Bigger Girls: Are They More Popular than We Think?

Thwip!

Pug160 wrote: »

I remember a video on YouTube where a very average looking girl showed the effects of make up. She went from being average at best to looking very attractive. I think it might still be there. It depends on the individual though, as in some cases it can make decent looking girls trashy looking or just really fake. It generally makes girls look older than they are too.

Pug are you thinking of Jenna Marbles?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYpwAtnywTk

Pug160

Thwip! wrote: »

Pug are you thinking of Jenna Marbles?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYpwAtnywTk

That's the one, yeah.

What you sometimes get are average looking girls making themselves look attractive and then only going for the good looking guys in bars and clubs, when in actual fact they're just on the same level as the average guys (just not when they have make up on). It's a bit of a con when you think about it. Not much they can do when morning arrives though.

Esoteric_

Pug160 wrote: »

That's the one, yeah.

What you sometimes get are average looking girls making themselves look attractive and then only going for the good looking guys in bars and clubs, when in actual fact they're just on the same level as the average guys (just not when they have make up on). It's a bit of a con when you think about it. Not much they can do when morning arrives though.

Maybe my opinion is a bit invalid because I'm female, but she doesn't look more attractive with that much make up. She looks like an average girl plastered in way too much make up.

Czarcasm

Pug160 wrote: »

That's the one, yeah.

What you sometimes get are average looking girls making themselves look attractive and then only going for the good looking guys in bars and clubs, when in actual fact they're just on the same level as the average guys (just not when they have make up on). It's a bit of a con when you think about it. Not much they can do when morning arrives though.

Pug you haven't seen "Bridesmaids"?

Ah no, I won't spoil it for you but it answers the bolded bit...

Legs.Eleven

Pug160 wrote: »

That's the one, yeah.

What you sometimes get are average looking girls making themselves look attractive and then only going for the good looking guys in bars and clubs, when in actual fact they're just on the same level as the average guys (just not when they have make up on). It's a bit of a con when you think about it. Not much they can do when morning arrives though.

She looks MUCH better without all that make up imo. Would you not call that excessive? I certainly would.

Itwasntme.

Pug160 wrote: »

That's the one, yeah.

What you sometimes get are average looking girls making themselves look attractive and then only going for the good looking guys in bars and clubs, when in actual fact they're just on the same level as the average guys (just not when they have make up on). It's a bit of a con when you think about it. Not much they can do when morning arrives though.

I have friends who wait until they are convinced the boyfriend loves them for them before they show their 'face' to him. Basically, in the early stages of the relationship, they wear makeup to bed. Crazy but true.

awec

TimeToShine wrote: »

6'3 and 11 stone isn't lean, it's essentially underweight and malnourished.

Er, no it isnt.

A 6'3" man being 11 stone is probably the definition of lean.

Esoteric_

Itwasntme. wrote: »

I have friends who wait until they are convinced the boyfriend loves them for them before they show their 'face' to him. Basically, in the early stages of the relationship, they wear makeup to bed. Crazy but true.

I know a few women who do this. The only women I know who DON'T do this are myself and my younger sister. Wearing make up to bed ages your skin by 7 days for every night you do it. I'm not wrecking my skin, and clogging up my pores while I sleep.

Plus, I look pretty much the same with or without make up (although my eyes probably look more interesting with make up on), because I don't need to use a lot of it (I'm blessed with great skin and big eyes), but I would rather a bloke sees what I look like with no make up, hate it and decide to do a runner on week one rather than 6 months down the line, when it'd hurt.

Anyone who feels the need to wear make up to bed with a guy needs to work on their insecurities tbh.

Wibbs

Jenna Marbles? She's clearly a good looking/damned attractive woman, inteligent, plugged into the memeology and with a sense of humour?

Personally speaking and if I was *ahem* ten(make that 20 years) younger, I sooo would, minus the slap(and I'd love to see her as a brunette). Indeed I'd be so bet into her, that if anyone could remove me from her they could crown me King Arthur, king of the Britons.

Pug160

Czarcasm wrote: »

Pug you haven't seen "Bridesmaids"?

