Bizarre expresssions for female skinniness

11-01-2014 08:29PM

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

Just in the last 3 months or so it seems to have become an aspiration among a good few of the teen girls I know

Girls will pick up on anything to beat themselves and others up with. I went to a girls boarding school and some of the girls would lie down and put a ruler across their stomachs, from hipbone to hipbone. If it didn't lie flat on someone (and form a bridge, long before the term bikini bridge was thought up) they were instantly labelled a fatso and would be sentenced to 200 sit ups plus daily.

It was an insanely competitive pressure cooker of a place...all these things would be picked up from magazines and used to define and redefine who was pretty, slim, popular, whatever, on an incessantly evolving basis.

Wibbs · 11-01-2014 10:56PM

Daqster wrote: »

Do more woman buy red tops than men. I'm not so sure. Granted, the OK mag type maybe, but by and large, men are bombard with just as much of that stuff as women, in my view at least.

Then go to a shop with a lot of magazines, Easons or the like and look at how the genders are catered for. Men have far more specialty mags aimed at them, women have far more fashion/celeb mags aimed at them and the circulations are much bigger. Any advertiser will tell you that.

I couldn't disagree with you more. A quick read of the turn ons and turn offs thread shows that women are just as likely to be turned off by men's physical appearance, as men are about women's and the 'Would you date a guy that was 5ft8"' left lads in no doubt that height is without question a huge deal for most woman.

Sure being a short man, or a fat man ain't no picnic, however I have found what women say as a preference is more often dropped on contact with the enemy

personal interaction.

I don't think that is anything to go by though, at least not to any great degree. That would be a bit like saying there aren't as many male prostitutes as female, because woman don't enjoy sex as much as men.

No, it really isn't. Unless you think men are just naturally immune to eating disorders.

Some of that is true, but the diet stuff is a red herring, as 'over a lifetime' would be including a time when I wouldn't argue that there was undoubtedly more pressure on woman to look a certain way, compared to today, where as I say, I feel it is pretty much an even split.

The gap is closing but it's not closed to anything approaching parity. Far more cosmetic procedures aimed and undertaken by women, far more diets aimed at women(the "Paleo" diet a rare exception).

Again though, you are just unlikely to hear men vocalize this kind of thing as it is, in the main, deemed as something which females do and *most* guys will run a million miles away form doing something which is seen by society as being not very 'manly', which of course is idiotic but honestly can't think of one of my mates that would bring up being on a diet in a public setting the way women would have no problem doing. Hopefully that will change but I highly doubt it. I think guys would be less embarrassed to be seen reading Playboy on the train than a 'What's The Best Diet To Lose That Excess Belly Fat' copy of Men's Health.

Maybe it's an age thing D, maybe it's your social circle, I dunno, but plenty of my male mates would have no issue saying they're turning into a fat bastard and things must change and for the most part they just go off and do it. Start exercising, eat less and as a general rule seem to have more success than my women mates longterm for some reason. Maybe because the pressure is more internal, so they dont get as antsy about progress or lack of it? Or that maybe the pressure is just lesser to fit into an "ideal" template? From my observations anyway I have noticed that the range of what women tend to find attractive in a physical sense even in fantasy is wider than men's.

enda1 wrote: »

Not as exploited as a tesco floor staff getting a couple of quid an hour.

Eh not even in the same ballpark IMH. For a start the going rates for porn work have dropped right off with the free "jazz films" and amateur stuff on the interweb. Most porn star women you see are also escorts on the side. Drugs are rife in the business as is disease, only HIV gets the headlines. A mate of a mate of mine was involved in it back in the 90's as a sideline when there was some good money to be made. Now this guy is a hard capitalist. Nice bloke if he knows you, but would sell his grannies organs if he sniffed a profit. Utterly ruthless type in business. Not exactly a feminist in thought or action too. He lasted 18 months in the porn biz as a producer/backer. It got to him, where feck all would and he was actually making real coin out of it. Like six figures even as a sideline. The stories he had... and few of them good and many of them involving sharp intakes of breath, a headshake, with a "jesus! that's just fcuked up" as a chaser.

