History Main / RealWomenHaveCurves

Related to HollywoodPudgy and BigBeautifulWoman. Contrast MostCommonSuperpower and AmazonianBeauty.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Any fan of ''Series/{{Community}}'' who watches this show tends to be very surprised by AlisonBrie as Trudy Campbell.

* Queen's "Fat-Bottomed Girls," written by guitarist Brian May.
** That says nothing about thin women, though, just having a huge butt, which [[JenniferLopez thin women]] [[KimKardashian can also have]].

** But eating doesn't give you the concave and convex surfaces that cover the human body.

As such, this is somewhat of a CyclicTrope alongside its thin and lithe inverse. For example, the Fifties and Sixties were marked by a very thin, waif-ish ballerina-like ideal. The Seventies and Eighties brought curvier sex symbols. The Nineties brought in Heroin Chic. Finally, at the turn of the Millenium, curvaceousness was (yet again) brought back into mainstream appeal (though it never actually went away, and most so-called "curvy" women today are actually not curvy- they usually just have large assets).

* In many of his books, the ethologist [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Morris Desmond Morris]] argues that a certain preference for curvy and plump women is hardwired, for evolutionary reasons, into the human male psyche. Morris' basic idea is that lush, abundant feminine curves subconsciously suggest (1) good health, (2) an ability to bear children safely (it's known that women with wide hips have an easier time with childbirth) and (3) a superior ability to feed/nurse children. (This is, of course, completely bullcrap. Being overweight is unhealthy and while all women have curves, this does nothing to help women in childbirth. Which is really the last thing men are typically desiring when having sex.)

As such, this is somewhat of a CyclicTrope alongside its thin and lithe inverse. For example, the Fifties and Sixties were marked by a very thin, waif-ish ballerina-like ideal. The Seventies and Eighties brought curvier sex symbols. The Nineties brought in Heroin Chic. Finally, at the turn of the Millenium, curves were brought back into mainstream appeal.

* Every so often the factoid is trotted out that MarilynMonroe was a size 14 -- a size considered plus-size (in Hollywood, anyway!) in 2001, but an average size in the 1970s and 1980s. But it's a lie; MarilynMonroe by today's sizes (they have changed) would have been about a size 8.

* There's also Mo'Nique, whose entire act revolves around this trope. Less than 200 pounds? You're a skinny bitch who can't cook who is secretly trying to steal all of the good men from the bigger sistas. Driven home in her movie Phat Girlzwhich does nothing but extol the virtue and beauty of plus sized women. However this is only after Mo'Nique has spent half of the film trying to lose weight to look like the very "skinny bitches" she constantly derides.

* In many of his books, the ethologist [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Morris Desmond Morris]] argues that a certain preference for curvy and plump women is hardwired, for evolutionary reasons, into the human male psyche. Morris' basic idea is that lush, abundant feminine curves subconsciously suggest (1) good health, (2) an ability to bear children safely (it's known that women with wide hips have an easier time with childbirth) and (3) a superior ability to feed/nurse children.

This has begun to see so much use lately that it's becoming a trope in its own right and every bit as damaging to female body image as the aforementioned overly thin models and actresses. The truth is that "real" women possess a variety of body types, from tall and thin to stout and curvy to large and voluptuous. Furthermore, there's nothing wrong with being remarkably toned and fit, so long as it's not being touted as "perfect". Declaring that one woman's body is less "real" than another body creates several UnfortunateImplications.

* Every so often the factoid is trotted out that MarilynMonroe was a size 14 -- a size considered plus-size in 2001, but an average size in the 1970s and 1980s. But it's a lie; MarilynMonroe by today's sizes (they have changed) would have been about a size 8.

* When she first appeared in the ''[[WorldWrestlingEntertainment WWE]]'', Molly Holly wasn't explicitly sexualized or objectified like the other WWE Divas. Instead, she was created as having a CloserToEarth[=/=]GirlNextDoor demeanor, like someone the female audience could relate to and the male audience could feel protective of (even though she was more than capable of holding her own in the ring). This is because she was curvier, with significantly wider hips and more body fat, than the other Divas. Many storylines even had the other Divas bullying her because of her size and shape.

Thanks to television and Hollywood (and other sources), there is a lot of pressure for women to remain thin. Every day, women are bombarded with images of glamorous supermodels, actresses, fitness gurus and pop stars with "perfectly" thin waists, narrow hips and tight rears. Likewise, comic book superheroines are known for almost always possessing the MostCommonSuperpower. To date, this is becoming something of a DiscreditedTrope, and RealLife women are becoming fatigued by the idea.

