I am fat. Anyone over a size 12 is fat, if you listen to the haters out there.
Fat is the new sub-culture to be oppressed. Of course, being attacked for being fat is not a new thing, it’s just become the new frontier for small-minded, nasty people to spew their awful insecure, ignorant hatred at. Take the latest inexcusable vileness being directed at the stunningly beautiful Chrissie Swan and her gorgeous, happy, family. She’s not the first person to fall prey to the small-minded, yet vocal, minority. And unfortunately she will not be the last. The attacks on her have angered many people, take this fab post by my friend Woogsworld.
You see if you’re overweight, you are immediately a bad role model. You are a bad parent. You are a walking diabetic, heart attack. It is assumed you never exercise, nor do you eat healthy food or manage your stress levels. It is assumed you hate yourself and have no self esteem. If you’re overweight, you don’t live adventurous, fun, fulfilled lives full of love. You are nothing, but the flab on your belly. You are just fat. For many of us fatties, there’s nothing further from the truth.
It’s become accepted among people to comment openly about other people’s weight because we’ve been told time and time again that fat people are a drain on the tax system. Us fat people take valuable resources from the skinny elite. And because we cost people money, we are fair game. People on forums, in offices, on buses, at the school gate, on television, in news segments, online, at coffee shops and shopping centres have the right to pass judgment on us because of the size of our arse. We deserve it.
We are so fat we shouldn’t be allowed to fly in planes or ride on buses. We should have timed lunch breaks because, let’s face it, we eat so much more, we take way longer than other “normal” people. It’s time we were all sent to live on Fat Island.
I mean you have looked in the mirror lately haven’t you? You have taken a good hard look at your fat self haven’t you? Because it’s fat people like us that shame our country. We are a blight on the nation’s reputation. We walk around thinking we have equal rights as other people, but we don’t deserve to because we are too fat to deserve anything. We should just sit at home eating ice cream from the tub and smell our own fatness. Fat people smell too, did you know that? I read it in the comments of a news story. I unsubscribed to the news service, it angered me so much.
Hello comment moderators, you have a responsibility to condone hatred, but you don’t because it’s good for traffic to incite ignorance. Hello, mainstream media you bang on about bullying and a responsibility to fair and honest reporting – where is your responsibility to your readers? When will you start deleting hateful coments. There is no place for them. When will news organisations step in and play a pivotal role in stamping out online bullying?
This nastiness, this awful hatred, this vile judgement has GOT TO STOP.
I am fat, but I’ve still got a heart and watching this hurtful campaign against people is breaking it into many little pieces. It’s time we all took a stand against it.
bigwords x
Fuck the fattists.
I think it is wonderful you have shown support with such heartfelt words that jump from the page.I agree with everything you have so passionately written.Good on you love.Im sure your post will be greatly appreciated by many. xx
Bianca – well written (but it shouldn’t have had to be written at all). Society is so image obsessed that it has become acceptable for people to comment on others’ appearances.
You write that there is a judgment about the kind of lives fat people lead – that their lives are lacking and their shape and size is all they are. I see that attitude directed toward people with disabilities too – “poor you”, “you’re so brave” etc. These attitudes are other peoples’ insecurities surfacing.
As for the media being more responsible – when will they regulate the comments filled with hatred and criticism?
I hate that idea that because you’re in the media/putting yourself out there, you have to expect the criticism. No you don’t.
Well said!
Well said xx
Oh you are so very gorgeous, inspiring, funny and lovely. Working with kids I work hard to show them that it’s the heart of a person that matters. Those who judge and troll have many issues with their heart, possibly not having one. Seeing the world through ‘kind eyes’ is my anti bullying campaign both for kids and adults once it’s all up I’ll send you a copy. So much hate out there which seems to disguise all the amazing good stuff.
Big hugs to you. I know we’ve only spoken briefly yet you made a beautiful mark in my heart. Xxx
Hear, hear.
I love you xox
I love your writing. So passionate and so on the money x
nailed it … new follower… yeah its all a pile of pooh can we start a campaign for the media to moderate: like the letters to the editor? please? i’ll sign, i’ll help i just don’t know how. man u guys inspire me: thank you
I just love this! Absolutely love it!
