How does it feel to be a plus size woman living in a skinny world?

By

Plus size woman living in a skinny world

Description of Sample

Screening the participants based on research objective of examining the impact of being plus size women and unavailability of required clothe sizes resulted in scaled distribution of participation according to age wise as shown in table given below.30% of females included in the study were less than or around 16 years in age. Cumulatively, 82% of females included in the research were up to age of 27 years. Women above the age of 27 makes up only 18% share in the study.

Age Group (in years)

Frequency

Percent

Less than 16

15

30%

16-18

8

16%

19-21

11

22%

22-27

7

14%

28-42

6

12%

42-45

3

6%

Descriptive Analysis of Results

Descriptive analysis of availability of required clothes and impact of plus size of women was used in interpreting results for the hypotheses. Data revealed that 24% women has current clothe size of 18, 22% have 20 clothe size; followed by 20% giving 24 clothe size. Only 34% of women had size of 26 or greater than that.

Clothes Size

Frequency

Percent

Desired Size of Clothes

Frequency

Percent

18

12

24%

14

13

26%

20

11

22%

16

15

30%

24

10

20%

18

17

34%

26

8

16%

20

5

10%

28

9

18%

22

0

0%

A severe change in desired clothes sizes is observed as 26% of women want to clothes size 14. Comparing to this, 30% of women's desired clothes size is 16, followed by 34% for size 18. This makes up total of 90% which suggest that majority of woman clothes size of 18 or less, which is the minimum scale presented in the current clothes sizes. Only 10% women desire cloth size 20. This shows that majority of women want to look slim and like to wear skinny and tight clothes. However, their preference for clothing changes greatly due to availability of clothes, their body size, media fads, and views of friends. These factors directly influence the self-esteem of women and desired behaviour for losing weight and wear small size clothes.

Since the research was longitudinal in nature, therefore, data was collected in two Tiers. During first tier only two said that they like to be plus size, and one respondent had no problem being plus size. 37 female respondents said that they don't like to be of plus size. Similar results were shown in Tier II data collection phase in which no woman liked to be of plus size. However, a considerable incline was observed in the attitude change of woman as 8 women said that plus size does not bother them; whereas, a remarkable change was observed in the preference of women who don't like to plus size. Obesity has been a significant problem in majority of women (Shim 1993, 59); 42 women said that they don't like to be to be plus size in Tier II.

 

Frequency

Feeling Towards Plus Size

Tier I

Tier II

I like it

2

0

It does not bother me

11

8

I don't like it

37

42

Being plus size directly affect the purchasing pattern for desired clothes. Since majority of female don't like to be plus size due to the reason the being plus size make it difficult to find suitable clothes.

Difficulties Experienced

Frequency

Percent

Clothes Shopping

31

62%

Media

15

30%

Comments of Friends

4

8%

Clothes shopping and media ...