empowering a word

[keryx]

Most of you have already heard me and other folk say this often enough that it won't leap out and make you go aha!, but Peggy Elam's blog on the word fat is still a worthy read. I like her take on "offhandedly empowering the stereotype" of fat as negative when we even think "I'm so fat" or even "I can't call myself fat" as if fat has a meaning on its own.

Comments

[cutegaychick.livejournal.com]

Your "fat" thing always makes me think of my "dyke" and "butch" thing. I have a close friend who gets very upset when I refer to myself as a dyke or a butch chick. "You are not!" or "Don't call yourself bad names!"

IT'S NOT A BAD NAME! Geez, it's descriptive, not derisive!

I'm a fat dyke. Actually, I'm an exceptionally intelligent, incredibly sexy fat dyke and I could kick your ass in my sleep.
Beat that with a stick!

[keryx.livejournal.com]

that is a hot effing photo.
what were you saying again?

[cutegaychick.livejournal.com]

*laugh* Next time, I won't bother trying to compose a complete thought -- I'll just bust out with the cool icons.

And what I was saying was:

"Hey hot stuff, you're really sexy. Wanna roll around with the windows open?"

[firecat]

Yeah.

I loved Beauty Shop, actually.

[hope-persists.livejournal.com]

a) when are you coming to town?
b) when can i meet you if i'm not going to the conference???????

[keryx.livejournal.com]

I sent ya email with my phone number. I don't think it'll be overwhelmingly busy, and I definitely want to make time to meet you.

Also, you're not going to the conference?? What up?

[keryx.livejournal.com]

It looks like a good flick - haven't seen it, but it's in my queue.

[keryx.livejournal.com]

I don't think you could kick my ass in your sleep. Unless you started showing me LJ icons, I guess.

You know, you accidentally bring up a point I have trouble with myself - so, I don't think of you as fat, right? But if you want to call yourself fat, do I stop you? Paricularly if you're not doing the "omg I'm SO FAT" thing (where you're either expressing some kind of dysmorphia or aiming for attention), I guess not. Hmmm.

[cutegaychick.livejournal.com]

Hmmm ... I'm not sure ... I hadn't thought about it ... Let's see ... I firmly believe that women who *complain* about being fat (yeah, I do it sometimes too) should be ignored. But saying as a statement that you just disagree with? Um ... Hmm ... I guess that it's then fair game for objective discussion/debate.