I havent read the comments on Chrissy Swan and I don’t want. I place way too much importance on my own personal weight and its ridiculous! Society and media make it such a big issue and I have fallen prey to it. I have never been smaller than a 10/12 at any one time and only recently since having my daughter have I come to accept that this just is not fat. It is healthy, and any size above that is also not a problem! We need to stop letting society affect our the way we view ourselves and stop letting weight be such an important role in our lives because at the end of the day, if we are happy and healthy then what else really matters????
ps: i blog too but not as bravely as you or ms woog or many others
http://ameliadraws.wordpress.com/
in time perhaps
This post is spot on. What disappoints me in society is how acceptable it is to make negative comments about someone else’s weight yet the majority of people have enough sense to know that negative comments about other aspects of people’s personalitiles such as race/religion, etc are seen as discrimination. Making negative comments about someone’s appearance is discrimination, yet I cannot understand why it is so openly accepted in the media. Some of the most healthiest people I know are larger people and some of the most unhealthiest people I know are skinny. It is a stupid assumption that skinny=healhty & fat=unhealthy.
In Mx newspaper (a paper that is distributed in Melbourne during the afternoon peak on public transport) the amount of letters included from readers each day basically putting down fat people is astonishing and I cannot believe this is seen as ok by the media. I hope that this is stamped out eventually but sadly it doesn’t look like it is stopping anytime soon 🙁
When I was going through a horrific time and was losing weight at an alarming rate because I physically couldn’t eat I was so traumatised, people would congratulate me on my weight loss.
And when I told them WHY I had lost so much weight so quickly they would say something flippant like they wished they had trauma that made them lose weight.
People are idiots and society sucks.
Couldn’t agree more that the comments in online news articles should be moderated. What positive purpose can it possibly serve to allow people to lash out with unmitigated cruelty against people they don’t even know? It makes me sick, not to mention incredibly sad that some people not only think these thoughts but feel it’s ok to air them publicly. PS – you are gorgeous. Don’t listen to the haters.
They are moderated. Which is why the crackpot pro-fattists posts have been blocked. Statistics show that being overweight puts you at risk of disease. You can’t argue with science. Obesity is a killer. Lifestyle diseases kill people. It’s very real and it’s a warning to everyone who feels comfortable with a little padding. It is not healthy. Yes, there are healthy fat people who live to be a ripe old age, but they are not the majority. The human body is not designed to carry excess fat, it is our lifestyle that allows us to do this. The fate of most obese people is uncomfort, followed by illness and disease, and a realization that they should have done something sooner. Yes, there are other reasons for being obese, but the increase in obesity is attributed statistically to lifestyle factors. Fat killed my father prematurely and my sisters and I will share the same fate if we are not careful, so don’t preach that I don’t know what it’s like. I’ve had first hand experience. Fat kills.
Hi Anon, statistics also show that being viscious and hateful raises stress levels and places one at higher risk of a number of complications leading to death, and as such unnecessarily burdens our health systems. It’s a real epidemic, unfortunately. I’ve had firsthand experience of this, as my children lost a father to this disease. Please be careful, I’d hate for you to share the same fate. To prevent this, I would recommend practicing compassion and foregoing anonymous attacks on others.
Dear Anon, yawn. Haters are very boring.
xxxCate
Ps: I’m thin so don’t think u can hide behind the “it’s bc your fat” pathetic excuse. Mean is just mean, there is no excuse for it.
Grrrr. This makes me SO cranky. The assumptions of it. The righteousness. The spewing of hate. Great post BW. From one fatty to another. From this fatty who works out 4 times a week, is perfectly healthy and hasn’t had a sick day in aaaaaages. Drain on resources my fat ass.
“We should just sit at home eating ice cream from the tub and smell our own fatness.”
Lordy, what has the online world become…
You are welcome over here anytime for ice-cream B. We can smell each other’s fatness and throw things at the newspaper/computer/television.
With you all the way x
My favourite thing is if someone thin says something about health, fitness or food it’s accepted with nodding agreement, but if someone fat says the EXACT SAME thing it’s all “what would you know”. And for those of you haters out there think that was a stab at thin people – it can’t be, I’m thin. So ner.
Health not size!!!!!!!!!!!
xxxCate
The big issue here is the annual $21 billion obesity burden. It’s not about body image, or society’s portrayal of the portly, it’s simple economics. Obesity is a cost that is being worn by all Australians. There is no such thing as a healthy fat person. Being obese or being overweight, as defined by the WHO guidelines, increases your risk of disease. It is irresponsible to believe otherwise.
