Body Image - Reaction and Response to Outside Views

Had an interesting experience the other day... I was in the grocery store and I passed a group of 4 young men in the wine aisle. Everyone made their polite "excuse me"s as we maneuvered past each other. One of them happened to say it in a mildly flirtatious tone. I did not mind, however I did not engage him either. Once I was on the other side of the shelves though, I could plainly hear his friends teasing him, "Really dude, you're gonna go for skinny girls now?" Wow... Where to begin on the rush of thoughts that went through my mind... First, I was annoyed that they were critiquing me as if I wasn't there.Hello! I'm on the other side of the shelves! And they are short, I cannot only hear you, I can still see you for Pete's sake!! At least have the decency to wait until I'm out of ear shot before you objectify me! Next, I felt defensive for being called "skinny", and in such context to infer that I am too thin and there for undesirable. I wanted to walk up to them and shout, "I am NOT skinny! I am FIT! I'm a professional dancer and a yoga instructor. Moreover, I am naturally slender, my body doesn't take on weight. This does not mean I am anorexic! I am petite and curvy in my own way! Beautiful because I say so!" No, I didn't cause a public scene. Maybe I should have, but even I'm not that bold. As I was leaving though, I realized something... This is what a lot of my thicker-bodied sisters go through. And they don't just receive this treatment from men, but from other women, the media and even themselves. I've experienced this kind of size-ism from women before, but this was the first time I'd really felt it like this. So clear, crass and no one could just blow it of as "envy". At the same time, how different (almost refreshing) to find a group of men that are obviously proud of their preference for thick women. Their chauvinistic bullshit aside, its good to see that young men aren't all obsessed with Barbie-doll clones as the fashion mags and plastic surgeons would have us believe. There has to be a middle ground here though. Body Image Acceptance has to go both ways! No one should have to endure sweeping judgements against them based on body type, age, color, etc. Big or small, thin or thick, curvy or slender, all humans are beautiful, valuable and deserving of love! #beautifulbecauseIsayso