Czarcasm · 12-01-2014 12:39AM

Rough Sleeper wrote: »

You're going to have to qualify how simply using terms like these is displaying a poor understanding of biology, or anatomy, more accurately. They're physical quirks that some men find attractive. Like tits or arses, just more niche.

You just happened to provide a perfect example of my point. In attempting to correct my use of the word biology, you showed you have a poor understanding of biology. "Anatomy" on it's own is incorrect, as anatomy is only one aspect of biology. Physiology is the more relevant aspect. Both aspects together are called biology and both aspects together are what determines physical characteristics.

poundapunnet explains it better -

poundapunnet wrote: »

That thigh gap has much more to do with where you carry your weight and how broad your hipbones are than your weight. Neither of which are things you can do much about. You're either going to be part of a small percentage of women who have one easily enough just by being reasonably slim, or you'll have to be dangerously thin or incredibly fit.

I hate January, I feel like these threads are everywhere. Everyone stop dieting!

Genetics, environment, diet, and behaviour all play a part in a person's physiology and anatomy, so the term biology is indeed more accurate than just anatomy alone.

I don't know about the first two terms you've listed, but "arse dimples," or back dimples as I'd call them, is a term that has been in use since way before the internet became what it is today. What would you rather people call them, lateral lumbar indentations, or what?

I'm fairly sure the "thigh gap", "back dimples", and "bikini bridges" existed since man first evolved, and you only have to look at pre- and post-renaissance nude art (they're as good a historical record of society at the time!) to see that it wasn't and isn't just slim women have these particular biological quirks, and it's certainly nothing new, but the prevalence of the obsession with them is, and guess what? In another couple of centuries we'll notice something else about a person's biology that we'll find attractive because it's something we think we never saw before.

We've seen it all before, it's just that before the explosion of these internet phenomena and our exposure to other cultures (many Brazilian women have thigh gaps like nobody's business because they have small waists, wide hips, large glutes you could bounce pennies off, and toned thighs), their physiology is genetically predisposed for these characteristics (they literally ARE a genetic mix of European and African influences). Combine that with a diet that consists mainly of rice, root vegetables and fruits, plenty of exercise with practically a festival for every day of the year, and you get the idea - all factors that contribute to their anatomy, which when taken into account with their physiology, is called their biology.

bodice ripper · 12-01-2014 01:20AM

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

I don't think it's fair to say a woman with a bikini bridge or thigh gap is always too skinny.

I think it *is* fair to say a woman with a bikini bridge or thigh gap is always too skinny for me.

Rough Sleeper · 15-01-2014 09:37AM

Czarcasm wrote: »

You just happened to provide a perfect example of my point. In attempting to correct my use of the word biology, you showed you have a poor understanding of biology. "Anatomy" on it's own is incorrect, as anatomy is only one aspect of biology. Physiology is the more relevant aspect. Both aspects together are called biology and both aspects together are what determines physical characteristics.

I'm reading this post and it's like your saying "No, Lagos is not the capital city of Nigeria. That would be Abuja." Not factually inaccurate, but completely unrelated to anything I'm saying.

Physiology is basically how the body works. People simply using terms like "bikini bridge" (which I actually find pretty absurd) are not making any sort of comment on the functioning of the body; they're merely using niche descriptions of anatomical phenomena, hence my correct use of the word.

If a girl said that she like a six pack on a bloke, would you reply "Don't you know that acquiring a six pack requites appropriate behavioural modifications like operating under a caloric deficit and exercising regularly, and the ease at which you'll obtain one is determined by genetic predisposition? You have a very poor understanding of biology?" Probably not, as, despite the fact the information is correct, it's a non-sequitur reply.

Shrills · 15-01-2014 09:50AM

Wurly wrote: »

Yet another way for the media to bully women and tell them how they should look. Stop buying into it. Get yourself to a healthy, happy weight and then f*ck what society says you should look like!

People find certain characteristics sexy, no one is telling women they have to have thigh gaps or bikini bridges, merely commenting on what they find sexy.

Michael D Not Higgins · 15-01-2014 10:01AM

Shrills wrote: »

People find certain characteristics sexy, no one is telling women they have to have thigh gaps or bikini bridges, merely commenting on what they find sexy.