Ah no, I won't spoil it for you but it answers the bolded bit...

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

She looks MUCH better without all that make up imo. Would you not call that excessive? I certainly would.

Fair enough, it's subjective. But she looks quite plain at first (although certainly not ugly). In the second picture she would definitely get a lot more attention from guys in bars and clubs.

It's the same thing with Jordan - very plain without make up but looks much different when she's done up. It's obvious when a girl is not a natural beauty but my point remains. They can manufacture their looks. Sure, they might not be girls you'd bring home to meet your parents but they're not worried about that.

awec

Wibbs wrote: »

Jenna Marbles? She's clearly a good looking/damned attractive woman, inteligent, plugged into the memeology and with a sense of humour?

Personally speaking and if I was *ahem* ten(make that 20 years) younger, I sooo would, minus the slap(and I'd love to see her as a brunette). Indeed I'd be so bet into her, that if anyone could remove me from her they could crown me King Arthur, king of the Britons.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

Of all the options you had, you picked Jenna Marbles?

Get away out of it.

Czarcasm

Esoteric_ wrote: »

Maybe my opinion is a bit invalid because I'm female, but she doesn't look more attractive with that much make up. She looks like an average girl plastered in way too much make up.

Jesus I got about five seconds into it just now out of curiosity, couldn't hack the voice, that was enough, I couldn't wait around for the end result, but she's deffo by no means starting off as an ugly girl! It's a bit like the "ugly betty" nonsense- make her look dorky first and then do her up... ahh- "Ten things I hate about you", that's the film I was thinking of-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWmjzCZr0Jw

Itwasntme.

Wibbs wrote: »

Jenna Marbles? She's clearly a good looking/damned attractive woman, inteligent, plugged into the memeology and with a sense of humour?

Personally speaking and if I was *ahem* ten(make that 20 years) younger, I sooo would, minus the slap(and I'd love to see her as a brunette). Indeed I'd be so bet into her, that if anyone could remove me from her they could crown me King Arthur, king of the Britons.

:pac::pac: You got so taken with her Wibbs that you forgot to how to spell.

Esoteric_

Czarcasm wrote: »

Jesus I got about five seconds into it just now out of curiosity, couldn't hack the voice, that was enough, I couldn't wait around for the end result, but she's deffo by no means starting off as an ugly girl! It's a bit like the "ugly betty" nonsense- make her look dorky first and then do her up... ahh- "Ten things I hate about you", that's the film I was thinking of-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWmjzCZr0Jw

I'm sorry, I stopped paying attention when I saw Heath Ledger's face in the preview. You were saying?






*drools*

Legs.Eleven

Pug160 wrote: »

Fair enough, it's subjective. But she looks quite plain at first (although certainly not ugly). In the second picture she would definitely get a lot more attention from guys in bars and clubs.

It's the same thing with Jordan - very plain without make up but looks much different when she's done up. It's obvious when a girl is not a natural beauty but my point remains. They can manufacture their looks. Sure, they might not be girls you'd bring home to meet your parents but they're not worried about that.

I think Jordan was gorgeous without make up up till a few years ago. You are right though. Men talk about how much they don't like excessive amounts of make up but I see everyday of the week that they're the ones who'd attract the most attention on public transport.

Plus, I look pretty much the same with or without make up (although my eyes probably look more interesting with make up on), because I don't need to use a lot of it (I'm blessed with great skin and big eyes), but I would rather a bloke sees what I look like with no make up, hate it and decide to do a runner on week one rather than 6 months down the line, when it'd hurt.

I'd agree with you. I generally only wear a bit of mascara day to day as I'm blonde and have blonde eyelashes and I look better with it. I think the only time my boyfriend has seen me WITH a load of make up on was last Halloween as part of my costume although I'd wear more at weekends in the past few years (lipstick, thin layer of foundation). I like the idea that he fancies me for how I am naturally. If he never saw me without make up, I wouldn't be convinced he fancied me for me. I've always thought like that. The idea of never letting your boyfriend see you without make up is truly bonkers to me.

