This has been an ongoing debate for about 3 weeks now, so I figure you can all duke it out in the comments.
As many of you know, I recently joined OK Cupid. On their site they give you the following options for body types... Rather not say, thin, overweight, skinny, average, fit, athletic, jacked, a little extra, curvy, full figured and used up (WTF? Used up? Who the hell would actually put that?).
A little info about me... I'm 5'5, healthy, work out at least 3-4 times a week, am a size 6 and a 34D. This is where the debate begins... I believe I am "curvy" ala Jennifer Love Hewitt, but it seems that curvy means something totally different in the online dating world. But, I do have curves that are real and not doctor altered.
As soon as I changed my body type from curvy to fit the emails and winks came flooding in. Was this putting me with more matches? Am I really fit or should I just be average?
The emails I received were hilarious... One read "Didn't your profile say curvy? You're PHAT, not FAT."
So... what category should I be in? Which will give you the most matches? What are guys looking for and does Average cut it in the online dating world? I need answers people... it might be time to change my body type again!
I think it comes down to the type of body you would want to attract, you always see couples that are similar in look. It because if you like to work out 3-4 times a week, chances are you're going to date someone that works out 3-4 times a week.
ReplyDeleteI would select the body type I want to attract, and be realistic. If I'm looking for a fit partner, then I would select that as my body type because people use the selection criteria as a mirror. The more matches they see in the other person the more they've convinced themselves it could work.
Plus that whole "body type portion" is linked to the persons experience with body image, it's all very subjective and fluid.
I think, to a guy, "curvy" is a nice way for a girl to say "a few extra pounds." But a girl (ie: you) do not see it that way. Like the person above said, it's all subjective.
ReplyDeleteIn the dating world I would say the JLH (in that picture) is either average or curvy. Fit is more like Gillian from Biggest Loser. But while I'm back fan of total honesty I would say with something subjective like these labels, if you're torn between option 1 and option 2...pick the hotter one...you'd be better off to get 100 guys look at your profile and 50 be attracted (agree you're fit) than 50 guys look at your profile and 35 be attracted.
ReplyDeleteI HATE that too!I I am similarly shaped (smaller boobs tho, boo!) and would normally say curvy but veered toward fit because I thought guys would think curvy meant plus size! Not that that is bad, but you know what I mean...preconcieved notions...it's just a word. And um, used up? REALLY?! I didn't even notice!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why there isn't an option to fill in our own description of our body types... Very presumptuous of these online dating sites to categorize us into those body type groups.
ReplyDeleteIn France, I've got the following options to choose from: svelte, sportive, équilibrée, pulpeuse (luscious/fleshy), généreuse, normale. I wish that there were a way I could select the option for "flat-chested, physically fit, child-bearing hips and perky butt." But seriously, what the hell is "used up" supposed to mean?!
I JUST set my best friend up on OKC and she says, "Jacked????" and then I said, look down further... and she says, "Used up!!!".. haha.. interesting...
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to figure out what Used Up means... weathered?? Tan, wrinkly and old? BTW - ALL GREAT COMMENTS! I hate to say that I'm average, but think fit might work for the time being. As if online dating had to be any more complicated...
ReplyDeleteUsed up would be a lot of the women my age that I see here down south. They are the women that could be in the early/ mid thirties but look like they're in their late forties or early fifties. You know, addicted to drugs and/or alcohol, tanned too much in their 20s and look like a wrinkly piece of leather, and are so skinny they look like skin stretched over a skeleton. Not to mention, they probably have 4-6 children from different fathers. And that, my friends, is what used up means. I would hazard a guess that no one here falls into that category.
ReplyDeleteOMG. NextOnDeckG - You're HILARIOUS! That is the best definition of Used Up I've ever heard!
ReplyDeleteThanks Emily! Glad I could help with that one. I'm still a bit confused on the difference between thin and skinny. :/
ReplyDeleteI'm curvy, and I have my setting set to that. I have 36D boobs, and hips to match. I work out and have muscles, but I don't work out so much that I'd call myself "athletic". I LIKE being curvy in real life. Maybe I should change to average to see what happens?
ReplyDeleteWhat annoys me is the guys that choose "athletic", and then you meet them, and it's obvious that they think couch surfing is a sport.
Couch Surfing! Bwahaha! Naturally Single Mom- change it to average for a week and see what happens (and report back!). We wanna know! The minute I changed mine, the winks and emails came rolling in. It was bizarre (and a little insulting!).
ReplyDelete