1 post tagged “discrimination”
Why is it that I can never find the clothes I want to wear? I'm tall with big hips, right? Thick thighs, big butt, the whole thing. (thanks, Mom :) ) Obviously, some trends are not meant for me, such as the brightly colored skinny jeans trend, the leggings-as-pants trend, etc. But I think I'm being oppressed by the miniskirt.
I used to have this really cute denim skirt. Stonewashed, straight until the knee where it flared out just a little, to give it a very polished look. I rocked this skirt to no end. Last year, after four years, I finally, reluctantly, gave it up to my little sister, because it no longer fit. Then I started the search for my next denim skirt.
None of the major stores were doing denim skirts. If they were, they were like 3 inches long and just barely covered my behind. So I went online. Searched EVERYWHERE. Nothing. The only other style available was the pencil skirt, which I wasn't even going to try, for obvious reasons. I couldn't believe it: I was like " Is nobody making skirts for girls like me who don't wear miniskirts? Am I not a consumer worthy of catering to?"
Now, I understand that the miniskirt was part of the whole women's liberation, sexual revolution, whatever. It challenged norms, symbolized women sticking it to the Man, etc. etc. But why has it suddenly become a means of oppression to girls who are not a size zero? I don't have the legs for a miniskirt. People may disagree with that, but still, I am not a person who willingly shows off her legs to the world. I live in jeans, knee-length skirts, and the occasional long skirt. I know I'm not the only person with my body type. So why can't I find clothes for my body type at any of the stores? Isn't the point of retailing to provide the things that people want? I'm not a plus-size, but that doesn't mean I can rock a miniskirt without looking ridiculous. I'm a consumer - the retailers are supposed to be catering to ME. But they're not. They're catering to the small proportion of the female population who like to wear miniskirts. The retailers are pretty much saying if you can't wear a miniskirt, you're not hip, or trendy, or cool, and that's your loss.
Now, other women have gone all "Well, I'm jst going to make my own clothes." Unfortunately, I don't have that option. I'm a pre-med Biology major, trying to get into medical school in the US as an international - I don't have TIME to make my own clothes. So I have no other option but the retailers. And all they do is throw their damn miniskirts in my face and say "Wait till next season." My figure isn't "in" right now, so I get kicked to the wayside to make way for skinnier, leggier girls.
Another thing: the skinny jean. How come the only skinny jeans available in the stores are "slim fit"? Did they never stop to think that girls with big butts would actually want to wear skinny jeans? They say that it doesn't flatter my figure, but I LIKE skinny jeans. As long as I wear a top that covers my butt, I'm fine. I can't find any skinny jeans that fit me, and if they do, they're plastered with Baby Phat or Apple Bottoms logos in sequinned lettering. I DON'T WANT SEQUINS ON MY BUTT.
I may be the only person in the world who feels this way, but I'm going to make enough noise for the world to hear.
STOP CATERING TO THE FEW WOMEN WHOSE FIGURES FIT YOUR IDEA OF BEAUTY. MAKE CLOTHES FOR ALL WOMEN. A SIZE 12 MINISKIRT IS NOT THE ANSWER.
(On a side note, I'm moving to Wordpress. Will link you to the new blog soon.)
