I’d like to make something clear. I’m slender. Yes. But that does not make me any less of a “real woman” than someone who is average sized. My weight does not define me, in the same way I feel it shouldn’t define someone who is heavier. I find it incredibly unfair when someone says “I just hate skinny people like you. You can eat anything you want and never gain a pound.” You know, if I went around saying “I just hate fat people, they eat anything they want and don’t care about their bodies,” I would be turned into dust by the level of anger in the stares I would get. Instead, I’m supposed to be flattered by someone who says they hate me because of the way my body looks. Yes, I play roller derby, I get regular exercise. But I also spend a fair amount of time eating junk food and doing nothing. For this reason, I don’t judge other people by their weight. Some people are happy with their bodies. Some people are lazy. Some people try very hard to get themselves into the shape they would like and simply cannot do it. None of these are reasons to decide that I don’t like anyone who isn’t skinny/slender/slim/athletic/whathaveyou. I’m not anorexic (I’ve gained weight in the past 3 months). I eat. A lot. All the time. I’m not always happy with the way my body looks. Whether it’s a result of bad skin, being pale, or the extra pounds in places I’m not used to…I have my moments. Telling me that because I weigh less than the national average my feelings are silly and absurd is simply ignorant. I am a real woman. Just as real as someone who is “average” sized, or even overweight. I’m not less of A person because I am less person. I’m allowed to be insecure (yes, even about my weight), and I’m also allowed to be proud of my body. It’s what I was given, it’s what I’m used to, and no, I don’t want to gain anymore weight. Stop telling me I should.
