fat and feminism, again.

[keryx]

It's ironic how I never tire of getting into this discussion with people. Fat people who aren't feminists. Feminists who don't recognize fat acceptance as an issue. Both of them not getting the difference between THIN and HEALTHY. I can't shut up about it.

Case in point #1: on the Don't Tell Me What Size I Must Be list yesterday, someone goes all off on how Slim Fast is making her life great and she needs to lose 100 pounds. And I fired back a really nice note that really diplomatically said - if you're going to talk diet on a fat acceptance list, the very least you can do is WARN ME before I read that shit. Because I don't care what you do, but I don't want to read it.

Case in point #2: the fat activist vs. weight watchers post on feminist_rage (any of you who don't already read f-r ought to at least read that post). Man, people start talking about this and I cannot shut up. I don't think any American woman has a true grasp on how healthy or unhealthy she is, because we've been sold this message that thin is now not only in, but a guarantee against early death. And we've bought it so well. So, hell yeah, fat is a feminist issue. It's one hairy ugly component of the beauty myth. Maybe not The Central Feminist Issue, but certainly one we ought to care about.

Comments

[firecat]

Of course it's OK to "say" it. I just happen to think that the decision to focus on weight loss (as opposed to the decision to increase one's exercise or eat more veggies) is usually partially informed by cultural weight hysteria, and that a lot of people who say "I'm losing weight for me" aren't aware of the extent to which they are influenced by cultural messages about weight.

But judging other people for their political awareness is just as bad as judging other people for their health, so I'll shut up now.

[keryx.livejournal.com]

Pfft. Judging other people based on their political awareness ROCKS. Because I do it all the time. :P