Actually, I saw this very morning on the news that the biggest burden on the health system is socio-economic status ie.. he biggest indicator of early death is whether you finish high school. That is very sad indeed.
Love it! Well said. It is one of my pet hates that people who are smugly anti racist have no problem discriminating against larger people. Dickheads.
Thank you
Yes, this fat person lives on the side of a mountain. I can walk up hills thin people can’t. I love my wine, my chocolate and me free range, organic food. I am healthier and happier than I have ever been. I look at least 5, if not 10 years younger than my actual age. I will always be size 14+. Sorry, that’s just the size of my bones! And BMI – you suck as a measurement tool! Life is too short to worry about other people judging the size of my hips, butt, tummy, boobs or anything else. I am me. I rock. That is all!
Fat people may be a “drain” on society, yes – but what about the skinny druggies and boozers who chew up resources of the police, insurance companies from break ins and thefts, hospital emergency rooms, government funded rehabs, homeless shelters, etc? We fatties are not the only criminals draining society with our unhealthy lifestyles. It’s not about “it’s good to be fat” it’s about supporting people to improve their health instead of shaming and guilting them into doing something about it. I try to live the healthiest, active lifestyle I can, but I’m still paying, physically, for years of abuse as a depressed teen. I’m doing the best I can – don’t punish me while I’m trying. I’d rather my son saw me fat, happy and dedicated to a better life than to go back to the miserable, depressed, suicidal little girl that I was.
This issue has me so depressed I really will be reaching for the ice cream soon, with a shovel. Thanks for a great post that offers a perspective that’s so rare on this issue. I often feel silenced, as though people assume I’m trying to defend unhealthy living, or as though my opinions are invalid because I am one of the rotund-ish majority. It is never OK to abuse someone on the basis of their appearance. And I will accept that I’m a burden on the tax payer as soon as everyone else gives up drinking alcohol, driving cars, adventure sports, stressful jobs and other lifestyle choices that land them in hospital. Think I need a bit of a lie down now!
Well said. I’m size 16-18 since I had my son.
At the moment I’m so afraid of my future. I fear that I may have done my second university degree for nothing… because everyone in the marketing field look slim and hot. It appears that only hot women get jobs in marketing. So I have 6 months to lose the fat before I graduate… otherwise I might not get in!!!! See? Slim people determine my destiny in many ways.
you might not want to hear from me, i am a huge failure as a mother, and i will tell you why.
yesterday i gave my son a $20 note to buy me a $2 cup of tea at the soccer canteen. i said he could buy $1 each of lollies for him and his sister. when he came back with $11.50 (instead of $16) change, i walked up to the canteen to politely point out their mistake.instead i was confronted by the wife of the club president telling me that my son had spent more than $2 on lollies, that he was lying to me … why the long story? because my son is fat … and therefore uncontrollably greedy and a liar to boot, and a perfectly understandable mistake on her behalf. even the manager, a long time friend, told me that it wasn’t that he didn’t trust me … implying he didn’t trust my son. i will leave a few lines here for you to insert what you think i might have said in return … needless to say he eventually refunded me the additional money. xt
Well said and spot on xx
I don’t understand this at all. I don’t know why people have to be cruel to one another. I suppose so they can make themselves feel better but seriously what is wrong with us that putting down someone else is what makes us feel better?
This post makes me so angry. I’ve read it twice now and then left the page because I can’t think of anything to say. Whilst I’m thinking of a proper retort I just want you to know that I think your fantastic, and gorgeous, funny, witty and intelligent. I’ll be back with a better comment but just wanted you to know that I think you’re fab and luv ya from afar B. Vix x
To all the cowardly weight-ist anonymouses…
Before you get too smug about science, science tells us that people who are overweight have higher life expectancy than the under or “healthy” weight people out there.
So let’s not hide our prejudice behind the great god of science, OK?
“Fat” is an aesthetics issue, hiding like a coward inside a simpering faux-caring costume of health. Being over size 12/14 is not currently within that narrow, ever-changing FASHION of how we’re supposed to look to be attractive.
People are too scared to admit that they’ve been conditioned to not like looking at people over a particular size. They hide their mean-ness in talking about what’s “good for us”.
