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

[keryx.livejournal.com]

Nail. On. Head. Any choice that capitulates to a confining view of feminine appropriateness ought to be seriously questioned. Because it is personal for you, but it is political when you and everyone else are all counted together. The sex and weightloss industries very much parallel each other in this respect.

[snidegrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm going to remember this one next time someone pipes up that they watched "Booty Party 4" and it was a liberating experience. :P

[keryx.livejournal.com]

I think there are some legitimate reasons why the sex industry is empowering to women. The acceptance of sexuality is certainly one.

I wonder, are there equivalent feelings of empowerment that some women associate with the diet industry?

[snidegrrl.livejournal.com]

Go read the past year of kelowna's journal. This is an empowered woman, and very focused on her body. I don't agree with her alot of the time but I admire her in many ways.

I found alot of inspiration at this site. This woman seems to have empowered herself to change her body and had nothing but a positive experience.

I think some women who change their habits and see a visible change in their body take away from that experience a feeling of control in their lives. They have effected a visible, tangible change.

I seriously don't want to beat anyone with a diet stick or a healthy stick or any kind of stick. I don't take kindly when anyone proselytizes health. But by beating myself with those sticks, I do send a message to the people around me.

That was probably a rhetorical questions, wasn't it? :-/

[keryx.livejournal.com]

I lurve stumptuous. From a diet to porn comparison, I think she's indie feminist lesbian porn. Like, it's the structure of the "health industry", but without the pain=gainness. :D

Yeah, it was kinda a rhetorical question, but there's nothing better than a serious answer to a rhetorical question.