What is “plus size” anyway?
Glamour magazine has published a “Special Edition” all-plus-sized issue in collaboration with retailer Lane Bryant. Awesome, right? Ashley Graham is on the cover – also awesome. But so is Amy Schumer’s name – and she’s not too happy about it. Schumer took to Instagram to issue a statement:
“I think there’s nothing wrong with being plus size. Beautiful healthy women. Plus size is considered size 16 in America. I go between a size 6 and an 8. @glamourmag put me in their plus size only issue without asking or letting me know and it doesn’t feel right to me. Young girls seeing my body type thinking that is plus size? What are your thoughts? Mine are not cool glamour not glamourous.”
What are MY thoughts? Oh Amy, I’m so glad you asked. But first, let’s consult that paragon of knowledge, THE INTERNET. Research time, nerds!
Wikipedia defines “plus size clothing” as “a euphemistic term given to clothing proportioned specifically for people whose bodies are larger than the average person’s.” Oh, “Euphemism.” That sounds great. Second part: “people whose bodies are larger than the average person’s.” Okay, now according to PLUS Model Magazine, “plus size” refers to size 12-14 and up. Finally, according to WebMD (the people who tell you that your papercut is cancer): “Today, the average American woman is 5’4″, has a waist size of 34-35 inches and weighs between 140-150 lbs, with a dress size of 12-14.”
In summary, “Plus-size” means “larger than an average person.” “Plus size” means 12-14. The “average woman” wears a size 12-14. How is the average woman somehow larger than the average woman? Beep beep does not compute!
Now, there’s no telling what Glamour has to say about Schumer on the inside of the magazine, or in what context she’s being mentioned aside from “Women Who Inspire Us.” No one is debating that Schumer is a national treasure; she’s mentioned alongside another doubtless inspirational woman frequently referred to as euphemistically “plus-sized:” Adele. But is Adele even plus-sized? Just this spring, she told Vogue about her recent weight loss: “I was trying to get a bit of stamina for my tour,” she says, “so I lost a bit of weight. Now I fit into normal, off-the-shelf clothes…” So, technically, Adele isn’t plus sized, and neither is Schumer. What’s going on, Glamour?
So, what is “plus-sized” anymore?
Calling women who are below-“average” sized “plus sized” invalidates the existence of actual plus-sized women. It trivializes the realities of things like concern-trolling, body-policing, and all the various ways society seeks to shame women over their size.
So, those are my thoughts, Amy, and I’m so glad you asked. Do you think Glamour crossed a line? Do you think Amy Schumer is justified in getting upset? What do you think?
top image: Pirelli calendar
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