Boards
So, this vintage ad has been making its way across the internet, but I don’t think it means what a lot of people think it means.
A friend of mine–a smart, talented, compassionate friend–even posted the ad to her wall and added the comment, “Love this.” I couldn’t disagree with her more.
It’s totally true that women and girls today are urged to be thin at any cost, whereas decades ago, women were urged to cultivate more “sexually appealing” curves by beefing up–but is one ideal actually better or healthier than the other? Hell, no! To me, this ad just illustrates the body hate and ridiculous pressure to conform that women of all shapes and sizes have faced over the decades.
Some girls are naturally curvy, and some are born with smaller frames. To call one size of woman more “fashionable” or “desirable” than another–no matter which size you’re talking about, is offensive and leaves an icky taste in my mouth.
I get it that there are a lot of people who judge curvier girls and women, saying they’re not pretty enough or . . . whatever enough–and that’s unfair–but it’s equally unfair and hateful for these same curvier girls to judge thinner women or to say (as one popular meme does) that Marilyn Monroe with her hour-glass figure was hotter than today’s lithe stars Kiera Knightley or Natalie Portman. Why the hate for KK and Nat? What did they ever do to you?!
How about, rather than continuing this stupid curvy vs. skinny debate, we start talking about what really makes a girl hot: confidence. Show me any girl, any size, who feels less than pretty–and I can guarantee that she won’t shine nearly as bright as another girl (again of any size) who can hold her head up high, loving who she is and what she looks like.
Body hate of all kinds, regardless of what ideal you’re promoting, keeps girls and women from being confident. And a lack of confidence is dangerous, because it keeps us from doing what we do best: running this big old world.
So, ladies, let’s give the snark a break. Don’t flip it. Don’t reverse it. Just toss it in the garbage–where this old ad belongs.
What do you think about this vintage ad? Do you think it promotes body hate, or do you like the message it sends? Do you ever feel like you get body hate from other people? Tell us everything in the comments!
Here’s Why Being A Feminist Is NOT A Bad Thing
Great post. There are lots of those vintage ads going around, which makes it all the more bizarre that people act like skinny was always looked at as good when it has a long history of not, and sadly it’s back to being that way. It’s back to the 50s when pinups are curvy and no one pays attention to skinny girls. They are now photoshopping girls BIGGER because curvy is in. It’s just as bad and unhealthy to make skinny girls feel inadequate as it is larger girls. I posted this on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-the-Skinny-Bashing/215507911878959
Can I just throw something out here, to all the people siding one or the other. You’re doing it based on how willing you are to stay healthy versus enjoy laziness and eating.
Eat a balanced diet and an amount of food suitable to the amount of calories you burn during a day. A sensible amount plus regular exercise is not being fit or too focused with your body.
Our society eats too much and does not work which requires movement.
Eat right and exercise, not excessively toned in every way just regular burning of calories, and your body will fall into it’s natural shape.
Then whatever will be will be and weight wouldn’t be the issue, thus allowing us to confront the real truth of why we don’t think we’re good enough.
Oh and “Apple” isn’t a body shape. It is just big. Eat right regular exercise you will fall into your body shape.
I wish they had this 2da. I suffer from ZCD -Zero Curves Disorder- and I’d like 2 find some way 2 gain weight, which is hard cuz I always c weight LOSS ads.
Okay, the argument on the meme with Marilyn Monroe v. Kiera Knightly…Do you not see how sickly KK looks? Her arms have no muscle and she looks like a walking corpse. I have no issue with people who are thin. My best friend is a size 3 and she is curvy. I’m a size 11 and I’ve got a nice ass, a beautiful set of boobs, and an hour-glass shape to top it off. I hate it when bigger girls hate on the thinner ones. The only time I have an issue with thin girls is when they are being unhealthy and they look like it too. If you’re healthy, I have no problem with you. But then again, if you are obese, you can change that. I don’t want to hear “It runs in the family” (Because I’m sure NOTHING in your family runs, sorry). You can change your eating habits and go to a doctor. If you are suffering from anorexia and you look like KK, I will find you and make you eat something with calories, protein, carbs, and trans fat.
Your delusional. Some people try anything to gain weight, just to shut people like YOU up for your ignorance, but some people can’t. I know I don’t diet or workout ever and I’m thin. I could care less about people’s pity parties and taking it out on skinny people. They should all get a life.
