Earlier this year, the new size “00” was introduced. Retailers argue the size was created in response to consumer demand. America is a country of women of all sizes, but one is left to ask whether there are enough women to make retailers create an entirely new size.
Foxnews.com interviewed a young professional who found a hard time finding clothing that fit her petite frame. The 5’4” and 105 pound 25-year-old was shopping in children’s departments because size 0 did not fit.
There seems to be a sizing trend among retailers called “vanity sizing,” which happens when stores cut clothes larger so women can buy them at smaller sizes and feel better about their bodies.
It is hard to believe that retailers actually care about the self-esteem of its shoppers. Instead, it is more likely they are concerned about profits and the merchandise sold in their stores.
One may ask why women would feel better about buying smaller sizes. Americans are obsessed with their weight and image. Past sensational diets and weight loss plans started frenzies throughout the country such as the low-carbohydrate craze and the South Beach Diet.
The media is one of the most powerful entities in our society. Its powerful influence is often described as a “hypodermic needle”. It suggests that we are susceptible to things in media and we adapt these beliefs without realizing it.
With such erroneous portrayals of women and weight in the media, one can’t help but wonder the effect it has on young girls. Adolescence is a trying experience, but with the added pressures of conforming to society’s image of beauty, it can be quite dramatic.
Young women are not the only victims of this epidemic. Silently, some young men compare themselves to buff male models in advertisements, magazines, and even their own peers.
Everyone goes though an awkward period. With the effects of media today, this period can be prolonged and turned into a serious problem in the development of self image.
Some cultures consider heavier women the epitome of beauty. The size of beauty is becoming more diminutive with the creation of the new size “00.” A person should not be judged by their body image. We cannot move forward as a society if we continually take two steps back by judging one another.