Size Standardization

We, the undersigned, petition the United States Congress to enact legislation requiring all manufacturers, designers, and marketers of women's clothing sold in the United States to begin standardizing the sizing of women's clothing.

Items are intentionally labeled as a size or two smaller to generate more revenue. The self-esteem and body image of women, whether we like it or not, hinges on the size she wears. Teen girls have and will engage in behavior indicative of eating disorders to stay within a certain size range. Healthy lifestyle attempts are abandoned when a woman has a difficult time shopping for clothing because of the sizes. In the author's personal experience, three (3) different brand labels, all claiming to be the same size, fit very differently; this is what needs to change.

Countries around the world are taking note of the impact to society from the fashion industry. Slimmer models at low weights or BMIs are being banned from runways and magazines, in an attempt to change the body image of women and young girls. It's time that this message is carried to the United States in meaningful ways.

If men's pants can be designed, manufactured, and sold by the waist size and inseam, then women's clothing should be likewise. In fact, by selling women's clothing by measurements (waist and hips for pants/skirts; bust size for shirts) women will be more eager to shop and purchase, assured of getting a correct fit. Instead women live with pants that are too long because they have to fit around the waist; pants that fit the waist but do not fit the hips; shirts that adequately cover the midsection but are too tight or loose over the bust.

We urge not only women, but any father of a daughter, grandfather of granddaughters, husbands, sons, anyone who has watched a woman or girl battle her body image because of clothing sizes to sign this petition. We can, and will, make a difference! Members of Congress, we urge you to take this small step, creating and enacting legislation standardizing the size labels of women's clothing, as one step in the fight for a mentally and physically healthier America.