Can you see it though? almost every girl here is trying to support her body. I never hated any girl and i dont have a problem with both slim and big girls. but you know what? i am not judging big girls but they are judging me because i am thin. no diet , no nothing. i was born that way and they judge me. Since when thin is unhealthy? Eating disorders are unhealthy. i eat , i enjoy …but when a big girl was picking on me saying you are thin blablablablabla i never said to her you are fat …you eat all day long. Love your body they way it is either big or small but don’t take advantage to the fact that people stopped judging big sizes because it causes depression and then forces big girls to go on a diet and then eating disorders. It is mean to judge small sizes as well. And by the way. skinny- is a word invented by big girls.
This is why I admire, and please don’t hate me for saying this, fat, black women.
They seem to hold a hell of a lot more confidence than most girls ever could. They go out in clothes that most people consider “hideous” and “unflattering” for them. I say they’re brave and total role models.
They don’t seem to CARE what ANYONE says. They cuss you out and strut out while looking TOTALLY awesome and confident! They seem to love themselves no matter what.
curvy doesnt mean BIGGER. curvy means your body has curves..like boobs, hips, and an ass, and the hourglass kind of curves of your waist.
even though i know this article is just trying t be polite by saying ‘curvy,’
thats not the right term.
your wrong, curvy means big boobs, big hips, big ass and also bigger stomach, big arms and bigger legs…
Well im curvy and i dont have big arms or a big stomach. Just an ass, boobs, and an hour-glass like figure… ^.^
I’m a bigger girl. I admit it. I own up to it. I also hate it when the skinny girls I know are always complaining about how fat they are. Or even worse when they tell me they wish they had my breasts. I’m always like “No you don’t. I don’t know why you say that!” Everyone wishes they were a different way, whether it’s hair, ethnicity, size, shape, or age. It is very hard for girls today to think “Oh I’m beautiful the way I am,” when we are constantly shown on TV or the internet that “such and such is on a diet”, or “this person lost 65 pounds on blah-blah-blah”, or “Here’s this quick tip to a slimmer, more fabulous you!” Every girl is beautiful the way they are! If only every girl would realize it! It doesn’t matter if you don’t have straight hair, a slender, lithe figure, or if you were 12 years younger! Your curly hair, apple shape, and 32 years, looks good on you! Or in the case of teenage girls, your straight hair, small boobs & butt & 16 years looks good! Besides that you may just be a late bloomer, so when you’re 32 with curly hair & apple shape you have more confidence! Confidence & self-esteem & belief in yourself will get you all the way! Not to mention if you really don’t like the way you look nothing anyone else can say will change your attitude! But for goodness sake stop dressing like a 6, 10, or 13 year old! Get some clothes that show off what you got! Do your makeup nicely, don’t cake it on! We are not dolls, and we are not children. We are young women trying to find our place in this world! As for me, every scale classifies me as obese, and I am. I am going to start working out so I can be the better me. That doesn’t mean I hate me. It means I am tired of all the pains I get from being 18 and obese. It means that so I won’t be tired from a 30 minute mile, I’m going to go down to my natural apple or pear shape. Or if I’m lucky, maybe I’ll get to be an hourglass like Marilyn Monroe! I know I won’t become like Natalie Portman, or KK, so I’m not trying for that! I’m trying for healthier. And to anyone who’s gonna be all “You’re being a hypocrite” well all I got for you is: No. I’m being Me. I am confident, and I like myself. I just want to be healthy. I don’t want to be 40 and realize that I have Diabetes, cancer, and tumors that cannot be fixed because I’m 5ft 4 and 500 pounds! Suck it up. If you’re gonna hate yourself, find a real reason to hate yourself. don’t hate yourself because you think you’re ugly or fat. There are actual people who are fat, but ugly & pretty aren’t about the outside they are about the inside. You can be the most beautiful girl in the world and I’m going to think you are ugly because of how you act towards others. Sorry for ranting I’m done now. Stop arguing about idiotic things like Shapes, sizes, and what makes a woman or girl beautiful. Everyone is beautiful <and yes I truly believe that.
These ads that girls are saying they love are not trying to shame on the skinnier girls. They are reminders to ourselves that just because we aren’t skinny, doesn’t mean we aren’t beautiful, too. It’s not for hate on others it’s a confidence boost for the curvier ladies. BUT no body type, shape, size, color, or what have you is wrong. They are all unique, BEAUTIFUL, and special in their own way.
