Your cart is currently empty!
“I Don’t Consider ‘Skinny’ a Compliment”
As my friend and I stroll into the gym’s locker room, she casually remarks, “You’re looking really skinny!” This comment tends to pop up whenever I’ve been under the weather or nursing an injury. It’s intended as a compliment, but it misses the mark.
Left to its own devices, my natural body type resembles a stick figure with an apple in the middle, and let’s not forget the two generous breasts. When I hit the gym, my limbs, usually birdlike, gain a hint of muscle definition. Yet, when I lose any muscle due to inactivity, people interpret that as “skinny.” But is “skinny” truly a positive term?
My motivation for working out isn’t tied to how I look. With all due respect to those who do, my primary reason is to combat the depression I’ve battled for nearly two decades. The endorphin rush I get from exercising significantly helps stabilize my mood.
The Problem with Labels
Here’s the thing: being called “skinny” doesn’t feel like a compliment. It may be meant as one, but it’s just another way of judging someone’s body. Imagine if someone told you, “You’ve gained weight,” or “When are you going to get back to your pre-baby body?” or even “You should hit the gym.” Not okay, right?
These kinds of comments, whether from silent judgment or well-meaning observations, reinforce damaging and outdated ideals about body image. This is also why we strive to avoid praising girls for their looks more than their intelligence or creativity. We’re getting better at this than we were in my childhood, but the struggle persists for women like me who grew up in a world where dieting was the norm, and body scales dictated self-worth.
Social Media and Body Image
While there are countless women celebrating their fitness journeys on social media, there are also many who face health challenges, single parenting, or simply prefer not to obsess over their bodies and how they’re perceived. The media still bombards us with sensational headlines like, “Celebrity shows off her post-baby body on the beach!” No, she has a body, she had a baby, and her body is just enjoying some sun.
Well-meaning friends who haven’t seen me in a while might comment on how “skinny” I look, oblivious to the fact that I’m recovering from a flare-up of IBS or a leg injury. Meanwhile, our children are absorbing these messages.
Teaching the Next Generation
Just the other day, I overheard a little girl in my daughter’s after-school art club bragging, “Look how tiny my tummy is!” I couldn’t help but step in and say, “It doesn’t matter what size your tummy is; what’s important is that it works. Imagine if it didn’t—everything you eat would just sit there!” The girls erupted into giggles, vividly imagining the absurdity of it all.
There’s no wrong way to have a body. By labeling body shapes, even with good intentions, we perpetuate a cycle of judgment. So please, spare me the “skinny” comments. My focus is on being healthy and happy, not on fitting into someone else’s idea of beauty.
Further Reading
For more insights on navigating body image and self-acceptance, check out our other blog posts, such as the one on intracervical insemination. If you’re interested in home insemination, Make a Mom is a fantastic resource. Additionally, WomensHealth.gov offers excellent information related to pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary
The author reflects on the problematic nature of compliments regarding body size, particularly the term “skinny.” She emphasizes that such comments can perpetuate harmful body image ideals and highlights the importance of focusing on health and happiness rather than societal standards.