Yesterday’s post about the problematic phrase ‘real women‘ sparked a fascinating and challenging debate on Twitter about the language we use to describe – and categorise – women’s bodies.
If we abandon the phrase ‘real’ women, what term do we use instead? If women can’t just be women – and let’s face it, we’ve still a long way to go before we overturn the domination of the ultra-slim, ultra-preened, ultra-airbrushed aesthetic – what phrase can we use instead to describe – not normal – but more representative women?
Real doesn’t work because, though it no doubt has good intentions, it just champions another aesthetic over another. We’re sick of being pitted against other women: celebrating curvy shouldn’t mean demonising skinny, as much as liking black doesn’t mean you have to hate white. We want new rules, and a language that is as celebratory as it is inclusive.
After a long debate, we had it. We want Healthy And Happy women.
Of course, HAH women can be curvy. They can also be straight. They can be tall, short, fat, thin, big boobed, small boobed, fake boobed, no boobed or one boobed. It doesn’t matter, because none of that matters. For far too long, women have been judged by looks first, everything else second. And it’s absurd. The amazing genetic lottery of the way we look is not even a fraction of our total selves and worth. Health and happiness, however, are really things to celebrate. Comparing our bodies to others’ and being judged on the way we look are not. In fact, they are the main things holding us back.
Will any brand champion HAH beauty?
Busts 4 Justice 