Fuck that shit. Be who you are, diet if you like, or not. Weight – like age, gender, race and sexuality should never be used to put people down.
xxxx
My thoughts exactly – http://www.littlecottagebiglife.com/i-love-chrissie-swan/
I’m sorry you had to write this at all my truly gorgeous friend! What the fuck is up with all the horrible judgement flying about at the moment anyway? People should just get on with living their own lives to the best of their capabilities. Personally, I think it awful to judge someone on their physical appearance, weight based or otherwise. My grandpa who was more like a Dad to me than my actual Dad was morbidly obese and housebound for the last few years of his life. I loved the man beyond words and I can tell you with certainty he was not a burden on the health system. He died early, most certainly from his obesity but that did not make him a “burden”. I detest this kind of hate with every part of my being. In the words of Nick Cave, I believe we should all, “walk with grace and love”. Xxxxxx
I gave up reading the comments on both Chrissie’s article and those on the article featuring me. They just got so vitriolic, so hateful and disgusting, nobody should subject themselves to reading that.
Yet these hateful people would say they’re “nice” if you asked them. They’d tell you they’re good, kind people who wouldn’t hurt a fly. But they spew their hatred and vile “opinions” everywhere, and if we protest, we’re told we’re disgusting.
The hate will not win this fight. They will not silence this fat woman.
Got a lovely comment on my blog today telling me I looked huge. Hope that made her Monday.
What the? Idiot. Who bothers to do that? You are HUGELY successful & I love your hard work & guts that you have used to get to this point in your life. Love D xx
How much do I love you and your passionate view on life? A lot. I’m fat but I am more much more than that. I am denyse. I’m a successful woman who cares for and supports people in whatever ventures in life they choose. Go you. Wish I lived nearby. Coffee & cake time ! Denyse xxx
**facepalm** You are hugely beautiful. That is all.
Me to a T! Could have written this word for word, Cath.
Well, I’d rather be a “fat” but fit and strong size 14+. I have known girls who can’t even walk a flat half kilometre and keep up with me who are 3 sizes smaller and look like they’d fly away on a gust of wind. All those detractors and naysayers are feeding the small-minded frenzy of it all.
You’ve said it all so well, yet again, Ms B. We love you!
It isn’t just over a size 12… i had a midwife after my 2nd baby tell me i was morbidly obese… i was a 10-12 and was 6 weeks post baby… post c/section baby at that! Her advice was to get stuck into stomach crunches, sit ups and other abdominal muscles as well as lots of walking with kids and plenty of time chasing them around the park! I tell you i almost punched her, given i was weighing in at less than i was when i fell pregnant!
Now i’m a size 16, i don’t particularly like what i see in the mirror but i don’t hate it, it is me and if i want to loose weight it is going to take effort… at the moment i’m maintaining it and that is a big positive given i’ve stopped the gaining part.
Anyone over size 12 is fat?
Well, gosh darn it all, I’ve spent the last few years calling myself pleasantly plump and cuddly.
Now I’m going to have to call myself fat?
Fat grandma doesn’t sound as happy as cuddly granny.
Think I’m going to ignore the F word and stay cuddly.
Or maybe eat less cake….
thank you for your article girl! Im a size 14, have a nice boyfriend and work as front desk receptionist…never ha dissues with my weight ..of course for the summer I wanted to get a flatter stomach which I achieved with lots of jogging but yes I DO HAVE CURVES on all the right places! I have a fun life! a delivery guy just came to my company and I signed a parcel for him when he actually said to me: ‘ are you trying to put on weight?’ I thought I didn’t hear right so asked ‘WHAT?’ and he actually said ‘ are you getting fat?’ I couldn’t believe it especially as he s not a skinny guy himself! wtf!
Oh Kelly, I hear you. When I am extremely stressed I cannot stomach food and my adrenaline runs on overtime. People tell me they want what I’m having. I know that they really truly do not want it. Recently a family member (who once picked on my fatness) told me that they were relieved to see me as I am now (not super skinny) because they knew it meant I wasn’t completely stressed. It made my day. xx
I am with you Bianca. It’s time we love the body we have. Or more so, time that the media/society/each bloody other supports us. This is crazy – this ‘pick on another to make me feel better’, which is my opinion on where a lot this stems from. Every one of us is wonderful and we owe it ourselves to be the healthiest and happiest we can be. Xx