Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > Fashion and Beauty
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 08-26-2012, 04:55 PM
 
Location: Boston
701 posts, read 1,555,399 times
Reputation: 1029

Advertisements

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lilly1224 View Post
I'm Black American and naturally a size 2. I however notice that people tend to laud thin Asian and White women, but seem to take offense when Black women are thin as well. It's almost like, they expect every black woman to have thick thighs, a big behind and huge breasts. I'm just curious if anyone else has noticed this general attitude towards Black women? Why is it that thin black women are shunned, while thin Asian and White women are viewed as prizes?
I feel your pain because I'm a Black Latina and I'm the same size as you, naturally, but I've never met anyone who's told me that I should be bigger/thicker. Not even random Black guys on the street.

My family, on the other hand, has been known to praise my figure to my face and talk mess behind my back. Dominican women are supposed to petite and thick, but I'm neither...and nor is most of my family for that matter, but I'm too skinny. When I finally graduated from a rectangle to having some measure of hips at 16, my great-aunt exclaimed, "Oh! So you finally have hips now?" I'll never forget that.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 08-26-2012, 04:59 PM
 
Location: Bethesda, MD
734 posts, read 929,806 times
Reputation: 439
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pear Martini View Post
No..but they have the opposite problem. White women are the largest group with anorexia and bulimia. They have pressure to be skinny...while other groups have pressure to be "womanly".

White women in US with beyonce or shakira figures are rarely celebrated...it's only the slim ones with little or no muscle definition. It must suck to be one of the people who constantly see any little bit of extra meet on them as fat.

Why is it less 'womanly,' to be thin? I know you didn't mean to offend, but your statement is exactly what I was eluding to when I created this thread.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-26-2012, 05:03 PM
 
Location: Up North
3,426 posts, read 8,871,681 times
Reputation: 3126
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitten01 View Post
I am an AA woman as well and I have noticed this, but only among other African Americans...men in particular.

I used to be a lot heavier (size 14) than I am now at a size 4". I got sick and tired of being fat and out of shape, so after my last child I decided to get the weight off. What should have been a positive experience turned negative because of comments I got from friends and family. I can't tell you how many told me that I shouldn't get too thin because "black women are supposed to be bigger". I think thats the biggest crock of sh*t I've ever heard in my life. I was/am married and my hubby loves me at the size I am now, especially. However, other black men in my life told me that if I got too small my hubby would leave me because "black men like their women thick" and "only white women should be skinny".

Thank God I didn't listen to any of those idiots, otherwise I might be a size 20 by now. Unfortunately, a lot of black women buy into the hype, which is one of the reasons heart disease and diabetes is so prevalent among African American women.

Keep eating healthy/exercising to maintain your size as long as YOU are happy.

WOW! That's insane. I think being healthy and fit is the ideal for women of all races. All women look better and even glow when they workout and don't put garbage in their bodies. I'm sure all of the men in your comment would drool over an hour glass figure over a size 20 probably quite unhealthy woman.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-26-2012, 05:04 PM
 
2,094 posts, read 3,637,340 times
Reputation: 2295
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pitt Chick View Post
I have never seen a person offended by a thin black woman.
I haven't either.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-26-2012, 05:06 PM
 
Location: Up North
3,426 posts, read 8,871,681 times
Reputation: 3126
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lilly1224 View Post
Why is it less 'womanly,' to be thin? I know you didn't mean to offend, but your statement is exactly what I was eluding to when I created this thread.

Womanly may have been a poor choice. I guess curvy is more accurate. It difficult using the word curvy since many people use the word as a polite way or gentle on the ego way to say fat.

But..curvy...like Shakira and Beyonce bodies.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-26-2012, 05:09 PM
 
Location: Bethesda, MD
734 posts, read 929,806 times
Reputation: 439
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunkisses87 View Post
And I know this. I know I definitely have to change my eating. Did you eat a certain amount of calories, or you just changed how you were eating without counting calories, etc?
You don't have to count calories when you're consuming fresh fruits, veggies, healthy fats (olive oil, coconut oil, nuts/seeds), non processed whole grains, lean (non fried) meats/fish, and water. When you consume these foods, you can eat as much as you want. Most people that consume very healthy diets however, have no need to over-eat, because the fiber will fill you up quickly, and virtually eliminate your desire to consume more food. Also, when you consume natural foods, the body starts to naturally crave it, in lieu of the unhealthy sugary/processed foods.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-26-2012, 05:23 PM
 
Location: Bethesda, MD
734 posts, read 929,806 times
Reputation: 439
Quote:
Originally Posted by silverbelles View Post
I feel your pain because I'm a Black Latina and I'm the same size as you, naturally, but I've never met anyone who's told me that I should be bigger/thicker. Not even random Black guys on the street.

My family, on the other hand, has been known to praise my figure to my face and talk mess behind my back. Dominican women are supposed to petite and thick, but I'm neither...and nor is most of my family for that matter, but I'm too skinny. When I finally graduated from a rectangle to having some measure of hips at 16, my great-aunt exclaimed, "Oh! So you finally have hips now?" I'll never forget that.
I think there's more pressure placed on Black women to be bigger/thicker, irrespective of their cultural heritage. I wonder if White Latinas experience the same treatment...
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-26-2012, 05:32 PM
 
1,084 posts, read 1,839,484 times
Reputation: 824
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lilly1224 View Post
I just wish that black women didn't have the curvy/big butt stereotype. Thin/skinny black women tend to be shunned, while big bottom black women are praised. The same is not true for white and Asian women. You stated that when you were a size 4, you received a lot of flack from people. Why do you suppose they had an issue with your weight?
Because I lost some of my a** honestly, and my legs were smaller. They just liked me better when I was bigger. They thought I didn't look as good thin.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-26-2012, 05:34 PM
 
1,084 posts, read 1,839,484 times
Reputation: 824
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lilly1224 View Post
You don't have to count calories when you're consuming fresh fruits, veggies, healthy fats (olive oil, coconut oil, nuts/seeds), non processed whole grains, lean (non fried) meats/fish, and water. When you consume these foods, you can eat as much as you want. Most people that consume very healthy diets however, have no need to over-eat, because the fiber will fill you up quickly, and virtually eliminate your desire to consume more food. Also, when you consume natural foods, the body starts to naturally crave it, in lieu of the unhealthy sugary/processed foods.
Thank you! I agree and used to eat that way. I admit when I was pregnant, I started eating badly(lots of junk and sweets) and have tried to nip it in the bud, but haven't really. I'm still breastfeeding my son, and I always crave sweets. I have a craving for chocolate everyday.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-26-2012, 06:07 PM
 
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
542 posts, read 1,095,464 times
Reputation: 666
I was made fun of by other black girls when i was growing up because i was skinny. It's funny when i talk to my white friends about how it's like opposite world when it comes to weight and the black community.

I've been told: that I will never get a boyfriend cause i don't have meat on my bones, that i have chicken legs, that i need to eat, etc. This was as a teenager in h.s. when i was a size 3 juniors. I've even had people tell me not to worry, i'll get fat after i reach 30 or after i have kids.

It's not as bad now, but i do get the "you need meat on your bones" comment occasionally til this day. I'm over 40 and i have gained weight and i have a child. I'm a 6 now, but apparently, that's still too skinny for some people. I've learned over the years to love my size.

My sisters have experienced this too, as our family is genetically inclined to be on the slim side.

I guess i say all of that to say is the only person that has to find your size acceptable is you. I finally figured that out in my late 20's and i haven't felt awkward about my size since.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > Fashion and Beauty
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top