@CatherineSloper: The size 4 you speak of probably has the same dimensions as the original size 6 from the 80s. Don't need to get worked up.

Interesting to see the women play instruments to this day are still dominated by men. The only time I saw an entire section of women/girls play intruments like saxes, trumpets, trombones, etc...was when I was in high school - and that was because my school was girls only!

Hong Kong has also banned a lot of the foods from Japan for the same reason. I imagine it impacts Hong Kong a bit more, since they're closer and are more likely to get foods from that country.

Shirley Temple didn't have much of an acting career when she was older. From what I read, they tried to make her a teen star, but none of those movies were all that successful. She just wasn't cute anymore.

@emilyemcmahon: Yes, but if your foot is smaller than a 6, chances are, you're going to have to get to the store early just to pick up your size. I can't tell you how many times I've asked for my size and they tell me they no longer have it. And I live in Toronto, where there are a lot of small footed women.

And if the doctor is short, she's less likely to refer you too. Growing up, my pediatrician was about 4'11", maybe even less. I'm the shortest in my family (at barely 5'2" - some 3" shorter than my mom) and though I thought I had a problem, she never really referred me to anyone. I bet if she were my mom's height,…

Oy! This means that when we go back, we're going to start seeing an even MORE rebellious Sally if they decide to show the kids. She's going to be a teenager by the time the show comes back, after all... We already saw a bit of that in Season 4...

Fake & bake looks really bad though. Almost as bad as spray-on! Especially on women who over-bleach their hair.

Yes, but well-off, fair-skinned women of many non-(western) European-based cultures don't tan as often (I'm only speaking from a Chinese perspective) as fair skin is considered more attractive. I don't think first generation Eastern European women (those who came before the fall of the iron curtain) tan much either.

I own Spanx as well as Yummie Tummie. Personally, I prefer the latter - I've found that they don't push down/flatten parts you don't want flattened as much (i.e. boobs and butt). But that's just me, though.

@SamBarge: But does the school make your daughter wipe her hands and rinse her mouth BEFORE entering the classroom (as in NOT at home)?

@perfectblue: I think it's one thing to be nut-free and nother to require all the kids to rinse their mouths and wash their hands before coming into the classroom.

Looks like a second wedding dress one changes into for the reception.

Would love to know the geographical differences!

Not surprised about this. I recall my (Catholic) elementary school not giving out UNICEF boxes one Halloween because they're pro-choice. It was then that I decided that I was no longer Catholic.

I'm a little bit older (31) than the age group mentioned here, but as a teen in the 90s, there were so many fear-mongering articles in YM and Seventeen (those were the only two I read. I was NOT a Sassy type. Thought it was a little too "academic feminist/political" for my tastes) about STDs and pregnancy that it…

@albo: I've heard that a lot of Chinese guys are finding women abroad - many from Vietnam, which creates a whole other set of issues including language, abuse, etc...

It's probably based on what's considered "medium" in that specific country. People in different parts of the world have different average sizes/builds. I'm probably borderline medium in Asia while I'm XXS in US sizing and XS or S in European.

@TulipJefferson: H&M and Zara are more snug because they're European cut, meaning that they're more snug. It's like that for guys AND women.

Then there's the European fit vs American fit. H&M fits more snug than say, Gap or Old Navy. In addition, if you're a 2 at Old Navy, you're probably a 6 or 8 at H&M.