Tag: taxonomy

Not sure if you're familiar with this conflict, but there is a war on words in a particular sector of the fashion industry. There is this vicious cycle where 14+ women don't want to utilize the term "plus-size" when they discuss clothing and themselves, and yet are stuck using this term, because other explanatory choices have found their way to offend. Bigger women (and most likely men too) want a term that will give voice to their needs, while still empowering them to look for fashionable items that will make them shine. Some women have given up the hard fight altogether, because they’re made to believe that they shouldn’t bother; and then there are those truly beautiful “curvy” bloggers, with hundreds of OOTD (outfit of the day) posts under their belts, that took up the mantle (multiple puns intended,) and give an incredible fight to show that beauty is everywhere. And it simply is. A fight. Here are some general reasons for not wanting to use the term, “plus size”: 10 is considered a plus size in many circles, simply because it takes two digits to make that number, so the term really isn’t accurately descriptive; Concurrently, there isn't a specific term for sizing under 10 (though I have heard "straight size" or "regular" on occasion.) Since there is a true abundance of clothing created in sizing under 10, there isn't a need for classification. You don’t have to go into any random clothing store and ask, “Do you sell clothes?” and hope to find even one article that will fit. Though if you’re "above average," and not familiar with a particular brand and have high hopes, you will go into that clothes store and ask, “Do you sell plus-sizes?” There is a contention there, an unfortunate embarrassment for many, for having to ask if something will fit bigger. And there's the rub. The segregation from not being able to choose clothing from any random store has created the abnormal classification, ie "plus size"; And honestly, what woman of any size wants to subjugate themselves to a term that emphasizes their size #? When I introduce myself as a “plus-size blogger”, I’m knowingly putting a random, irrelevant number before who I am as a person to explain a subject that I love discussing. Fashion should be all about personal style and freedom of expression, not what # that happens to be on your garment tag. And as much as I wish I could walk out of any store I like with multiple bags in hand, the kind that could possibly make TheHubs tear up inside once the credit card bill comes in, I can’t. I have a category; one that needs a name. One particular term that concerns me greatly is “real woman”. In context, I’ve been told more and more recently that BrandX has sizes for real women. BrandY has real women in mind when they design. BrandZ knows how hard it is for real women to find fashionable clothes, and they want to help. They want to help. The only fake woman out there is Barbie, and that’s because she’s plastic. She’s make-believe. If you’re reading this, and you have an XX chromosome, you are a real woman. Please, if you work in the plus-size industry and you want to help, please stop using the term “real woman.” It makes me want to tattoo disclaimers and apologies on my skin; it’s not a nice term and needs to be nipped and tucked away. Another term that has me more confused than concerned is “curvy.” Just like every woman is real, every woman has curves, so do men for that matter (even if they'd prefer we call it "angles".) We’re not made of straight lines, and it only took me just one day of art class to figure that one out. One could, and has, argued that plus-sized women’s curves are more pronounced, but I know a few non-plus sized women out there that are bustier than I. In some ways, it’s quite the epitome of “curvy.” So it too has caused feelings to be hurt, though in the grand scheme of things, it’s a term that I wish could be accepted by all. The one term that is seemingly acceptable is "Full Figured". Heck, its a term I use on my site often, but even then it has this connotation that those under 14+ have less of a figure. Its distressing. And I can't help but wonder if we're "not allowed" any of these terms, simply because we didn't ask first. We adopted "real woman", "curvy" and "full figured" as our own without discourse, and there are people out there that want those terms back. We plus-sized people need a term that is acceptable on all fronts. Something stylish, trendy, fashionable, something akin to the clothes we fight to wear. Unfortunately, like everyone else in the industry, I don’t have an answer; but I have hope that we'll have a widely acceptable classification soon. Until then, I'm personally going to use "plus sized", "curvy" and "full figured", and will continue to cringe when someone in sales tries to empower my purchase and their commission with the term "real woman," (as I honestly can't think of any fellow bloggers who uses that particular term themselves.) And for any "Real Women" offended, I'm sorry.

augmenting reality

augmenting reality

Tag: taxonomy

I feel the need to apologize to all "Real Women" out there...

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