Once upon a time, "skinny" was a bad word

Khukhullatus

It's interesting hearing from so many people. I think it's rarely if ever that I have heard the word skinny used as anything other than a compliment.

Pupslice

I remember seeing ads in comic books in the 1970s that said "skinny men and women are not attractive!". We went from that to "heroin chic" where the same body types from the 70s ads were held up as desireable in the 1990s. Interesting how societal norms change so much, even in just the span of a couple of decades.

kcjchang

rosebette wrote: »

kcjchang wrote: »

It's a symbol of wealth and privilege

What's "it's"? Being slightly overweight or skinny? Or maybe both -- slightly overweight or curvier when there are food shortages (as during the Depression -- this ad is from 1936) and thin or skinny during times of prosperity. After all, in the U.S., obesity is income-related, with low-income populations tending to be heavier due to cheap, low-quality food. Geographical areas with higher educated, higher income populations tend to be thinner. In the "flapper era," educated women of higher income levels were the ones who could afford cars and freedom, so were thinner. I came from poor immigrant stock, and except for one tiny grandmother who was kind of a "hot ticket", the pictures I have of family from that era are of women with dour faces, hair pulled back in buns, and dowdy long dresses that hid their bodies.

In reference to OP's "vanity pounds".

Be glad we are living in an age of abundance (western societies at least) and have a choice. See "The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race" by Jared Diamond.

allie_00p

I think it depends on what your idea of "skinny" is. Some think of skinny as someone who's at a healthy weight, or even just smaller than they are. I used to aspire to be rail thin, the whole thinspo thing and all that, that's what comes to mind for me as skinny. So for me it used to be a compliment but now it's not - I know from some it is meant as that and I'll treat it as such, but inside it irritates me, like "dude do you know I could deadlift you?!"

determined24girl

Jolinia wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

rabbitjb wrote: »

I still think skinny is not something to aspire to

Healthy, strong, fit are words I associate with targets, never skinny

Others feel differently

That's what I was thinking...when someone says "skinny" all I think is skin and bone...not a good look IMO.

I suppose I should use the word 'lean' then. But when I think skinny, I think fit, healthy, and a proper weight, not skin and bones.

I agree with you. When I think of skinny I think of fit and healthy too. "Thin" on the other hand has a negative connotation to me.

sarahlifts

Skinny is still a bad word in my book.

I_Will_End_You

cwolfman13 wrote: »

Jolinia wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

rabbitjb wrote: »

I still think skinny is not something to aspire to

Healthy, strong, fit are words I associate with targets, never skinny

Others feel differently

That's what I was thinking...when someone says "skinny" all I think is skin and bone...not a good look IMO.

I suppose I should use the word 'lean' then. But when I think skinny, I think fit, healthy, and a proper weight, not skin and bones.

Skinny Staci on the left...lean and fit Staci on the right...and 11 Lbs heavier on the scale to boot.

I'd say she's skinny in both, but when I hear skinny, I don't think nothing but skin and bones, I just think of someone small that with lower body fat.

I'm skinny. I think I'm fit, too. Or lean. They kind of mean the same in my opinion. So it doesn't really hold a negative connotation to me.

mccindy72

Perhaps what should be noted is that even in the ads from the past, women weren't satisfied with their bodies, and were trying to find some "satisfying" range to fit into. Really? How about just learning to like what's in the mirror? Ignore the product advertising, the airbrushed model of 'perfection' and just figure out that there is no perfect body. Fitness and eating right should be for health, not some beauty ideal. Once we learn to like our own image in the mirror and each other on the street, we'll be a lot further ahead.
Words are just words. It's the context in which they are used that gives them definition.

sofaking6

FoCoAlphaNerd wrote: »

It's interesting hearing from so many people. I think it's rarely if ever that I have heard the word skinny used as anything other than a compliment.

Same here. If anyone ever called me skinny I would be ecstatic to hear it. I have honestly never heard it used to insult someone aside from the 'skinny b's' type of comment which is an admittance of jealousy so not really too insulting at all.

honkytonks85

so once upon a time we shamed women about being thin now we shame them about being fat... i guess the point is stop making women feel bad about their bodies.

lemurcat12

Oh, we shame them about both even now (and did then too).

I'd say Staci is skinny in neither photo, but thin in both. She looks good in both too, but particularly amazing in the second, of course.

Jolinia

determined24girl wrote: »

Jolinia wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

rabbitjb wrote: »

I still think skinny is not something to aspire to

Healthy, strong, fit are words I associate with targets, never skinny

Others feel differently

That's what I was thinking...when someone says "skinny" all I think is skin and bone...not a good look IMO.

I suppose I should use the word 'lean' then. But when I think skinny, I think fit, healthy, and a proper weight, not skin and bones.

I agree with you. When I think of skinny I think of fit and healthy too. "Thin" on the other hand has a negative connotation to me.

Thin doesn't have negative connotations for me, either. Stick-thin does. Except in regard to teenagers in that awkward growth stage where they grow up faster than outward.

I think I'll just use the word 'lean'. Seems to have the least baggage for other people hearing or reading it.