Back in the day, I was a size four. And standing at 5’ 10”, that made me what some might call a “skinny b*tch,” or at least that’s the term Meghan Trainor uses in her smash pop hit, All About that Bass.
There was a time I felt kind of sorry for poor, skinny me. I mean, it’s not like I didn’t eat. I did. I hammered down pizza, buffalo wings, ramen noodles, and vending machine candy like any good college student (all washed down with keg beer, of course). I remember walking through the mall one afternoon when a large banner outside Lane Bryant caught my eye: Real Women Have Curves. I felt a pang of self consciousness at the straps of my A-cup bra hanging over my skeletal clavicle.
Now? Ten years, two kids (plus one one the way) and 25 pounds later, I finally have some of that “junk” that Meghan refers to. But here’s the thing. I still don’t feel like it’s in “all the right places.” At least a good twenty pounds of that weight went straight to my thighs. Sigh.
I’ve got plenty of friends who’re claiming All About that Bass as their jam. And who can blame them? It’s catchy, it’s fresh, and gosh darn it, it’s nice to see women (and that one guy) with thicker-than-your-average-video-dancer frames getting down with their bad selves!
Even Jimmy Fallon has fallen for Meghan’s booty-loving beat, and it’s hard not to love what The Jimmy loves (this is what I call him now, cause we’re BFFs). But there are some who are shaking their heads, instead of their backsides, when the song comes on.
Back to that “skinny b*tches” part. Considering I used to be one of them (in theory), I know what it feels like to be slammed for your natural body size. Not cool. And let’s not forget that we’re trying to impress boys who “like a little more booty to hold at night.” Who cares what the boys like? (No offense to those of the male gender. I care about you.) If this is supposed to be about body acceptance, is it counter-intuitive to justify your self-love with partner approval?
There are other parts of the song, however, that call out damaging practices in the beauty and fashion industry. (I’m looking at you magazines workin’ that Photoshop.) These lyrics help raise awareness of false standards, and that’s beneficial for women of all shapes and sizes.
Overall, I think All About that Bass should be taken for what it’s worth — a pop song. For me, it’s not meant for serious internalization.
Also Read:
3 Body Image Power Songs Everyone Needs to Hear