--LOS--

Not really getting the thread title, I think they are as popular as we think, I don't think it's very popular to like skinny girls at all, that's the feeling I get from reading here and elsewhere and from real life. Personally I prefer skinny girls........flat stomach, collar bones, hip-thigh gap and even better the hip-stomach gap like this best seen lying down.......http://i.imgur.com/iX31BO4.jpg and the hollow stripe down centre of stomach etc etc. But it's definitely not unpopular to like a bigger girl imo, an average girl wants to lose a bit of weight to be more toned/healthier and they're met with....what, you're fading away, ye don't need to do that and a lot worse abuse, while bigger girls are encouraged to feel good in their own skin.

beks101

Pug160 wrote: »

Fair enough, it's subjective. But she looks quite plain at first (although certainly not ugly). In the second picture she would definitely get a lot more attention from guys in bars and clubs.

It's the same thing with Jordan - very plain without make up but looks much different when she's done up. It's obvious when a girl is not a natural beauty but my point remains. They can manufacture their looks. Sure, they might not be girls you'd bring home to meet your parents but they're not worried about that.

I'd much rather be your definition of "plain" than look like Jordan any day of the week, thanks.

It's pretty damn easy to get attention in bars and clubs if that's your life goal, just pile on the slap, wear a barely there dress and some skyscraper heels and bob's your uncle. Do you think that's something women should aspire to?

jimbobaloobob

i think some aspire to that beks. Their motives might be questionable

But i aint judging

Smidge

The idea of never letting your boyfriend see you without make up is truly bonkers to me.[/QUOTE]

I knew a girl who would put fresh make up on going to bed with her boyfriend so that "when they woke up she would still look good" :eek:

Same girl would not burp, fart, use the bathroom or shower in front of him.

jimbobaloobob

Smidge wrote: »

The idea of never letting your boyfriend see you without make up is truly bonkers to me.

I knew a girl who would put fresh make up on going to bed with her boyfriend so that "when they woke up she would still look good" :eek:

Same girl would not burp, fart, use the bathroom or shower in front of him.[/QUOTE]

madness, it is what it is and all part of life.

I know a girl that wears makeup going swimming.

Smidge

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

[/B][/B]

I knew a girl who would put fresh make up on going to bed with her boyfriend so that "when they woke up she would still look good" :eek:

Same girl would not burp, fart, use the bathroom or shower in front of him.

madness, it is what it is and all part of life.

I know a girl that wears makeup going swimming.[/QUOTE]

I just find that very odd.

I'm not talking about an open door dump(that is ALWAYS unacceptable in every relationship by either party)

But burping?????????

Hate to break it to ya, but everyyone does it

jimbobaloobob

Smidge wrote: »

I'm not talking about an open door dump(that is ALWAYS unacceptable in every relationship by either party)

jaysus that gave me shivers:D

Smidge

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

jaysus that gave me shivers:D

Always a deal breaker by either party.
There are some sights, sounds and smells that should always be private

jimbobaloobob

Smidge wrote: »

Always a deal breaker by either party.
There are some sights, sounds and smells that should always be private

totally agree. my nose feels funny right now

Itwasntme.

Conclusion

Some guys like bigger girls, some girls like bigger girls;
Some people are secure in their choice of partner and others are not;
Some guys like slimmer girls, I haven't heard a girl on this thread echo the sentiment yet;
Some even like them really thin and others, really fat;
Size is relative but everybody knows what obese and anorexic look like. It's the middle that gets over 300 responses to a thread;
Women's sizes confuse most men;
Marilyn Monroe was NOT fat, this should be stickied on the AH thread list;
A gap is a thing. If you don't have one, wear a triangular shaped wedge to bed every night;
Hip to waist ratios are probably more important than body size up to a certain point but not for Wibbs;
Oh and if you have a 'relationship' with food, you're also not for Wibbs.

The end. I should probably go to bed.

IM0

Itwasntme. wrote: »

I have attached headless shots. He is one of the healthiest people I know. He eats mostly unprocessed food and a lot of it in addition to having a very active lifestyle. I think he is one of those people with an incredibly fast metabolism. Underweight? Yes but he certainly doesn't look it. Malnourished, I don't think so.

