Within the last few years, we’ve seen an increasing number of people online and offline discussing body positivity. Whether that’s people learning to love their bodies as they are or at the very least viewing it neutrally and undoing their negative beliefs, the body positivity movement has made an incredible impact on people. I will admit that there are some negatives, however, for the most part, it has been really refreshing to see – especially given the inclusion of mid-size bodies.
wHAT IS CONSIDERED MIDSIZE?
Typically, it includes those of us who don’t fit into sample sizes (UK 6-10) or in plus sizes (UK 18 and above). Although I’m at the smaller end, being mid-size and petite has meant that finding clothes that fit properly has always been a nightmare for me and for many other AFAB people with similar body types. Given that the average woman in the UK is a size 16, it’s truly shocking that it has taken this long for our bodies to be catered to. Even more so when you find out that only 20% of clothing is made for those of us who wear sizes UK 12-18.
Why are size 16 and 18s largely forgotten by designers and brands, shamefully hidden at the back of stores, if you can find them there at all?
Jenny Brownlees, High Life North
The joys of inclusivity
The mid-size movement came to my attention, like a lot of things do nowadays, through Tiktok. Looking through the #Midsize hashtag, I saw how many women had rallied together to call out the fashion industry’s exclusionary nature, sharing tips and tricks with other midsize women, and having extremely valuable conversations about how important inclusivity is in fashion.
It’s very easy for people who fit into sample sizes to say “just lose some weight” (as if it’s as simple as clicking our fingers) but what do you expect us to wear until then? Not that people should feel forced into changing their bodies if they don’t want to, of course. It’s an issue that lies not only within the fashion industry but within our wider society; in a world where being smaller and taking up less space as a woman is praised, so many of us are forced to conform to those beliefs or be cast aside. Seeing women fight back against these outdated, patriarchal views is inspiring and gives me so much hope for the future of fashion.
Whilst we may have it considerably easier than our plus-sized siblings, which could be an entire article in itself, seeing a community of people that share my struggles and look like me meant a lot. All bodies are beautiful, worthy of respect, and they deserve to be catered to – and that’s what this movement is about.