“In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids. Candidly, we go after the cool kids,” ... “We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don't belong, and they can't belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely.” Michael Jeffries, former CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch told Salon during a 2006 interview. 

This outraged customers, and many others, when it was said back in 2006; However, this has had its 5 minutes of fame, and today, many popular teen clothing stores still have refused to carry sizes above 10; and as size 16-22 is considered “Plus Sized,” this leaves those people out. Some companies still distribute up to size 14, which is marked as a Large, but only provide those sizes online.

Now, you may be asking “Who cares?” Well, we have your answer: Teenagers.

Everyone either was, is currently, or is going to be a teenager, and it’s the same story for most, especially those in modern day; looks are a big thing. Forever 21, Hollister, American Eagle, You have to have all the hottest clothing!

But… What if you don’t fit the “big brands” all your friends were wearing…?

That’s the story for more than 20% of the United States teenage population; and this doesn't just affect them, over 60% of high schoolers, of all clothing sizes, believed companies should offer plus sized clothing in stores.

Companies should consider offering plus sized clothing online, at the very least. which would allow these people to receive the clothes they want from the stores they want. To provide equal service to all sizes of people, companies should allow these sizes in stores and not just online. (which allows plus sized people to shop with friends that may not be plus sized… etc.)

These major companies have discriminated against a large number of people, especially with the skyrocketing obesity rate in America. Simply expanding the variety of sizes provided within the stores and/or online is a small step that could help stop discrimination against plus sized people.