The second link is re: the different sizes and body types. In this photo I am both fat and skinny. You can't see my face but I look like death and under my top, my ribs are visible while my bottom half is still fat. People asked me if I was ill all the time and yet if you were looking at only my lower half, there was no way I could possibly be starving. But I was. I was running a lot and surviving on two weetabix a day in hot water with a banana and the occasional omelette just so I could get down to an 'ideal weight'.

People carry weight so differently and my ex and I are just two examples. He doesn't look underweight but BMI says he is just like I am both overweight and not at the same time.

you are what they call pear shaped, bigger hips with narrower shoulders. which is super attractive to me in general btw it also means you lay down your fat on your hips and not on your stomach which is waaaay healthier too. in essence youre approaching perfection! :pac:

jimbobaloobob

good summary

but im sure going to bed will bring up other questions on it

Itwasntme.

IM0 wrote: »

you are what they call pear shaped, bigger hips with narrower shoulders. which is super attractive to me in general btw it also means you lay down your fat on your hips and not on your stomach which is waaaay healthier too. in essence youre approaching perfection! :pac:

Haha. Past Itwasntme. says thanks. Current Itwasntme. is just overweight. On the upside, she doesn't look like a starving ethanopian in the face any more*.





*This is what I tell myself to feel better .

Norfolk Enchants

Itwasntme. wrote: »

Haha. Past Itwasntme. says thanks. Current Itwasntme. is just overweight. On the upside, she doesn't look like a starving ethanopian in the face any more*.





*This is what I tell myself to feel better .

Different cultures have differing views on the perfect woman. In western culture, our models tend to be extremely thin. Which can be sexy, depending on how the lady in question carries it.

But in reality, I think most western men go for a cute or pretty face. If shes curvy, skinny, or a lil overweight - we wont care. All about the face.

Oh and the triangular gap thing. Thats real. Growing up in Dublin in the late 90s/early 00s I regularly heard my peers claim 'check the hole in the wall over there'. What says I? They nod over and claim that 'shes gapped to the moon'.

It meant that she had a nice body and a nice but healthy, big oul ass.

An attractive body.

Honey-ec

leewarden wrote: »

Never heard of christina hendricks. I googled her and apart from the boobs which makes her look big, the rest of her is far from being a big girl

"Big" is a relative term, which is why I didn't use it. She's not big compared to someone like, say, Beth Ditto, clearly. But I do think she's overweight. As I said, she always wears industrial-strength underwear which pulls her in at the middle so her waist looks tiny (and anyone will tell you that having an hourglass figure generally tends to mean you can get away with carrying more weight than other body shapes and not look it because of the proportions), but looking at her upper arms, hips and calves (particularly in this photo http://redcfa.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Christina-Hendricks-In-LWren-Scott-41st-Annual-Peace-Over-Violence-Humanitarian-Awards.jpg), she looks like she's carrying extra weight to me.


Actually, I just found a picture of her without the Spanx & beautifully cut dresses, and to me, there's no denying that she's overweight - http://i.imgur.com/6S1cm.jpg

Whether or not you find her attractive or not is completely down to personal preference. I had simply used her as an examply of how curvy seems to be increasingly conflated with overweight. Imo, yes, she's curvy, there's no denying that, but she's also overweight.

seosamh1980

Honey-ec wrote: »

"Big" is a relative term, which is why I didn't use it. She's not big compared to someone like Beth Ditto, clearly. But looking I do think she's overweight. As I said, she always wears industrial-strength underwear which pulls her in at the middle so her waist looks tiny (and anyone will tell you that having an hourglass figure generally tends to mean you can get away with carrying more weight than other body shapes and not look it because of the proportions), but looking at her upper arms, hips and calves (particularly in this photo http://redcfa.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Christina-Hendricks-In-LWren-Scott-41st-Annual-Peace-Over-Violence-Humanitarian-Awards.jpg), she looks like she's carrying extra weight to me.


