under total, negative stereotypes, not sure what to do?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I doubt many of the members are truly overweight. Having 5 fat women in a chapter of 100 is enough to get the reputation.

This is what I tend to notice in chapters who have the "fat" reputation. Pretty much EVERYTHING in sorority stereotyping is an exaggeration.

It's never like XYZ has 50 women and 40 of them are the same size as Mimi from the Drew Carey show.

It's like XYZ has 50 women and 40 of them = size 6 or 8. Then 10 them are like a size 10-12 tops (or something bigger than the average-ish 6 or 8.)

Ergo, XYZ is "fat."

It's really funny, actually. Because the way people talk about the "fat" sorority, you'd think every single girl in the chapter was a burger away from a gastric bypass. It's all exaggerated.

Just like (example) out of 50 women, ONE girl in ABC drives a silver Lexus and has a Birkin bag. And you always see that one ABC in her new range rover that was a graduation present and you saw her being rude to the Starbucks guy one day before class. Ergo ABC is now the rich, snobby bitch sorority.

[southernbelle14]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

It's like XYZ has 50 women and 40 of them = size 6 or 8. Then 10 them are like a size 10-12 tops (or something bigger than the average-ish 6 or 8.)

Ergo, XYZ is "fat."

Maybe this isn't the case where yall went tot school (and obviously when you're older, you gain weight, so this is not relevant to alums), but here, unless you're 5'10" or taller, a size 6 or 8 is considered fat. In this case, "xyz" would be accurately labeled.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by southernbelle14

Maybe this isn't the case where yall went tot school (and obviously when you're older, you gain weight, so this is not relevant to alums), but here, unless you're 5'10" or taller, a size 6 or 8 is considered fat. In this case, "xyz" would be accurately labeled.

No, not "accurately." The fact that people at your school would consider those women fat doesn't actually make them fat, much less appropriately "labeled" fat.

It may well be accurate, however, to say that these labelers at your school need a reality check.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by southernbelle14

Maybe this isn't the case where yall went tot school (and obviously when you're older, you gain weight, so this is not relevant to alums), but here, unless you're 5'10" or taller, a size 6 or 8 is considered fat. In this case, "xyz" would be accurately labeled.

It's attitudes like this that perpetuate the unhealthy expectations. I pray that my teenaged nieces keep their heads on their shoulders and don't try to starve themselves into size 0 because, OMG, they are size 4 or 6 and teetering on obesity!!1!11!Eleventy!!1!

Some bodies are just made differently, and sizes are NOT uniform across designers.

[southernbelle14]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

It's attitudes like this that perpetuate the unhealthy expectations. I pray that my teenaged nieces keep their heads on their shoulders and don't try to starve themselves into size 0 because, OMG, they are size 4 or 6 and teetering on obesity!!1!11!Eleventy!!1!

Some bodies are just made differently, and sizes are NOT uniform across designers.

Whoa so since I said 6-8 would be considered fat, there's nothing left but 0? No, 2 and 4 would be about normal. And that's rarely maintained in an unhealthy way. And in college, "fat" does not mean obese. It means overweight or chubby, just in general that there is more fat on the person's body than is desirable.
People who constantly complain about those of us who have realistic standards of what should be thin are the ones who perpetuate obesity in this country. You can't tell a chubby kid that they are "normal" just so their feelings aren't hurt. That's not helping them in the long run.
Also, if you're 5'6" and a toned/fit size six you probably wouldn't be considered fat. However, if you're a flabby size 6-8 then it's best to start making healthier habits. But yes, it does depend on body type. However, most people are not so curvy that a 6-8 would be their ideal size at age 19-20.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by southernbelle14

Whoa so since I said 6-8 would be considered fat, there's nothing left but 0? No, 2 and 4 would be about normal. And that's rarely maintained in an unhealthy way. And in college, "fat" does not mean obese. It means overweight or chubby, just in general that there is more fat on the person's body than is desirable.
People who constantly complain about those of us who have realistic standards of what should be thin are the ones who perpetuate obesity in this country. You can't tell a chubby kid that they are "normal" just so their feelings aren't hurt. That's not helping them in the long run.
Also, if you're 5'6" and a toned/fit size six you probably wouldn't be considered fat. However, if you're a flabby size 6-8 then it's best to start making healthier habits. But yes, it does depend on body type. However, most people are not so curvy that a 6-8 would be their ideal size at age 19-20.

