"A person's a person...

... no matter how small."

Stefani over at Paleo for Women wrote up a neat post about evolution and gender-size stereotypes, and it's really good. She talks about the benefits of being a small woman, how men have certain ideas about what a woman should look like, and certain expectations women have for men. And how a lot of it is somewhat silly.

I agree, it is. As a nearly 6-foot tall woman, the cultural expectations for women are both frustrating and freeing. Women take body size and weight very seriously and it's hard (and sad_ to hear women lament at being "size 8" or "size 10". Since when do we let what clothing stores choose as a number to represent the amount of material needed for a shirt or pair of pants affect our self worth? I am me, I am healthy, and this is the way my body looks. If your products don't fit me, I don't have to buy them.

Because I'm bigger, I have the freedom to be as athletic as I want and to feel comfortable in size 10 pants. I will never weigh 140" because of my height and muscle mass (and, yes, my body fat, too). I don't want to. Jennifer Lawerence says that she's considered a fat actress, and that she'll never starve herself for a role. Jennifer Morrison has arm muscles I envy. We need more women like these in Hollywood. We need strong, food-eating women for young girls to look up to.

I do completely understand the need to be small, and I wish for it sometimes (especially when it comes to feeling protected by a man). But, a man doesn't have to be physically bigger than me to be able to do that, and I don't have to be smaller than him to let him. Because my size challenges gender stereotypes, then he doesn't need to follow them either. This gives both of us freedom to be strong as well as vulnerable, and there's no way it's a bad thing.

I enjoy being tall. I enjoy being athletic. I enjoy being a woman, and feeling beautiful and strong. But, thankfully, I will never have to wear high-heeled shoes. ;)