Actually, I just found a picture of her without the Spanx & beautifully cut dresses, and to me, there's no denying that she's overweight - http://i.imgur.com/6S1cm.jpg

Whether or not you find her attractive or not is completely down to personal preference. I had simply used her as an examply of how curvy seems to be increasingly conflated with overweight. Imo, yes, she's curvy, there's no denying that, but she's also overweight.

I agree with you. I watch Mad Men and when you see her moving around rather than in a photo her head is tiny compared to her body, she is overweight, shoved into seriously strong underwear, as you said.

Canis Lupus

Honey-ec wrote: »

"Big" is a relative term, which is why I didn't use it. She's not big compared to someone like, say, Beth Ditto, clearly. But I do think she's overweight. As I said, she always wears industrial-strength underwear which pulls her in at the middle so her waist looks tiny (and anyone will tell you that having an hourglass figure generally tends to mean you can get away with carrying more weight than other body shapes and not look it because of the proportions), but looking at her upper arms, hips and calves (particularly in this photo http://redcfa.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Christina-Hendricks-In-LWren-Scott-41st-Annual-Peace-Over-Violence-Humanitarian-Awards.jpg), she looks like she's carrying extra weight to me.


Actually, I just found a picture of her without the Spanx & beautifully cut dresses, and to me, there's no denying that she's overweight - http://i.imgur.com/6S1cm.jpg

Whether or not you find her attractive or not is completely down to personal preference. I had simply used her as an examply of how curvy seems to be increasingly conflated with overweight. Imo, yes, she's curvy, there's no denying that, but she's also overweight.

Holy crap she has let herself go since Firefly!

IM0

Honey-ec wrote: »

"Big" is a relative term, which is why I didn't use it. She's not big compared to someone like, say, Beth Ditto, clearly. But I do think she's overweight. As I said, she always wears industrial-strength underwear which pulls her in at the middle so her waist looks tiny (and anyone will tell you that having an hourglass figure generally tends to mean you can get away with carrying more weight than other body shapes and not look it because of the proportions), but looking at her upper arms, hips and calves (particularly in this photo http://redcfa.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Christina-Hendricks-In-LWren-Scott-41st-Annual-Peace-Over-Violence-Humanitarian-Awards.jpg), she looks like she's carrying extra weight to me.


Actually, I just found a picture of her without the Spanx & beautifully cut dresses, and to me, there's no denying that she's overweight - http://i.imgur.com/6S1cm.jpg

Whether or not you find her attractive or not is completely down to personal preference. I had simply used her as an examply of how curvy seems to be increasingly conflated with overweight. Imo, yes, she's curvy, there's no denying that, but she's also overweight.

no offence but youre a woman, you would say that and obviousy a skinnier one too why? because thats what all this ****e comes down to, women are in competition with each other to get their guy. so if they are less attractive then they will diss those that are a threat to their guy by putting them down, its [[admittedly ****ed up] human/animal nature and the sooner guys realise this the sooner they will be more comfortable going for what their instincts are actually attracted to rather than what other guys and especially women friends and media will tell them subconsciously

they need to grow a pair basically

Esoteric_

IM0 wrote: »

no offence but youre
a woman, you would say that and obviousy a skinnier one too why?
because thats what all this ****e comes down to, women are in
competition with each other to get their guy. so if they are less
attractive then they will diss those that are a threat to their guy by
putting them down, its [[admittedly ****ed up] human/animal nature and
the sooner guys realise this the sooner they will be more comfortable
going for what their instincts are actually attracted to rather than
what other guys and especially women friends and media will tell them
subconsciously

they need to grow a pair basically

Rubbish. While I think the lady posted is very attractive, she is quite clearly carrying extra weight. It's got nothing to do with fighting off competition for men, because shockingly enough, I don't feel insecure enough to diss how a woman looks just to get a man, and I doubt many other rational, self assured women feel that need, either.

