot of weight on you - so when you see someone very thin on the TV/in a film, what they look like in RL must be terribly thin.

Quite a few of my friends are very thin slim and I think they look terrible TBH, bones sticking out when they take their clothes off. Clothes on they look great, clothes off all pointy.

It's to do with money again!

Men get wealthier and more powerful as they get older, women often do not. It is a kindly salve.

Unless they too are an asset judged by their looks - fame etc

The reason I crossed out thin was because I said to someone once they looked thin and they went bonkers and said I should say slim. OK looking back maybe it was tactless, but the aim is to be thin isn't it, why pretend otherwise?

Yes the queen rarely gets any comments about her appearance.

The fact that she is usually diamond encrusted from head to toe does a lot to deflect any comments about the size of her bottom, I guess...

Power + cash = looks really not so important

Plus you can spend £££ on making the most of what you have. Very rich people often have a sort of sheen of wealth about them, which over-rides whether they are naturally attractive / fully conforming to prevailing norms of attractiveness.

Di and Fergie I guess were marrying in, so they had a whole load of fairytale stories to conform to.

But the same rule doesn't apply to men does it, ie rich = think, poor = fat. If anything wealthy men often tend to edge towards the rich=fat equation of olden times don't they?

Queen is well post menopausal, so doesn't even get the 'courtesy' of being appraised about her looks.
I wonder in the 50's when she was crowned was their much discussion of it? I know the media would have been very gracious and respectful, but people in general among themselves?

I am now reminded of Armstrong and Miller's teenspeak RAF pilots.
'Ya, Queenie she is well fit, innit.'

yy to sheen of wealth. That's so true.

I realise the conversation has moved on since Susie Orbach was mentioned; but a friend of mine went to a talk by her recently.

She came away with the abiding impression of a very thin woman with claw-like, overly-ringed and manicured hands.

Is she protesting too much, I wonder?

I think it's because thin women look more like men than voluptulous women. most fashion designers are gay men so their ideal is something that mimics the ideal male.

Also weight=muscle=power=men's domain

What on earth does her appearance have to do with her work?

why is it always ok to thin bash?

I get 'don't lose any more weight 'frustrated'' all the time

Imagine if i reciprocated with (well meaning face' 'Don't gain any more weight?'

Fashion designers are all gay???? Bull shit

I think this is a thread about why being thin is socially rewarded, rather than having a go at people for being thin.

Ideally, many body types would be shown positively in the media, including those of thin people.

Men don't want thin. Not really. They want curves and womanly-ness (made up word but there you go).

I say that speaking as a naturally thin woman. Women think it's an ideal because of the media's portrayal of women.

I also agree with frustrated hippy (not necessarily on this thread though). I have encountered many women who have insulted me quite openly about my weight and how I must starve or not eat. Needless to say it is more accepted than if I told some of my colleagues they eat too many pies ( I haven't and they don't).

I think wealth is irrelevant too.