It bugs me when people are like “CURVY ALL THE WAY, BOO SKINNY PEOPLE THAT STARVE THEMSELVES!!” Well i am 5’7″, 103 lbs, am classified as “anorexic” on every bmi scale, and EAT ALL DAY LONG. I used to feel so embarressed on being skinny that i put my self on a diet to GAIN weight. Well it didnt work. If anything i lost weight.. in my wallet area. But now im smart and realize that being skinny, having B sized boobs, and having a cute toned booty is just as hot as any curvy woman out there. POWER TO THE SKINNY GIRLS THAT CANT HELP IT!
I have the same problem. I eat and eat but my metabolism does not allow me to be at a higher number than 100 lbs. So, I DO believe that the assumption that all skinny girls are anorexic should stop. But, for that to stop, we have to stop putting heavier set people down.
Curvy is not a size it is a shape. So basically this debate is shape vs size. Which is very stupid! U cant compare a shape to a size! I mean sure if u gain weight u may gain weight in ur boobs and butt but that doesn’t mean u will have a curvy figure! Curvy is being and hourglass or a pear shape. Btw gurl when u linked the article about weight judging I was so pissed. BEING OVERWEIGHT DOESNT MAKE U CURVY. U CAN BE CURVY AT ANY SIZE. This debate which shouldn’t exist any way should be curvy vs straight not curvy vs skinny. Just like any size can be curvy any size can have a straight shape. And for the record Marilyn Monroe would be a size four today. So just because ur a size 27 doesn’t mean ur curvy and just because ur a size 0 doesn’t mean u have a straight shape. I think both shapes r awesome and this debate is very stupid.
I think people are over thinking this, there are heaps of ads today about LOSING weight, but everyone just accepts it. But now there’s a vintage ad about GAINING weight and apparently its hurting skinny peoples feelings. Look, there shouldn’t be ads telling people they’d “look better” if they lost or gained a certain amount of weight, but this is a VINTAGE ad, and everyone knows that it was “in” back then to be really curvy, (it’s still “in” just less publicized). It’s now seen as “in” to be quite skinny, and therefore there are lots of ads promoting weight loss (And to those people that say that they’re purely for health, you can be underweight too). So what if some curvy women want to post this to feel better about themselves? There are certainly enough ads to make skinnier people feel better if they get “hurt” by this ad. I don’t think you have to be any certain size to be beautiful, but this is all just melodramatic.
P.S. To everyone that’s saying “Every girl is beautiful”, if everyone was beautiful, no-one would be. But yes, you don’t have to be curvy to be beautiful, you don’t have to be skinny to be beautiful.
The reason women are posting this ad and the meme that was referenced is because today it is much more common to hear that girls shaped like Kiera Knightly and Natalie Portman are hot so the women are asking why? Why is it that the feminine, curvacious shape that often requires more body fat suddenly became unattractive and was replaced by the skinny, tiny build that many women are unable to accomplish. This ad is the EXACT same thing as the diet ads seen on tv and online today, you know which ones I am talking about, the ones that show curvier, heavier women then transformed into MUCH smaller women after using the product. Why do people not fuss over those ads? Just because this one is from the 1930′s or 40′s (maybe.) doesn’t mean the concept is any different so why isn’t gUrl pointing those ads out alongside this one? I’d definitely read an article with various ads that project a message similar to that of this one.
This ad is about breast size, not body size. *facepalm* More weight = bigger boobs.
I believe you are focusing on the wrong aspect as well. I think that everyone should feel wonderful & beautiful in their own body. All of these ads are just ridiculousness! The main focus should be your health. Thin or a thick has nothing to do with this very important factor. Everyone has a different frame and it makes everyone uniquely beautiful. I am 5’3 & weight right at 145 lbs. I am in the “thick” category because I am not “stick thin” but I feel amazing and I am the mother of 2 gorgeous babies. Also, according to my BMI & recent yearly pysical, I am very healthy. Putting size aside, health is the most important issue everyone should be focused on. No size.
Sorry for the typos! I was in the heat of the moment
I really don’t think that this ad is really promoting body hate, I think it is just showing the difference between what was fashionable then and what is fashionable now. I am a curvier woman, and I personally like seeing ads like this, it helps me to keep in mind that fashion trends change and being really skinny is not all that is desirable. But I agree, a woman is beautiful no matter what her shape or size.
Im a curvy girl and I have to say Im only a size 2. Curvy doesn’t mean bigger its about proportions.
Every girl is beautiful not matter what shape or size.
I never judge anyone on there frame. The only thing is I love my curvy figure, and I’d never wish for a smaller frame =]