"I don’t discriminate against “fat” people- I discriminate against those that are too big to live life..."
I would like to acknowledge my privilege as a 5’0 100 lb white female. I’m fairly attractive, with a personal-trainer boyfriend and many friends. I would just like to see my story shared as well. I am perfectly happy with my thin privilege. I worked hard for my body to look like the way it is. Sure, maybe my genetics had to do with it- except for the fact that my parents and grandparents are fairly overweight. But you see, I don’t discriminate against “fat” people- I discriminate against those that are too big to live life to the fullest and refuse to accept facts. I’ve been body-shamed for being too fat, and I’ve been body-shamed for being too skinny by two different groups. I’m not a muscley girl, I’m a girl with a bit of fat on my hips that likes to eat too much while watching Mark Wahlberg movies. I may fit into a petite XS or size 2, but that doesn’t make me any better than those that don’t. My number does not define me and I am carpe’ing every diem in sight without letting size even cross my mind. I’m advocating for the body acceptance of all healthy girls, skinny and large. And if you refuse to post this, I guess I know which side you are on.
Healthist thin privilege denial, thou art this post.
Newsflash: I worked hard for my body, too. I continue to, day by day. I went from having severe health problems and a lower quality of life due to “maintaining” a thinness that was unnatural for me, to the healthiest I’ve ever been (after gaining weight I no longer have to see a cardiologist. Having a cardiologist at 17 years old is not fun. It’s not fun at any age, but that young, considering the long-term damage you can do to your heart, is a bad idea).
This might seem world-shaking to you, but I’m going to get real: no one cares an iota of a fuck about how special you think your thin body makes you. No one cares about the bit of fat on your hips. Or what size you fit into on any given day. Or how you think some fatties aren’t worth your abuse but others deserve it. These are things you obsess about. They live in your head. They take up your time and energy and no one else’s. If you want to pretend they make you special, here’s some news: they don’t. No one’s pants size ever made them special. No one’s opinions on other peoples’ appearances every made them special. At best you can become some chattering empty (size XS!) suit that amuses other chattering empty suits. That’s the level of your contribution to the betterment of yourself and society; literally, a contribution of size zero.
You know what does make a difference to your growth as a human?
Shutting the fuck up and listening once in a while. Especially to people who aren’t like you. Especially when the shallow, obsessive, image-related thoughts get too frequent and too loud. Read blogs and books about things with which you’re not familiar. Different cultures. Different points in history. Or, if you don’t like reading, write. Draw. Try to grow something. Take a walk down a different road. Stay quiet when you would have spoken. Speak when you would have stayed quiet. Look for the vibrant colors in ordinary objects. Try to find the moon in a daylit sky. All of these things will grow you better than the circular, self-reinforcing shallow and bigoted thoughts you currently hold about yourself and other people.
And you know what else? You really don’t deserve the advice I’m giving to you right now. You don’t deserve my time. So why am I giving it? Because there’s a strong echo of what you’re saying in the things I used to say. When I was more ignorant. When I was sicker. When I was less aware. And who knows. Maybe (if you’ve actually read to this point) you are now a little less ignorant. And even if you’re still hateful and you jab back with some response full of indignant hurt feelings, someday when some fat person you like or love is telling you about their life, you’ll remember this, and you won’t shut them down or alienate them for the crime of being too fat for your liking, or of having difficulties you can’t share, or problems that you will never experience.
Finally, read a couple of our FAQ entries. If you read this post with an open mind and the FAQ with an open mind and still have questions, we may answer them. Sadly, however, if you had an open mind I doubt you would have written such a thoughtless, shallow, bigoted post in the first place.
"But thin people get shamed, too."
"But saying that you hate obesity isn’t the same as saying you hate fat people."
"Shouldn’t you just tell everyone that they’re beautiful?"
"But isn’t being fit/eating right a good thing?"
