Size 6: The Western Women's Harem - My Opinion

"In fact I have to confess that I lost my usual self-confidence in that New York environment."

In my opinion, this sentence explains that the standards of beauty discourages one's self-confidence. These standards critisizes her physical appearance, especially her waist. The beauty ideals make people think that girls should be pretty, or cute, and thin. Boys should be tall, handsome, and muscular.

"You mean that you don't watch your weight?"

This last sentence, Mernissi is talking to a saleslady in a American department store. She implies that Mernissi is not strict on her diet, and she should be. I belive that this saleslady looks down on other women who are not in shape, who do not look "normal".