"You're so Skinny."
Zoe Sugg, alternatively known as 'Zoella', has always been a relatively petite person. Sugg is a blogger and YouTuber that addressed the double-edged sword of 'fat' and 'skinny'. We all know calling someone 'fat' is rude but not many know that calling someone 'skinny' can have the same effect. "You're so skinny" carries a negative connotation, almost inferring a disorder or being unhealthily thin that Sugg further elaborates on.
Being relatively petite my entire life, I know exactly what Sugg is talking about. I was a 'late bloomer' and throughout middle school, people would ask me if I was anorexic or tell me I should eat more meat to add to my bones. This persisted until I grew into my body and still, people that do not know me too well would come up to me and suggest I should "eat a hamburger or some meat".
Unintentionally insulting someone of a petite stature by saying 'skinny' could easily be avoided if word choice were chosen more carefully. If someone said I was 'thin' or 'fit', I would not be offended. People are probably thinking these are just synonyms of the word but trust me, there is a subtle difference between 'fat' and 'curvy' or 'skinny' and 'thin' that would change the entire compliment/insult.
Being relatively petite my entire life, I know exactly what Sugg is talking about. I was a 'late bloomer' and throughout middle school, people would ask me if I was anorexic or tell me I should eat more meat to add to my bones. This persisted until I grew into my body and still, people that do not know me too well would come up to me and suggest I should "eat a hamburger or some meat".
Unintentionally insulting someone of a petite stature by saying 'skinny' could easily be avoided if word choice were chosen more carefully. If someone said I was 'thin' or 'fit', I would not be offended. People are probably thinking these are just synonyms of the word but trust me, there is a subtle difference between 'fat' and 'curvy' or 'skinny' and 'thin' that would change the entire compliment/insult.