Real Women
In the past couple days I have noticed what seems to be a new trend in the knitting world - books focused on plus-size patterns. This is a great idea. Not all women are model skinny and there's a need for larger size patterns. Though I am fairly skinny, I understand the frustration that larger women must feel in not being able to find any patterns for garments that they can actually make for themselves. Being tall, I have the same frustration in finding pants that are long enough for me, but that's a different story. This frustration can add to their negative self-image built from the media's portrayal of how women should look. Women of all sizes should embrace who they are and be equally accepted by others and by themselves.
That said, there is one aspect of these books that irritates me. Both titles include the descriptor, "For Real Women." Hmm, plus size patterns. For real women. The assumption made in advertising that all women are skinny is not positive; it's even insulting. Maybe I'm being too nitpicky, but isn't this doing the same thing in reverse?
If these books contained patterns in a wide variety of sizes, demonstrating the broad range of women's sizes, this descriptor would be great. Real Women - we come in many sizes! However, the actual use of this phrase just irks me.
I am skinny. I am a real woman too.
Genevieve said:
Using the phrase "real women" for plus-sized women *is* doing the same thing in reverse.
If we didn't live in such a damn politically correct society then maybe we'd be able use the word "large" or hell, even curvy or voluptuous instead of "real".
Posted on August 6, 2005 01:20 PMEmy said:
True...but at the same time, if the "average" American woman is something like 5'4", 150 lbs, and about a size 14, why is it that the majority of knitting patterns are written for women smaller than that?
I saw a couple of interesting articles on this topic recently.
Melodie said:
You are completely right. Women are "real" women, no matter what size they are. I'm not the average woman, nor is anyone else I know average. Average to me describes a movie, or a meal - it doesn't describe a person. It's all media hype. And it's crap!!
Posted on August 9, 2005 04:55 PMalison said:
Emy, I read those articles and I agree with them totally.
"It is our belief that beauty comes in different shapes, sizes and ages," said Philippe Harousseau, Dove's marketing director on the "Campaign for Real Beauty." "Our mission is to make more women feel beautiful every day by broadening the definition of beauty."
That is what I am saying. If these books also had a wide variety of shapes and sizes, I think "real women" would be a perfect descriptor. I just don't care for the fact that anyone would use the term "real women" for only a fraction (however large or small that fraction) of society. Shifting the framework while still excluding others does nothing to progress understanding and acceptance of everyone.
These knitting books are a great idea. Their slogan is not.
Posted on August 9, 2005 05:15 PM