PHOTO CREDIT: STOCK PHOTOS
BY CAMILA SOSA
While there was certainly a time when skinny girls had the upper hand, dominating every aspect of media, it seems as though they have recently lost their prevalence. This could’ve been a good thing if it meant that there was some equal distribution among thin and thicker women in terms of representation- a sort of realistic portrayal, but that just isn’t the case. In fact, a rather competitive scenario has developed. Now, these skinny girls are just “too skinny” lacking the assets which are oh-so-desirable by men. It’s this disadvantage that many have chosen as a way to shame thinner women.
Skinny shaming has been subtlety making its way in the music industry. Although originally perpetuated by rap male artists, it is Nicki Minaj’s Anaconda and Meghan Trainor’s All About that Bass that has struck recent controversy. While attempting to become body positive anthems, drawing major and necessary attention to plus sized girls, these songs become an angry backlash at thinner women. Both Minaj and Trainor refer to thin women by derogatory terms throughout their songs, setting them up as enemies. But thin girls are not the ones to blame; a female against female environment is not the answer to the fight against size-ism.
I think, as a whole, we struggle to find balance with social issues like these. We find it hard to support the minority without completely bashing the other. But that doesn’t mean a balance doesn’t exist. These songs could’ve been perfectly made without the inclusion of such insults. They could’ve been purely dedicated to thicker women and that would’ve made sense. That would’ve been a step closer to body positivity. But calling thin girls “stick figured silicone Barbie dolls” is just a step backwards. The goal is to embrace all body types despite their representation in the media because there are still a number of thin girls who are uncomfortable with their bodies.
Another problem I have with the type of body positivity promoted by these pop songs is the centralization on male approval. Both of these songs make points such as men like thicker women because unlike thinner women they have a certain set of assets. And while I’m well aware of the effectiveness of this technique, I am also ashamed. Men should not be involved in a conversation that is about women. That’s where we go completely wrong. Our body positivity has to come from us and be for us.
Although I realize that skinny shaming when compared to fat shaming is just a minor annoyance, but who’s to say that Trainor and Minaj didn’t start a trend here? Perhaps, other media outlets will begin to do the same thing. Skinny shaming might just be a growing epidemic. However, I understand the intentions of these songs and I understand that no one can obtain a cookie cutter sense of feminism. Hopefully, stars are taking this criticism to heart and won’t let skinny shaming get out of hand. Meanwhile, our media needs to find a way to cater to all women without glorifying any particular body type.
