From the time that we’re young our family, friends, and the media define beauty for us before we can define it for ourselves. There are certain things that are expected of men as far as their looks are concerned, but it’s nothing compared to the pressure that women feel.
Sure, you can say that I am bias because I am a woman, but the reality is that there is a laundry list of things that are expected from us. After hair is maintained and shopping sprees are complete, we step out and hope that our individual beauty is recognized. But what happens when you’re told that you should consider enhancing your body to look more ‘curvy’ when you think that you look fine?
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This question came to my mind when I was watching the episode of ‘Basketball Wives’ where Jennifer took Royce out to buy a dress for a party and ended up criticizing Royce’s small chest. Jennifer mentioned cutlets to artificially enhance Royce’s chest in the dress that she liked, and although Royce seemed okay with the suggestion, I got uneasy watching and listening to the conversation go down.
Why can’t skinny girls be fly? If beauty is about self-confidence, then why can’t the skinny girls get the same positive reinforcement and love that thick chicks do? Sure, curves are cool, but if a woman doesn’t have them that doesn’t mean that she should feel pressured or obligated to artificially enhance her body or feel less feminine because she isn’t as well endowed as Maliah Michel or Nicki Minaj.
I’m a skinny chick and over the years I’ve been told by a number of men that being thick is better, or that I should gain 10 pounds to improve how I look. When I was younger it used to get to me, and I wanted to look different, but then I realized what great company I’m in. When these men told me to “gain some weight” did they forget that Zoe Saldana, Ciara, Jessica Alba, and Christina Aguilera are just a few of the baddest chicks that they drool over? Yup, they probably did forget, and they failed to realize that I’m in damn good company.
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so open your eyes and give all women of all sizes a chance. Let voluptuous ladies feel great and look good and let skinny chicks feel the love and be fly!
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