The Size of Shame

In the past several times that I've been shopping, I usually visited my favourite stores without much question. I get very excited when my favourite brands decide to start carrying plus sizes. However, this recently changed as I was shopping in Maurice's, and I discovered that there was a dress in the smaller sizes, and they had the same style in plus size. At first I was eager to buy the dress in my corresponding size, but the sales representative informed me of a $12 difference. And if I really like something, I buy it without noticing the price difference, but I got to thinking that this difference meant something greater. For the greater parts of my life, I have felt very self-conscious about my looks and my body, because quite frankly I was not "blessed" with my typical family genes. When I lived with my mom, I was constantly put on diets, for "health" purposes. I have always known that I was going to be somewhat of a bigger person, because I do not get as much exercise as the average person. The thing I have a problem with today, is that in the last 5 to 10 years, I have gone from being a large to a 3X in some cases. In spite of my obvious lack of exercise, I do not physically believe my body has altered that drastically. In the quite evident reduction of sizing, and the increase in clothing prices, there lies shaming. If you don't want to pay the extra $10 for a bigger size, then you better get yourself to a gym, in order to fit in a "normal" size. I agree that it is important to take care of yourself. I do believe the concept of "big is beautiful" to a certain extent, but not to  the extent of a person outright neglecting their health. The main concern for companies, it seems, is not the notion of health, or the promotion of higher self-esteem, but rather the promotion of bigger profits.