You are clueless just as I thought you were. Your campus lacks true diversity (including culture, race and ethnicity) just as I thought it did. Get out of your bubble.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

You are clueless just as I thought you were. Your campus lacks true diversity (including culture, race and ethnicity) just as I thought it did. Get out of your bubble.

I agree. 180 pounds is a normal weight range for some one who is 5'10". That person does not fit into a size 2 or 4 and is NOT fat. So says the person with the MD behind her name backed up by her endocrinologist husband.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I agree. 180 pounds is a normal weight range for some one who is 5'10". That person does not fit into a size 2 or 4 and is NOT fat. So says the person with the MD behind her name backed up by her endocrinologist husband.

Show off!

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by southernbelle14

Maybe this isn't the case where yall went tot school (and obviously when you're older, you gain weight, so this is not relevant to alums), but here, unless you're 5'10" or taller, a size 6 or 8 is considered fat. In this case, "xyz" would be accurately labeled.

I have a visual of your campus and, in addition to being a bunch of "high schoolers who happen to attend college," your campus probably lacks true diversity. It reminds me of my college days when the majority of the campus population used to form these informal rules and labels that tended to exclude those who "look/live a certain way."

The rest of us responded to that by not giving a damn and forming our own social groups which included NPHC GLOs. That is one way in which GLOs (through a supportive Student Activities and/or Greek Life Office) can find their own population to cater to regardless of what the idiots across campus are saying are doing.

[southernbelle14]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I have a visual of your campus and, in addition to being a bunch of "high schoolers who happen to attend college," your campus probably lacks true diversity. It reminds me of my college days when the majority of the campus population used to form these informal rules and labels that tended to exclude those who "look/live a certain way."

The rest of us responded to that by not giving a damn and forming our own social groups which included NPHC GLOs. That is one way in which GLOs (through a supportive Student Activities and/or Greek Life Office) can find their own population to cater to regardless of what the idiots across campus are saying are doing.

Yes, college in general happens to be a bunch of high schoolers who attend college. Graduating and moving into a dorm does not make you suddenly way more mature.
It seems that most of you on this site are older. You are probably lying to yourself about how you were in college. I guarantee you were at least somewhat judgmental and immature. It's part of life. We all go through it and most grow out of it. However, you all sit behind a computer screen and often pass judgement on the people on this site, whether you actually know the whole story or not. So I'd say that's not much better.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by southernbelle14

It seems that most of you on this site are older. You are probably lying to yourself about how you were in college.

We are older but don't waste time trying to assume things about us. This is not about us saying we were mature saints in college. You are getting ruffled and trying to defend the stupidity at your college.

Originally Posted by southernbelle14

I guarantee you were at least somewhat judgmental and immature. It's part of life. We all go through it and most grow out of it.

This discussion is not just about being judgmental and immature. It is about this specific type of immaturity that would not have flown at my college. If you read my post, you would grasp that.

Originally Posted by southernbelle14

However, you all sit behind a computer screen and often pass judgement on the people on this site, whether you actually know the whole story or not. So I'd say that's not much better.

LOL. Are your feelings hurt? Keep the information to yourself next time.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by southernbelle14

I guarantee you were at least somewhat judgmental and immature. It's part of life. We all go through it and most grow out of it.

Most do grow out of it. Seems from your posts, though, that you're content be one of the ones who doesn't grow out of it.

