What I Think About 'All About That Bass'


You've probably heard 'All About That Bass' by now, the really catchy feel-good tune by Meghan Trainor. In so many ways it's become a body positivity anthem, sending out the message that 'every inch of you is perfect' and that you shouldn't worry about your size. Meghan also tells boys that if they're not into her body type, that they should 'go ahead and move along', which I totally agree with. She also calls out Photoshop, and says that we should make it stop because it 'ain't real.' 


Whilst I love the body positivity Meghan promotes in her song, there are some real problems in Meghan's message of body positivity. Firstly you have the lyrics, 'I can shake it, shake it like I'm supposed to do' and 'all the right junk in all the right places' that suggest that if you don't have a body which is curvy then it's a bad thing, and that you're not a real women.  She also uses phrases like 'stick figure silcone barbie doll' and 'skinny bitches' which promote a tension between skinnier girls and curvier girls. Whilst she does explain in the song that she's 'just playing' and not using the term 'skinny bitches' seriously, it seems unnecessary to use the phrase in the first place. And even worse, her explanation of 'I know you think you're fat' seems almost a bit mocking of skinnier women. 

Like most campaigns that promote body positivity for 'curvier' women, there always seems to be an element of putting down skinnier women for how they look. A perfect example of this is the ever popular phrase 'Real Women Have Curves.' Whilst this phrase empowers many, the harsh reality is that people who are naturally slim, and not very curvy at all are made to feel as if they're not real women. The main problem is that there's an element of resentment towards skinny women. In my younger teens, I used to always think 'If only I was skinnier, my life would be so easy.' There's almost this illusion that skinny women have perfect bodies, so they aren't allowed to be insecure about them, and therefore they must be perfectly content with how they look. But the reality is that girls are made fun of for being a 'stick', having a 'boyish figure,' and being flat chested among many other things. Whilst I think Meghan had no intention to make girls feel bad if they have skinnier figures, there's a real undertone of skinny shaming in her song, that is quite hard to ignore. 

On a positive note, one way in which All About That Bass really succeeds is that it's message is not overly sexualised. Compared to songs like 'Booty' and 'Anaconda' which celebrate big behinds purely on sexual value, All About That Bass isn't about how sexually attractive you are to men, rather how positive you feel about your own body. Although the song does refer to how men like a little more booty to hold at night, the overall message of the song is that what's most important is that you accept your own body. 

In many ways, All About That Bass should be applauded. It is a song that helps to promote body positivity for lots of women and girls out there. It's just a shame that this song doesn't promote body positivity for all of us. Personally I think the way forward for body positivity is to accept all sizes. No one should decide what the perfect figure is, instead we should be happy with our bodies slim and curvy, just the way they are. After all, we are all so much more than our bodies, and the size of our waists shouldn't dictate how we feel about ourselves. What we achieve, and who we are is far more important. 

32 comments

  1. I 100% agree with this..
    This song could of been so powerful by simply changing a few lyrics
    I'm naturally slimmer and hate when people comment and say things like "you could do with eating a good meal" it's just rude and I'd never dream of saying something like that to anyone

    We should embrace body imagine and encourage each other - not shame each other and make people feel bad

    Xxx

    http://smallandblondex.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Yeah I think it's a shame people think they can put down skinnier frames. I'm glad you agreed with me xx

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  2. I've been saying this to people for a while now. The fact she says 'just playin' does not make it better that she uses such terms. You wouldn't call someone fat or ugly and then straight after claim that you're 'just playin' I don't think it would go down very well.

    However, admittedly I quite like the song, it's really catchy haha I think it just needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

    Kirsty x

    www.kirstytalks.co.uk

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    1. Yeah I still listen to it because I find it very addictive, just wish that the song sent a positive message to all women. Thanks for the comment lovely :)

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  3. Well written and some pretty good points made. I can't say I disagree with you. Love the tune though.

    http://fishnetsxd.blogspot.ie

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  4. Hi great post! I know of the song but I've never listened to it and it makes me angry knowing what she is singing about! I am naturally slim and petite and have always had people criticize me throughout my life for being too skinny, not having boobs, not having an ass, and being told to eat more etc... sometimes it feels like you can't win either you're too fat or too thin! We all come in different shapes and sizes! I think its really great you're bringing this to peoples attention :)

    www.didipie.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Yeah it's sad that it seems like these days you can only be on one side, pro curves or pro skinny. But yeah I wrote this post with people like you in mind, because I think this song can be quite offensive if you are skinny. Thanks for the comment lovely :)

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  5. Interesting read, thanks for sharing lovely! <3 Definitely agree with you, it's probably one big marketing scheme to get her famous quickly haha!

    I have a new outfit post on my blog, would love to know your thoughts:

    http://electricsunrise.blogspot.co.uk/

    x

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    1. Haha, yeah will be sure to check your post out x :) Thanks for commenting again lovely!

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  6. 100% agree with you on this song. I personally am sick and tired of body weight issues. Everyone is different, it shouldn't matter and it shouldn't be anyone's business unless there's healthy risk involved in it.

    Reflection of Sanity

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    1. Yeah exactly, people should just stop this fixation on what someone's body is like.

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  7. I'm actually glad I found a balanced opinion in this post, I read one that I felt was just full of hate and the person just read too much into it. But I for once agree! <3

    annaboho.blogspot.co.uk

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  8. I don't know the song, but seems good :)

    http://iwish-zuzi.blogspot.co.uk/

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  9. So well written loved reading it.
    www.rumelatheshopaholic.blogspot.com

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  10. I totally agree with what you are saying it does not make sense to me to claim it is a positiv body conscious song but then you actually pull out all prejudices about skinnier girls, I think you should rather promote and speak out for all body types, because now she is doing exactly what she would not want skinny girls to do: talk about prejudices and create tension!

    Loved this post!

    Much love xxx
    CHRISTINANISTA.COM

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    1. Yeah it's a shame that she does put forward that point of view in her song rather than embracing everyone.

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  11. Totally agree! I loved this song up until I heard the nasty jabs at thinner women. Its not as bad as Anaconda but surely we can be body positive without starting a war between the curvies and the slenders! xx

    Viva Epernay | Benefit 'Sugarglam Fairies' Giveaway

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  12. i totally agree with this. I'll admit, after I listened to this song a couple of times I felt a bit hurt/embarrassed because I'm one of those "sticks" who gets made fun of for not having curves or a chest and it doesn't feel good, but at the end of the day I understand her point in the song and I decided to let it go haha. I do really like the song and I agree about her points towards photoshop and such! lovely writing victoria :) xx

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    1. Aww, this is kinda my point about the song as it puts down others even if it does have a good message. Thanks Madison xx

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  13. Interesting post, I really love the song and music to it but yes I do think the phrase 'skinny bitches' in particular is unnecessary, Abi :)
    MyW0rldMyView

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    1. Yeah I love the music video and find the song really catchy, it's just a shame that certain parts of the song are like that!

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  14. The songs so catchy but I agree with all of this! It's such a contradicting song haha x

    tmzn loves | beauty blog

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    1. Yeah it is really catchy, but it's annoying that there are contradictions in the song. I just wished she'd made it for every girl :) She did do a great job on the song otherwise though

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