A couple of weeks ago, I first watched the video to “All About That Bass”, by Meghan Trainor, which is supposed to be the feel-good, body positive anthem of the summer:

Meghan is adorable as is her voice. The beat is catchy and makes me want to get up and “shake it, shake it like I’m supposed to do” especially after watching that big, young man gleefully dance and do a split.

Then I listened to the words. Even though Meghan affirms that “every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top” it apparently only applies to big girls, not the “skinny bitches”, “stick-figure, silicone Barbie dolls” or women who don’t have “a little more booty to hold at night”.

How is that body positive when it’s not inclusive of all bodies? Why is it that some women can’t feel better about themselves unless they’re knocking the ones that don’t look like them?

I personally am tired of memes, phrases and sayings that glorify big bodies like mine at the expense of thin women. Here’s a sample:

When fat people demand acceptance and respect but don’t give the same to those who are slender, it’s hypocritical, shameful and even bullying. When a fat woman proclaims that “real women have curves” or “real men prefer meat and only dogs go for bones”, it’s not the declaration of someone who loves what she sees in the mirror. A truly confident woman acknowledges that one’s size or physical preference doesn’t make them any more or less “real”. She can appreciate the beauty in all sizes and doesn’t have to insult another woman to feel better about her own.

So, as cute and catchy as it is, there should be less songs like “All About That Bass” and more like India.Arie’s “Video”

Or “Who Says” by Selena Gomez

Those are positive songs.