'Cause silicone parts are made for toys.ddle but she got much back."

'Cause silicone parts are made for toys.
** ...Except that line doesn't address thinness at all. Plastic surgery is not necessary to be thin. Also, many people achieve curves with silicone or other surgeries because curves and a small waist /flat stomach are not mutually exclusive. In FURTHER fact, the ideal promoted in the song is, and I quote, "Little in the middle but she got much back." Small waist, curvy hips and rear. There are much better examples about thin = fake in the song.

* Dove moisturizing soap famously bungled this trope in a 7-year-long ad campaign called "Dove 'Real' Women". First, Dove was ''very'' selective about the women it considered "real" (not too curvy, not too thin, no tattoos or blemishes, no messy hair, etc.) and second, they ''Photoshopped their models' images in order to mak

e them more appealing.''

* Dove moisturizing soap famously bungled this trope in a 7-year-long ad campaign called "Dove 'Real' Women". First, Dove was ''very'' selective about the women it considered "real" (not too curvy, not too thin, no tattoos or blemishes, no messy hair, etc.) and second, they ''Photoshopped their models' images in order to make them more appealing.''

* ''NoahsArc'': Alex believes this all the way, and professes himself as the most "real" one of the group. He even says a variation on the line itself in one episode.

Related to HollywoodPudgy and BigBeautifulWoman. Contrast MostCommonSuperpower and AmazonianBeauty.

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* ''NoahsArc'': Alex believes this all the way, and professes himself as the most "real" one of the group. He even says a variation on the line itself in one episode.

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'Cause silicone parts are made for toys.

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As such, this is somewhat of a CyclicTrope alongside its thin and lithe inverse. For example, the Fifties and Sixties were marked by a very thin, waif-ish ballerina-like ideal thanks to the likes of Twiggy and Audrey Hepburn. The Seventies and Eighties brought curvier sex symbols such as Lynda Carter (who was able to fill out a WonderWoman costume pretty damn well) and Cindy Crawford. The Nineties brought in Heroin Chic with the likes of Kate Moss, although that trend carried some UnforunateImplications and didn't last very long. Finally, at the turn of the Millenium, the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce brought curves back into mainstream appeal. There were exceptions to the rule (the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Pamela Anderson were able to be sex symbols during what were considered waifish times.)

As such, this is somewhat of a CyclicTrope alongside its thin and lithe inverse.

Related to HollywoodPudgy, BigBeautifulWoman, and BabyGotBack. Contrast MostCommonSuperpower and AmazonianBeauty.

* This is one of the major themes of SirMixALot's "BabyGotBack", in which he draws comparisons between very thin women and fakeness -- particularly in this exchange:

* JenniferHudson [[DyeingForYourArt gained weight]] for her Oscar-winning role in ''DreamGirls''. In the film, Effie's full figure and relatable humble origins are central to the plot.

* Jennifer Hudson [[DyeingForYourArt gained weight]] for her Oscar-winning role in ''DreamGirls''. In the film, Effie's full figure and relatable humble origins are central to the plot.

* Jewel Staite gained some weight to play the role of Kaylee on this one show that got cancelled a while back, called ''{{Firefly}}''. She and the pilot Wash arguably played the role of [[AudienceSurrogate Audience Surrogates]].

* Rose Tyler in ''Series/DoctorWho''. It's even lampshaded at one point during a GrandTheftMe moment.

Thanks to television and Hollywood (and other sources), there is a lot of pressure for [[HollywoodThin women to remain thin]]. Every day, women are bombarded with images of glamorous supermodels, actresses, fitness gurus and pop stars with "perfectly" thin waists, narrow hips and tight rears. Likewise, comic book superheroines are known for almost always possessing the MostCommonSuperpower. To date, this is becoming something of a DiscreditedTrope, and RealLife women are becoming fatigued by the idea.

Related to HollywoodPudgy, BigBeautifulWoman, and BabyGotBack. Contrast HollywoodThin, MostCommonSuperpower and AmazonianBeauty.

* This is one of the major themes of SirMixALot's "BabyGotBack", in which he draws comparisons between HollywoodThin women and fakeness...particularly in this exchange:

* Every so often the factoid is trotted out that MarilynMonroe was a size 14 -- a size considered plus-size in 2001, but an average size in the 1970s and 1980s.
** A lie, MarilynMonroe by today's sizes (they have changed) would have been about a size 8.