Size Preference

Size 8, 12 and 14

Based on an online survey majority of votes went to the size 12 woman, with 41% saying that she had the body shape of their “ideal girlfriend”. Almost as many men voted for the size 14 model. A piddling 20% of readers selected our size eight model pictured as their ideal girl.

I have always understood from listening to men talk that they enjoy curves, but so many men drool over the toned and fit bodies of women that I find it confusing as to what they really want. On one hand you have some men saying they don't want women stick thin, but then they still seem to really appreciate the body of a thin, toned, fit woman. It always seems to be those women who are labelled "hot", and not the girl who is a bit curvier. These curvier women can still be beautiful, and are acknowledged as so, but it seems that their appeal is somehow less than that of the "fit" women. 

Also, some men seem to be incredibly critical of women and their weight saying that they would never date a "chunky" girl, and refer to women who are still within a normal weight, albeit on the higher end of the range. This is a whole other issue in itself but the fact that this happens says something. 

Are women desiring to be smaller, thinner and lighter than what is considered to be the ideal size by men? Do men really want a slightly curvier woman?

I feel as thought these men who say they would prefer the middle sized woman would jump at the chance to be with the smaller woman over the larger woman. Who knows though?

Professor Marika Tiggemann from Flinders University said that the results supported academic research on the topic.

"We find women want to be thinner than what men find attractive. Men's idea of what is 'thin' is larger than that of women. Unfortunately, a lot of people think being thin demonstrates being in control or being disciplined, while being fat is a sign you're weak."

The editor of women's magazine Cleo, Nedahl Stelio, said that most women did not diet for men but for other women.

"Most men I know would go for more boob over thinner thighs, but women, by nature, are competitive with other women. And if the society and celebrity ideal is thin, that's what she's going to aspire to, just to get one up on other women."

She said that women embarked on extreme diets or developed eating disorders for a number of reasons, and it was over simplistic to attribute such behavior to a bid to appeal to the opposite sex.

"It is very, very complex and it is certainly not just brought about because some people desire to be thin in some sort of effort to attract men. People develop eating disorders for a wide variety of reasons, including low self-esteem and family history of depressive illness" 

So are women really just driving themselves crazy over what other women think? I think this is definitely something to consider. How many times have we thought of going to see female friends of ours and put in extra effort to look effortlessly striking. Women can be judgmental so it sometimes makes me feel as though I need to look amazing, thin, beautiful and put together. I wonder what other women have thought or said about my appearance and weight behind my back.

However I do know that I have had similar thoughts about men. I put in effort for them as well and wonder about their evaluation of me. Some men I know have commented on my change in appearance or weight before so I know they are not blind to it. Do they really not prefer the smaller woman?

Perhaps I am too self conscious and worried about what others think of my appearance and weight because I am too concerned with my weight and what I look like. 

I still cannot shake the feeling that men would prefer me at a smaller size and more toned and fit, despite what this say.