The Average Woman Is No Longer A Size 14

A 2016 study has confirmed that women's sizes have increased over the past decades. These results could potentially lead to much-needed changes in the fashion industry, making shopping more inclusive for women with curvier figures. Women have long been subjected to unrealistic body standards. 

Today, the media's glorification of an "ideal" body image often leads to a range of negative emotions, including self-consciousness, frustration, hopelessness, and depression. Moreover, these unhealthy standards can be particularly burdensome for women dealing with body image issues and eating disorders. 

However, women now have additional support in their fight against these standards, as a 2016 study revealed that the longstanding belief that the average American woman is a size 14 is false; the average is actually between sizes 16 and 18. 

This is a cause for celebration! Shopping can be a challenging experience for larger women, something Deborah Christel and Susan Dunn are acutely aware of. Plus-sized women often feel excluded from clothing and fashion, and Christel and Dunn attribute this to the incorrect notion of the "average woman" being a size 14.

Two faculty members from the Department of Apparel Merchandising, Design, and Textiles at Washington State University embarked on a study to explore this issue.

After analyzing the measurements of over 5,500 American women, they discovered that the average waist size had increased by 2.6 inches over the past two decades, from 34.9 inches to 37.5 inches.

This increase translates to a size 16 or 18, equivalent to a women's plus size 20W.

The CDC's 2019 data suggests that the average waist size is now 38.7 inches, indicating that the typical American woman wears a large or extra-large pant size, or a dress size of 18 to 20.

It's important to note that sizes and waist measurements vary among different ethnic groups and races. However, the overarching trend is clear: women's sizes have grown in recent years.

Consequently, retailers must adapt. Fashionable clothing is often not available beyond a size 12, alienating the average woman from the retail experience, which can negatively impact their self-esteem and self-worth.

Moreover, it results in significant lost sales for retailers. Despite denials from the fashion industry, a study published in the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology, and Education has confirmed that the average woman's size has increased. 

Dunn and Christel's aspiration is that their research will instigate industry reforms and make shopping more inclusive for women with fuller figures.

Dunn said:

“We hope that this information can get out and be used by industry and consumers alike. Just knowing where the average is can help a lot of women with their self-image. And we hope that the apparel industry can see the numbers and know that these women aren’t going away, they aren’t going to disappear, and they deserve to have clothing.”

She emphasized that larger women deserve fashionable clothing just as much as anyone else. As such, their sizes should not be relegated to online shopping or tucked away in a small plus-size section; they should be integrated with the rest of the clothing options.

Following the study's revelations, model Sonny Turner joined the cause.

On her Instagram, she shared a photo and voiced her frustrations with swimsuit designers:

"High-street bikinis are not designed for women with my body type, and most online stores fail to cater to us as well. We need straps that don't feel like they're cutting into our necks. We need bikini bottoms that stay in place as we move. We need string bikinis that provide proper coverage.

We require swimsuits that can comfortably fit over our hips without pulling down the neck of the suit and causing neck pain."

All women, regardless of their shape, curves, and edges, are beautiful and deserve recognition. Society must cease pressuring them to feel ashamed of their bodies, starting now.