[melindawarren]

Originally Posted by southernbelle14

Yes, college in general happens to be a bunch of high schoolers who attend college. Graduating and moving into a dorm does not make you suddenly way more mature.
It seems that most of you on this site are older. You are probably lying to yourself about how you were in college. I guarantee you were at least somewhat judgmental and immature. It's part of life. We all go through it and most grow out of it. However, you all sit behind a computer screen and often pass judgement on the people on this site, whether you actually know the whole story or not. So I'd say that's not much better.

Whoa whoa WHOA. Hold up a second. College freshman writing here, and I have to take offense at this. I'm not lying to myself when I say that I'm neither judgmental nor immature. And honestly, that's a really sucky excuse for bad behavior. "I'm a college student, so it's ok for me to be judgmental and immature." No. Absolutely not. Be part of the solution; don't contribute to the problem. If you acknowledge that many college students have these bad traits, work to eliminate them from yourself. Don't turn a low-set bar into a reason to just go with the flow. Be the person who raises the bar.

I also have to say that it's not judgmental to call your view on sizes closed-minded. I am 5'4 and a size 0/2/4 (depending on whether we're talking formalwear or everyday wear). The idea that one has to be a 2 or a 4 to be "normal" is actually more of an unhealthy view than the idea that one is chubby at a 6 or 8. And to generalize with sizes is slightly absurd, considering one person can have three or four different sizes.

Finally, it's unfortunate that moving into a dorm doesn't make a person more mature. It's a shame that the experience of taking care of oneself and his or her own day-to-day life isn't enough to help people see diversity in all forms.

That's all I have to say.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by melindawarren

Whoa whoa WHOA. Hold up a second. College freshman writing here, and I have to take offense at this. I'm not lying to myself when I say that I'm neither judgmental nor immature. And honestly, that's a really sucky excuse for bad behavior. "I'm a college student, so it's ok for me to be judgmental and immature." No. Absolutely not. Be part of the solution; don't contribute to the problem. If you acknowledge that many college students have these bad traits, work to eliminate them from yourself. Don't turn a low-set bar into a reason to just go with the flow. Be the person who raises the bar.

I also have to say that it's not judgmental to call your view on sizes closed-minded. I am 5'4 and a size 0/2/4 (depending on whether we're talking formalwear or everyday wear). The idea that one has to be a 2 or a 4 to be "normal" is actually more of an unhealthy view than the idea that one is chubby at a 6 or 8. And to generalize with sizes is slightly absurd, considering one person can have three or four different sizes.

Finally, it's unfortunate that moving into a dorm doesn't make a person more mature. It's a shame that the experience of taking care of oneself and his or her own day-to-day life isn't enough to help people see diversity in all forms.

That's all I have to say.

So true. Body shaming women has been going on for a long time. It is especially problematic for taller women or women without the typical caucasian body type who don't know what their ideal body weight size should be and instead go by what they hear from their "normal" counterparts. Hating your own body because it cannot conform to the standards of someone half your size is ridiculous. I know because I grew up with a 5'4" mother who had no idea that I was a normal weight at 5'8" and was freaked out when I hit 140 in middle school. Ignorance is not an excuse. Clothing size means very little, especially as it can vary from line to line.

[Mevara]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

So true. Body shaming women has been going on for a long time. It is especially problematic for taller women or women without the typical caucasian body type who don't know what their ideal body weight size should be and instead go by what they hear from their "normal" counterparts. Hating your own body because it cannot conform to the standards of someone half your size is ridiculous. I know because I grew up with a 5'4" mother who had no idea that I was a normal weight at 5'8" and was freaked out when I hit 140 in middle school. Ignorance is not an excuse. Clothing size means very little, especially as it can vary from line to line.

I believe you can't even go on ideal body weight or BMI sometimes. If you are more athletic you will weigh more than your non-athletic counterpart. I know when I work out more I tend to weigh closer to 125 which is high for my height (5"1'). With all this effort I will still be a size 6 and my body fat is below 20% (Which I know most people who weigh less are not). If I am chubby at a size 6 and less than 20% fat that is ridiculous!!