IM0

Esoteric_ wrote: »

Rubbish. While I think the lady posted is very attractive, she is quite clearly carrying extra weight. It's got nothing to do with fighting off competition for men, because shockingly enough, I don't feel insecure enough to diss how a woman looks just to get a man, and I doubt many other rational, self assured women feel that need, either.

look she carries her weight around her hips, she is not over weight. if she had that weight around her stomach and as a belly then we might have some common ground. if it was there then she would be unhealthy too. over weight means **** all if you dont know about where the weight is distributed and the consequences of health on where is it. also look at her arms, shes not over weight certainly no excess fat there, just like itwasntme pic earlier she was a beautifull pear shape.

in simple terms:

weight on hips = good and healthy aka pear shaped

weight on stomach [aka belly] = bad not healthy leading to obesity and potentially fatal [fat around the organs is what matters in this, thats the killer, and where are the organs located, hips?, thighs is it?

YOU are in fact talking rubbish, but youre allowed an opinion unfortunately

seosamh1980

IM0 wrote: »

look she carries her weight around her hips, she is not over weight. if she had that weight around her stomach and as a belly then we might have some common ground. if it was there then she would be unhealthy too. over weight means **** all if you dont know about where the weight is distributed and the consequences of health on where is it.

in simple terms:

weight on hips = good and healthy

weight on stomach [aka belly] = bad not healthy and potentially fatal

Either way, she doesn't look good with the weight, regardless of where it is. She looks like she's stuffed into everything she wears.

--Kaiser--

It's hard to tell whether she's overweight or not....but her head does look tiny!

seosamh1980

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

It's hard to tell whether she's overweight or not....but her head does look tiny!

Maybe all this is a big fuss over nothing and she just has an abnormally small head making her look out of proportion :P

dark crystal

seosamh1980 wrote: »

Either way, she doesn't look good with the weight, regardless of where it is. She looks like she's stuffed into everything she wears.

I guess Esquire magazine didn't agree with you when they voted her sexiest woman alive.

seosamh1980

dark crystal wrote: »

I guess Esquire magazine didn't agree with you when they voted her sexiest woman alive.

Other women that have been voted as sexiest by other magazines are Tulisa, Helen Flanagan, and Louise Redknapp to name a few. I know Esquire is a bit better but still, not everyone has to think someone is sexy for them to be voted sexiest alive. Whether she's sexy or not isn't what I was talking about, I'm saying she's a bit overweight, sexiness is defined differently by different people.

IM0

seosamh1980 wrote: »

She looks like she's stuffed into everything she wears.

so do all women who wear tight clothing, and if your going by mad men and not the photo above then she probably is wearing a corsett in that show which is designed btw to squeeze your trunk to help give the appearance that a woman has an hourglass shape

Czarcasm

While the question in the OP asks "Bigger Girls: Are they more popular than we think?", and everyone has given opinions on how attractive or not they are and the dangers of obesity, etc, I think by that same token we should surely also be looking at the idea of "thinspiration" or the culture and ideals surrounding the pro-anorexia movement, which is at the other extreme of the scale (no pun intended) and IMO at least, just as damaging both socially and from a health point of view as obesity-


http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-ana

IM0

bottom line people, unless you are on either end of the bellcurve/spectrum then you are grand usually the problem comes when the person starts to view themselves as being FAT and not just psychologically but literally! studies have been done and there have been docs on the bbc about this sort of stuff. if you are annorexic you will litterally see yourself as heavier than you actually are :eek:

its scary in many ways and is a very serious mental illness to have

laoch na mona

Czarcasm wrote: »

While the question in the OP asks "Bigger Girls: Are they more popular than we think?", and everyone has given opinions on how attractive or not they are and the dangers of obesity, etc, I think by that same token we should surely also be looking at the idea of "thinspiration" or the culture and ideals surrounding the pro-anorexia movement, which is at the other extreme of the scale (no pun intended) and IMO at least, just as damaging both socially and from a health point of view as obesity-


http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-ana

just as damaging ya but much less of a problem then obosity

Ilyana 2.0

It's no wonder that women (and men, to a lesser extent) end up with eating disorders, when our bodies are examined and dissected to see if we match up to conventional ideas of beauty and attractiveness.

