The Ideal Body Type- A reaction to Julia Allison @ Non Society

The below is an email I was inspired to write after reading a blog that I check out weekly. The blog is called NonSociety - www.nonsociety.com - and one specific writer, Julia, has been doing numerous posts lately that have their focus on women's body types. I must note, I like this blog because it can be girly, frivolous, and fun- like an episode of Sex and The City, which is what I think they are trying to do. Yet, like an episode of Sex and The City, it can tend to be extremley narcissitic, somewhat vapid and a little too obbsessive about men and what makes you attractive. This body image topic both angered me and inspired me to share my thoughts with Julia. I wanted to share what I wrote to her here. You should check out the postings at her site to get a full grasp on the topic and let me know what you think.

Hi Julia-

I am writing to respond to your current blogs regarding body image.
I am a 35 year old woman. I am considered attractive, yet despite this, I still have all the same concerns and insecurities that all women seem to have. However, one thing has always been a predominating topic of conversation about me since I was young- my body. I come from a long line of women who are slender (except one grandmother who had lovely hips and a nice booty!) and even still, I saw many flaws in my body. Looking back at photos of myself when I was 16, 17, 18, when I felt the most insecure, I have to laugh out loud at how wrong I was-- I was a brick house,- literally. 36/24/36- yeah, the winning hand. Yet, I did not feel any more special than the average girl. But, because of this genetic disposition, I was never able to forget how 'fortunate' others thought I was-especially girls. At 5'5 and 105 pounds. Girls would snare at me and call me 'lucky' and say things like "oh, Trenny doesn't have to worry about what she eats, look at her body". Guys would look me up and down like a snack at the buffet- It has ALWAYS, always been something that men and women alike comment on and it is always in the sense that I am 'lucky'. And more so now---I get things like "wow, you're 39- and look at your body", etc...and again with the "you're so lucky" comments. (btw it irks me to no end that past the age of 35, people seem to think it is a miracle that you could be in great shape and beautiful! You can be as healthy and vibrant as a 19 year old if you take care of yourself and you choose to be.)
I digress. So, here are the couple of things that I wanted to make a point out of regarding the fact that I seem to have this 'ideal' body that most women, you say, seem to want.
1. When people say I am lucky, I always have the same reaction- which is "my life, my thoughts, my self esteem and my experiences are no more or less fulfilling or worthwhile because I am thin. Girls it DOES NOT MAKE A HAPPIER LIFE! Nor does it get me more men or make things easier. My biggest joys have always come from sharing things that come from my mind, my heart, with others- and many of these times, I was probably eating too much pizza and 20 pounds heavier than normal.
2. And- this is the most ironic/humorous part-a guy that is someone that I was very attracted to made the claim that he cannot be fully attracted to me physically because he likes a girl with a little more hip, more of an ass!!!! And I WANT more of an ass, more hips, more to 'grab' as you will. This Kate Moss/Jennifer Aniston dream is a complete mispercetion. Girls are curvy and bodacious and fabulous in all shapes. Girls, please don't idealize this and waste time not fully enjoying your life, your moments, your days, feeling inadequate because of your body shape. So many shapes are GORGEOUS and you have a lot more to do (laugh, work, share your thoughts, ideas, etc..) than to waste mind energy on that! Be healthy and leave it at that. And know that us girls that you think have the 'perfect' body, think that all y'all with your bellys and butts and hips actually have one up on us. I am actually going to work on getting MORE of an ass! How about that?
Trenny ;)