I think you're underestimating the effect things like thigh gap and bikini bridge have when they gain traction on social media and begin leaking into the mainstream.
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrity/news/stop-thigh-gap
At least the mainstream is rejecting it for the time being, however I lament at the author's almost acceptance of the other practices of the film industry et al. while decrying the thigh gap. [/COLOR]

Potatoeman · 15-01-2014 10:45AM

People get really bent out of shape about silly things. Just because people find something sexy does not mean its the only sexy thing.
Most of these body ideals are just as though for men to achieve. For example most men have a six pack but its the layer of fat over it that hides it. Men that have them visable have very low body fat and would diet aswell as workout.

The same is true for losing weight. More men want to build muscle mass than lose weight so dont scale watch. When you start getting fit many people dont take into account that gaining muscle and losing fat can see little weight change but you are getting in better shape.

Czarcasm · 15-01-2014 11:03AM

Rough Sleeper wrote: »

I'm reading this post and it's like your saying "No, Lagos is not the capital city of Nigeria. That would be Abuja." Not factually inaccurate, but completely unrelated to anything I'm saying.

Physiology is basically how the body works. People simply using terms like "bikini bridge" (which I actually find pretty absurd) are not making any sort of comment on the functioning of the body; they're merely using niche descriptions of anatomical phenomena, hence my correct use of the word.

If a girl said that she like a six pack on a bloke, would you reply "Don't you know that acquiring a six pack requites appropriate behavioural modifications like operating under a caloric deficit and exercising regularly, and the ease at which you'll obtain one is determined by genetic predisposition? You have a very poor understanding of biology?" Probably not, as, despite the fact the information is correct, it's a non-sequitur reply.

Ok, I get what you're saying now. I suppose where I'm coming from is that when people use these descriptions of "anatomical phenomena", they often aren't just commenting, they're analysing, simplifying, encouraging the idea that these are somehow aspirational and achievable "features". They're not, not in any meaningful sense anyway. There are so many physiological factors involved. I've even seen photos where "now you see it", "now you don't", and that was just based on a change of underwear! Same photoshoot, same day, same Rihanna. Now can you honestly tell me the appearance, or absence, of this "thigh gap", makes a whole pile of difference?

I'm not saying you're actually encouraging the phenomena by proclaiming that you find it attractive (hell, I find fat women attractive, and we're all aware that being fat isn't healthy!), but there ARE people who will take it to an extreme level due to their misunderstanding of biology - amateur anatomists with no understanding of physiology -

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/28/robyn-lawley-why-the-dangerous-thigh-gap-trend-makes-me-mad.html

Michael D Not Higgins · 15-01-2014 11:12AM

Czarcasm wrote: »

There are so many physiological factors involved. I've even seen photos where "now you see it", "now you don't", and that was just based on a change of underwear!

In fairness, I think in this case it's down to her walking in the second photo. You can see one leg is coming across the other which would naturally close any gap.

Potatoeman · 15-01-2014 11:17AM

Czarcasm wrote: »

Ok, I get what you're saying now. I suppose where I'm coming from is that when people use these descriptions of "anatomical phenomena", they often aren't just commenting, they're analysing, simplifying, encouraging the idea that these are somehow aspirational and achievable "features". They're not, not in any meaningful sense anyway. There are so many physiological factors involved. I've even seen photos where "now you see it", "now you don't", and that was just based on a change of underwear! Same photoshoot, same day, same Rihanna. Now can you honestly tell me the appearance, or absence, of this "thigh gap", makes a whole pile of difference?

I'm not saying you're actually encouraging the phenomena by proclaiming that you find it attractive (hell, I find fat women attractive, and we're all aware that being fat isn't healthy!), but there ARE people who will take it to an extreme level due to their misunderstanding of biology - amateur anatomists with no understanding of physiology -

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/28/robyn-lawley-why-the-dangerous-thigh-gap-trend-makes-me-mad.html

That story linked is stupid. She puts pictures up of herself and then moans about the comments. Theres nothing wrong with her body but if you put pictures out on the internet have thicker skin.

A Brad Maddox Guy · 15-01-2014 11:26AM

Just so yis know this new Bikini Bridge thing is a 4chan prank.

howamidifferent · 15-01-2014 11:33AM

The Mustard wrote: »

Thigh gap eh? Wasn't there in my day.

