I’m going to take the risk of being blunt and ask, I wonder how many girls have been told they aren’t good enough because of their weight. From personal experience in the Jewish community, I know that this happens to plenty of young women, but I don’t think it’s unique to that community. Young women and even young girls are being sent this message- both directly and indirectly- all the time, whether it’s about finding a boyfriend, a husband, a job, or simply being “good enough”.

It’s rare that I would write about song lyrics from popular songs, especially pop/hip hop songs, but after hearing this song, I think the lyrics contain a vital lesson for girls and women across the board. In Meghan Trainor’s new song, “All About That Bass”, she sings the chorus:

Yeah, it'sprettyclear, I ain't no sizetwoBut I canshake it, shake it LikeI'msupposed to do 'Cause I gotthatboomboomthatalltheboyschaseAndalltherightjunk in alltherightplaces

I see the magazine workin' that Photoshop We know that s*** ain't real C'mon now, make it stop If you got beauty, beauty, just raise 'em up 'Cause every inch of you is perfect From the bottom to the top

Yeah, my mama she told me don't worry about your size She says, "Boys like a little more booty to hold at night." You know I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll So

I don’t claim to understand the rest of the song, but I think the chorus is so important. When women are self-conscious about their weight and someone criticizes or rejects them because of it, they may have a myriad of reactions. Generally, I would venture to say, their reaction is not, “then go ahead and move along”. Women often cling to people who disapprove of them, even for something as trivial as weight. Men are entitled to be attracted to whatever type of woman they want, and vice versa, but when it comes to a woman’s self-esteem, we need to learn to adopt this attitude of moving on and being happy with our bodies.

I’m not anti-Barbie’s (not completely anyway) and I won’t turn this into a rant against them, but the picture below is a model, a woman who most people would consider attractive, with the lines drawn on what she “should” look like if she were a Barbie doll.

Anorexia has recently trumped car accidents as the leading cause of death in teenage girls. This is a horrifying statistic, one that no one wants to think about, but it needs to be dealt with. Certain factors in developing eating disorders are inevitable, but the messages we send to girls, as parents, teachers, therapists, friends- these messages we absolutely can control. We can teach women to be happy with their bodies, and put healthier messages into their head.