Meghan Trainor's hit song "All About That Bass" has come under a lot of fire, and rightfully so. The song is wrought with thin-shaming ("tell them skinny bitches that") and reinforces the idea that women's bodies are valued based on the approval of men (Don't worry about your size because boys like a little more booty...). The song also refers to specific size numbers which is a BIG no no in the eating disorders advocacy/positive body movement world.
Fuck that.
Today, she took it a step further saying...
“I wasn’t strong enough to have an eating disorder…I tried to go anorexic for a good three hours. I ate ice and celery, but that’s not even anorexic. And I quit. I was like, ‘Ma, can you make me a sandwich? Like, immediately,”
There are so many problems with this, I don't even know where to start. Luckily, I don't have to. Demi Lovato - a strong eating disorders advocate responded brilliantly saying:
"Having an eating disorder doesn’t show “strength.” Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long. There’s a wide misconception that anorexia and/or bulimia is a choice and you often hear people say things like ‘why doesn’t she just start eating?’ Or even ‘just stop throwing up.’ It’s the ignorance and lack of education on mental illnesses that continues to but mental health care on the back burner to congress even though this is an epidemic that is sweeping our nation, and causing more and more tragedy every day. Starving is not a ‘diet’ and throwing up isn’t something that only extremely thin men or women do. Eating disorders do not discriminate..Neither does any other mental illness. These are deadly diseases that are taking lives daily. So please, let’s be cautious of the words we use when discussing ED’s and other mental illnesses. <3"
You go girl.
My response? I have taken the liberty of rewriting the lyrics to Trainor's song and plan to record it in the near future. Keep on the lookout, but enjoy the lyrics below.
Because you know
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, self-love
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no shamin’
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, confidence
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass
Yeah, it's pretty clear, I love my bod too
and I can shake it, shake it
I love the things it do
'Cause I got that boom boom that takes me up mountains
And all the right priorities in all the right places
I see the magazine workin' that Photoshop
We know that shit ain't real
C'mon now, let's make it stop
Y’all got beauty, beauty, screw the industry!
'Cause every body's shape is perfect
From the bottom to the top
Yeah, I’m gonna tell you don't worry about your size
I say a boy that don’t love you for you ain't worth your time
You know I won’t fit any of your bullshit stereotypes
So if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along
Because you know
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, self-love
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no shamin’
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, confidence
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass
Hey!
I'm bringing self-love back
Go ahead and tell them dumbass shamers that
No, I aint playing. Don’t care bout none of that
But I'm here to tell ya
Every body’s shape is perfect from the bottom to the top
Yeah, I’m gonna tell you don't worry about your size
I say a boy that don’t love you for you aint worth your time
You know I won’t fit any of your bullshit stereotypes
So if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along
Fuck that.
Today, she took it a step further saying...
“I wasn’t strong enough to have an eating disorder…I tried to go anorexic for a good three hours. I ate ice and celery, but that’s not even anorexic. And I quit. I was like, ‘Ma, can you make me a sandwich? Like, immediately,”
There are so many problems with this, I don't even know where to start. Luckily, I don't have to. Demi Lovato - a strong eating disorders advocate responded brilliantly saying:
"Having an eating disorder doesn’t show “strength.” Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long. There’s a wide misconception that anorexia and/or bulimia is a choice and you often hear people say things like ‘why doesn’t she just start eating?’ Or even ‘just stop throwing up.’ It’s the ignorance and lack of education on mental illnesses that continues to but mental health care on the back burner to congress even though this is an epidemic that is sweeping our nation, and causing more and more tragedy every day. Starving is not a ‘diet’ and throwing up isn’t something that only extremely thin men or women do. Eating disorders do not discriminate..Neither does any other mental illness. These are deadly diseases that are taking lives daily. So please, let’s be cautious of the words we use when discussing ED’s and other mental illnesses. <3"
You go girl.
My response? I have taken the liberty of rewriting the lyrics to Trainor's song and plan to record it in the near future. Keep on the lookout, but enjoy the lyrics below.
Because you know
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, self-love
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no shamin’
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, confidence
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass
Yeah, it's pretty clear, I love my bod too
and I can shake it, shake it
I love the things it do
'Cause I got that boom boom that takes me up mountains
And all the right priorities in all the right places
I see the magazine workin' that Photoshop
We know that shit ain't real
C'mon now, let's make it stop
Y’all got beauty, beauty, screw the industry!
'Cause every body's shape is perfect
From the bottom to the top
Yeah, I’m gonna tell you don't worry about your size
I say a boy that don’t love you for you ain't worth your time
You know I won’t fit any of your bullshit stereotypes
So if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along
Because you know
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, self-love
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, no shamin’
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass, confidence
I'm all about that bass
'Bout that bass
Hey!
I'm bringing self-love back
Go ahead and tell them dumbass shamers that
No, I aint playing. Don’t care bout none of that
But I'm here to tell ya
Every body’s shape is perfect from the bottom to the top
Yeah, I’m gonna tell you don't worry about your size
I say a boy that don’t love you for you aint worth your time
You know I won’t fit any of your bullshit stereotypes
So if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along