Amy Schumer may not have appreciated being (seemingly) labeled “plus-size” by Glamour, but she’s still ready to go to bat against the retail industry’s ridiculous weight standards. A recently released study by the NPD Group showed that clothing stores are virtually ignoring their largest potential consumer base — curvy women — and, as if on cue, Schumer premiered a skit mocking this absurd reality.
In a Kafkaesque alternate universe, Amy sees a shirt she likes in a store and, not finding her size on the display, enlists the help of a salesperson. In a phony, upbeat voice, the woman asks Amy if she’s looked under the table. When a frustrated Amy reemerges empty-handed and repeats her question, she’s met with, “Could you keep your voice down? You’re scaring the thinner customers.”
Eventually, the sales clerk offers to “call the Midwest” to see if they have Amy’s size in stock before remembering the store has a whole section for Amy’s “situation.” The saleswoman then literally puts Amy out to pasture — a knoll for women who’ve been literally forgotten by fashion. Lena Dunham is there. So is a cow named Daisy. It’s implied Mindy Kaling passed through as well. Here, Amy finally finds something suitable to wear — a tarp that will cover her pool or “problem areas.” Her purchase comes with a complimentary mall pretzel because, you know, that’s what overweight people subsist on.
[ Finally! 18 Plus-Size Fashion Sites That Don’t Suck ]
The video, entitled “Size 12,” is a totally relatable and hilarious piece of writing. Women of all sizes have experienced just how limiting brick-and-mortar shopping can be and we love that two of our favorite feminists came together to shine a spotlight on the issue. It couldn’t have come at a better time, either — with swimsuit season just around the corner, it’s important to remember that our bodies are not to blame for fashion’s lack of inclusivity.
Bottom line seems to be we are done with these unnecessary labels which seem to be reserved for women. pic.twitter.com/VUnrgFseRl
— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) April 5, 2016
P.S. For those of you wondering why skit Amy is a twelve when real-life Amy was annoyed that Glamour exaggerated her size, the answer is, “Who cares?” That’s beside the point. The bottom line is that we, along with retailers, should be “done with these unnecessary labels which seem to be reserved for women,” and stock all of our shelves equally.
[ via People ]
