In Praise of Imaginary Women
I am not, never have been, and never will be, a curvy woman. This, according to certain people, means I am not normal; I am not a “real” woman. I assume this makes me an imaginary woman; perhaps I can imagine myself a unicorn horn and a set of fairy wings to go with it. Maybe I can go the whole hog and imagine myself the ability to fly!
We all come in different shapes and sizes. There is no correct way to be. Our genetics determine our bone structure, our shape, and our size. Genes either give you curves or they don’t. There is no way that I will ever be voluptuous because my genes say so. But why does that offend people? Why do they think it acceptable to tell me that I am not normal?
Fat shaming is hideous. It is hurtful, it is offensive, and it is cruel. Yet so is thin shaming. It is never right to tell someone that their size renders them physically repulsive. I have been told many times that I am not a “real” woman, that no man would ever find me attractive, and that I should be pitied because of it. Am I alone in thinking that’s spiteful?
Well, I’ve had enough of this bullying. I am real, I am normal, just as you are. Whatever our shape or size, we are all real. We don’t have long on this earth so who cares whether you have Rubenesque curves or if you’re a skinny minny? Each one of us has something to offer, something to be celebrated.
It’s time to stop the vicious labelling.
