2006-09-30 12:07:46 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Gender Studies
ooooh-me me me!!!! I am a plus sized woman originally from NYC, I recently moved to Decatur, GA. The reason I mentioned location is because it really affected my feelings about shopping...In NY-the fashion captiol of the world, it was damn near impossible to find my size anywhere except Lane Bryant and Ashely Stewart-which sucks because I am only 26 and most of the stuff that they sell are geared towards older women. Not to mention the name brands I really liked are not in there, or they charge much much higher than retail for the brand(like Baby Phat).
Even in Macy's, I had to go on a manhunt for name brands in my size like Apple Bottoms, Akademiks, G Unit, Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, etc...and these companies make these clothes in my size! When I have spoken to the managers they told me that there wasn't a demand for plus size-so they didn't order it...Damn lie because all the plus sized women I knew said if they can find these brands in their size, they wouldn't care about the cost-they'd buy it! Anyways, it made me all but give up on shopping for anything besides the necessities: undies, shoewear, accesories...
But when I came down to Georgia-OMG! This is plus sized heaven down here! I guess its because skinny women are a rarity down here...but honey, I have bought all the clothes in the name brands I wanted in my 1st 30 days of coming here! Amazing! I love it, and I no longer feel like the odd one out anymore...
2006-09-30 12:25:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Speaking of this, I read have had the privilege of reading some really thought provoking articles:
1) "The More You Subtract, The More You Add: Cutting Girls Down to Size" By Jean Killbourne
2) "The Anthropometry or Barbie: Unsettling Ideals of the Feminine Body in Popular Culture" By Jacqueline Urla and Alan C. Swedlund
3) "Buying and Selling Gender" (No author listed)
4) "Size 6: The Western Woman's Harem" by Fatema Mernissi
Number 4 is especially pertinent to this question. But they all relate from different angles in very valuable ways.. They can all be found in the book "The Kaleidoscope of Gender: Prisms, Patterns, and Possibilities" by Joan Z. Spade and Catherine G. Vaentine.
A few possibilities regarding how plus sized women feel about shopping could include shame, thoughts of suicde, feelings of invalidation... And some, feel very positive about their size and feel that all the hype is rediculous, and that clothing segregation is such a pathetic display of a vanity obsessed society of starving shallow people. ^_~
2006-09-30 13:00:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was a sales woman in a plus sized shop and I am plus sized myself, so I have seen it from both sides as I was a regular size many years ago. In most shops, we are sent to the back of the store to buy things that are only appropriate for women older than I like to think I am. Lane Bryant is showing clothing for younger women, but its too young for anyone over 25. I love to shop for clothes, but I like a fair amount of style and quality in fabric and workmanship and this is sadly lacking. I'd like to stick a pin in the buyers for doing so little research on these things. I got fat after all I didn't get stupid. But I did meet women who felt they didn't deserve nice things since they were fat, (how dumb is that) and I met women, (mostly black) who were proud of how they looked and showed it. It was interesting how different cultures looked at weight issues. I also noticed that regular and plus sized women both felt that they could never find anything that fit them properly.
My upscale plus sized store was closed when the company was taken over by an Italian group who didn't want the onus of catering to the obese. Even though our division did the best numbers. I think there is a fair amount of discrimination on the part of retailers and designers. They really don't want to be associated with large sizes and that's a shame since we are, all over the world, getting larger.
2006-09-30 12:25:03 · answer #3 · answered by justa 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
We have the power to choose-- what we feel, eat and do. I choose to live a happy empowered, fearless life of possibility.
I am always free to choose another destiny, direction or potential.
I have lived life as a plus sized woman type A personality for the past decade, for the next decade I am trying something new. Love, life and passion is a choice we can make at any size..
2006-10-02 19:24:08 · answer #4 · answered by Dawn M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not plus sized, but I am curvy. I find it hard to get the clothes that not only I like but are flattering on my shape. I can only imagine what it's like for a plus-sized woman! Not only would you have to shop near the back of the store, models are all very, very thin and image is everything. It's a sad reality. If the standards of beauty keep shrinking, no one is going to fit.
2006-09-30 12:33:50 · answer #5 · answered by Silver Snake 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It can do alot to plus-size wemon ..its hurts their confidence about themselve therefor many are afraid to shop in a store with smaller wemon in it..It can also hurt them socially ..theyll can become scared to even go into a store..others can ignore it and just not care..but all together this can affect wemon physically and mentally in many ways and for the loser that said stop eating so much ..Not all wemon are over weight becuase of eating know what your talking about before you open you mouth and grow up
2006-09-30 13:45:39 · answer #6 · answered by babyblue_670 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do not wear plus-size, but I think I would be pissed at having to pay an extra $2 for the same stupid article as someone else. I don't buy the argument that it takes extra material because if that were true then kids clothes would be dirt cheap.
2006-09-30 12:30:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
manufactures must not think that plus size people do not like to look decent all clothes are pro skinny it dosent make any sense at all . ode to all plus size women.
2006-09-30 12:19:53 · answer #8 · answered by emedic 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I too am curvy...
I had to take ownership of my curves several years ago and it made all the difference in the world in how I am treated! I also shop 'curve friendly' stores and associate with 'curve positive' sites like:
AmaZe Magazine
http://www.amazemagazine.com
Venus Divas
http://www.venusimaging.com
and shop through
Diva Boutique
http://www.divaboutique.com
Embrace your curves and you will find that the world treats you a bit differently (or if they don't, it won't matter anymore :-)
Hope this helps...
Valery ~
2006-10-03 14:37:01 · answer #9 · answered by valeryvie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ads, and all that goes along with ads. It is always thin thin thin. I could never understand why any man would want to go to bed, and even have sex with nothing but a bag of bones. those men must be into pain. Get real-designers and all that go along with them, think they rule the world. If you ask me, they are afraid of "real women"!
2006-10-01 19:05:29 · answer #10 · answered by Martin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