Which was about four years ago.

I'm a 49 year old male. As a 13 or 14 year old young fella, I remember admiring and discussing that gap in teenage girls and women. That was 35 years ago. So not a new thing. And we did'nt know it was a "thing/fashion" , it was just hot! And not having one did'nt make a girl any less hot... No more than smaller or bigger boobs changed how physically attractive we thought a girl/woman was. It was simply one aspect of their physical appearance that we admired. :pac:

poundapunnet · 15-01-2014 11:36AM

A Brad Maddox Guy wrote: »

Just so yis know this new Bikini Bridge thing is a 4chan prank.

Photos like that have been all over pro-ana and thinspiration sites for years, though without the name attached. 4chan try to take credit everything!

Czarcasm · 15-01-2014 11:42AM

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

In fairness, I think in this case it's down to her walking in the second photo. You can see one leg is coming across the other which would naturally close any gap.

See what I mean? This level of dissection and analysis is just ridiculous!

You can see the whole 72 photos on TMZ to see whether one leg is coming across the other or not... (I don't even know what smiley to put in here to let you know that I'm not getting at you personally but I find the whole notion ridiculous! There's no smiley for this level of disbelief :pac:).

I don't normally bother my arse reading the comments on these galleries either, but just out of curiosity for this particular discussion I said I'd give it a go. The very first comment -

looks like her camel toe fell out also

Seriously like! :pac:

A Brad Maddox Guy · 15-01-2014 11:52AM

poundapunnet wrote: »

Photos like that have been all over pro-ana and thinspiration sites for years, though without the name attached. 4chan try to take credit everything!

They're the ones that have given it a name and brought it to the mainstream. Like you say it didn't have a name attached. Now it does and it's being discussed on mainstream news sites and is on twitter and instagram. I had never heard of a bikini bridge even though I'd seen photos before, until people on 4chan talked about creating this furore a couple weeks ago. Since then I've seen it mentioned on popular sites quite often. It obviously existed before but they really are responsible for this being a current fad.

poundapunnet · 15-01-2014 11:57AM

A Brad Maddox Guy wrote: »

They're the ones that have given it a name and brought it to the mainstream. Like you say it didn't have a name attached. Now it does and it's being discussed on mainstream news sites and is on twitter and instagram. I had never heard of a bikini bridge even though I'd seen photos before, until people on 4chan talked about creating this furore a couple weeks ago. Since then I've seen it mentioned on popular sites quite often. It obviously existed before but they really are responsible for this being a current fad.

Oooh I can come up with some new names for things from pro-ana sites! The clavicle pit! The bicep convex! The googly jaw! The wrist ridge! The xylo-rib-ophone! The nappy-arse!

Off to 4chan with me wahey

EyeSight · 15-01-2014 12:01PM

I like skinny girls. I don't like that it's becoming taboo

A Brad Maddox Guy · 15-01-2014 12:02PM

poundapunnet wrote: »

Oooh I can come up with some new names for things from pro-ana sites! The clavicle pit! The bicep convex! The googly jaw! The wrist ridge! The xylo-rib-ophone! The nappy-arse!

Off to 4chan with me wahey

Do you not get what I'm saying? It wasnt in the mainstream the way the thigh gap was. Now it is and it's because of 4chan. That's how they're largely responsible for this trend.

poundapunnet · 15-01-2014 12:05PM

A Brad Maddox Guy wrote: »

Do you not get what I'm saying? It wasnt in the mainstream the way the thigh gap was. Now it is and it's because of 4chan. That's how they're largely responsible for this trend.

What you're saying isn't complicated and once you clarified that you meant 4chan was responsible for the name I got your point. Hence my thanking of your post. Relax.

A Brad Maddox Guy · 15-01-2014 12:08PM

poundapunnet wrote: »

What you're saying isn't complicated and once you clarified that you meant 4chan was responsible for the name I got your point. Hence my thanking of your post. Relax.

Sorry I thought your post with all the names was meant as taking the p*ss out of what I said. Now I realise it was just taking the p*ss out of 4chan. Apologies

Bizarre expresssions for female skinniness

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