I've been reading over this thread and, after nearly 350 responses, I'm really none the wiser about what men find attractive in women (in a general sense). I'm short with a size 12 hourglass shape - narrow waist, big boobs, big hips and a big bottom, but I do carry some weight on my stomach as well. I'm not skinny, but am I a bigger girl? Am I fat? I really don't know, and all this discussion about women's figures isn't conducive to positive body image either.

My boyfriend tells me that I'm not fat, and I was actually even bigger when I met him. But by society's standards, I haven't a notion what I am really.

stoneill

Ilyana 2.0 wrote: »

I'm short with a size 12 hourglass shape - narrow waist, big boobs, big hips and a big bottom, .

Giggity giggity!

Ilyana 2.0

Ilyana 2.0 wrote: »

It's no wonder that women (and men, to a lesser extent) end up with eating disorders, when our bodies are examined and dissected to see if we match up to conventional ideas of beauty and attractiveness.

I've been reading over this thread and, after nearly 350 responses, I'm really none the wiser about what men find attractive in women (in a general sense). I'm short with a size 12 hourglass shape - narrow waist, big boobs, big hips and a big bottom, but I do carry some weight on my stomach as well. I'm not skinny, but am I a bigger girl? Am I fat? I really don't know, and all this discussion about women's figures isn't conducive to positive body image either.

My boyfriend tells me that I'm not fat, and I was actually even bigger when I met him. But by society's standards, I haven't a notion what I am really.

Funny thing is, I've found that it has proved that there is no standard, and there is no general preference.

Some will think I'm slim and gorgeous, some will think I'm curvy and gorgeous, some will think I'm a bit fat and gorgeous, some will think I'm simply horrible whether they think I'm slim, curvy, or fat!

But yeh, our bodies are constantly critiqued but I am absolutely of the opinion that women have a much bigger issue with women's bodies than men do.

Ilyana 2.0

Deleted User wrote: »

Funny thing is, I've found that it has proved that there is no standard, and there is no general preference.

Some will think I'm slim and gorgeous, some will think I'm curvy and gorgeous, some will think I'm a bit fat and gorgeous, some will think I'm simply horrible whether they think I'm slim, curvy, or fat!

But yeh, our bodies are constantly critiqued but I am absolutely of the opinion that women have a much bigger issue with women's bodies than men do.

Yeah I agree, there is definitely a huge variation in what men consider to be attractive in women. I'm not everyone's cup of tea, but there's probably no woman alive or dead who is/was.

I especially agree with the part in bold; men will look at a woman and think 'yes' or 'no'. But we look at ourselves so critically, it's unbelievable. Among my friends, most of whom are good looking girls with nice figures, nearly all of them want to change something about themselves. And I'm definitely the same.

Ilyana 2.0

Ilyana 2.0 wrote: »

. I'm not everyone's cup of tea,

It took me a long time to understand that too, thank feck I'm grown up now and don't really care any more (well, I care to an extent which is natural I think), but when I was younger I didn't get the whole "different folks" idea, I wanted to be perfect, if I was perfect then surely everyone would find me attractive right? Wrong.

I realised I will never be perfect, but more than that, I realised that there is no such thing as perfect and once I copped on to that, I suddenly liked what I saw in the mirror a whole lot more. I still would change soooooo many things, but now I see the good aswell as the bad.

Ilyana 2.0

Deleted User wrote: »

It took me a long time to understand that too, thank feck I'm grown up now and don't really care any more (well, I care to an extent which is natural I think), but when I was younger I didn't get the whole "different folks" idea, I wanted to be perfect, if I was perfect then surely everyone would find me attractive right? Wrong.

I realised I will never be perfect, but more than that, I realised that there is no such thing as perfect and once I copped on to that, I suddenly liked what I saw in the mirror a whole lot more. I still would change soooooo many things, but now I see the good aswell as the bad.

Perfection is an impossible standard, I know that now!

Once I'm happy with myself, and my boyfriend is happy with me, that's all that really matters. I've got lumps and bumps galore, but if I was to try please every man's taste, sure I'd need surgical intervention :pac: