In Defense of Fat Acceptance
For those of my beloved friends who read this, today's post is not a self-centered, angry rant, as so many of my posts have become. Rather, it is an impassioned plea for a change in our society's thinking.
I have just read a wonderful article by one Mary Ray Worley entitled, "Fat and Happy: In Defense of Fat Acceptance," for my W131 class. It's very short, and if anyone has a spare moment, I strongly suggest looking it up on the internet. Our culture has conditioned us to believe that "normal" bodies=thin. This idea is a tragedy in and of itself, not to mention the self-loathing it has caused millions of men and women. Heck, the word "fat" has become this negative taboo term. I don't even think fat means obese. I think being obese means being unhealthy, but being fat is simply being pleasantly plump. ^_^ What matters is loving the skin you're in.
Every day, many of us judge people who are bigger than we are, assuming that they're fat because they've "let themselves go" or that it's somehow their fault. I'm sure there are people out there like that (but there are also skinny people out there like that). It is entirely possible to be fit and healthy and be larger than a size 12. So many people who are fat are ashamed of themselves and our culture judges them when they try to go swimming, exercise in public or wear certain kinds of clothing (i.e. sleeveless shirts, shorts...etc.). Personally, I hate it when celebrities wear revealing clothing, but that's another story. Many larger people (and I even hate talking about them like that because it's like, "Larger? Larger than what?! The rest of humanity?!!!" Of course that's not what I mean.) have spent thousands of dollars looking for a "quick fix" to their appearances and have tried dieting and miracle pills only to regain more than they lost. Losing weight quickly can actually send the message to your body that you're starving yourself, and it will therefore try to compensate for the loss w/ stored fat.
Anyway, my whole point is that people are beautiful and remarkable. They're beautiful because every person is unique and has a gift to give to the world (even if they don't know it themselves). Judging people based on weight is akin to judging people based on race; we're all different, but different doesn't have to mean ugly or negative. We should all endeavor to stop judging beauty by the media's standards and start looking at the heart. That's the only permanent kind of beauty that exists anyway-- we're all bound to be bald and wrinkly someday. ^_^
*And I don't mean to accuse anyone reading this of being discriminatory.*
I have just read a wonderful article by one Mary Ray Worley entitled, "Fat and Happy: In Defense of Fat Acceptance," for my W131 class. It's very short, and if anyone has a spare moment, I strongly suggest looking it up on the internet. Our culture has conditioned us to believe that "normal" bodies=thin. This idea is a tragedy in and of itself, not to mention the self-loathing it has caused millions of men and women. Heck, the word "fat" has become this negative taboo term. I don't even think fat means obese. I think being obese means being unhealthy, but being fat is simply being pleasantly plump. ^_^ What matters is loving the skin you're in.
Every day, many of us judge people who are bigger than we are, assuming that they're fat because they've "let themselves go" or that it's somehow their fault. I'm sure there are people out there like that (but there are also skinny people out there like that). It is entirely possible to be fit and healthy and be larger than a size 12. So many people who are fat are ashamed of themselves and our culture judges them when they try to go swimming, exercise in public or wear certain kinds of clothing (i.e. sleeveless shirts, shorts...etc.). Personally, I hate it when celebrities wear revealing clothing, but that's another story. Many larger people (and I even hate talking about them like that because it's like, "Larger? Larger than what?! The rest of humanity?!!!" Of course that's not what I mean.) have spent thousands of dollars looking for a "quick fix" to their appearances and have tried dieting and miracle pills only to regain more than they lost. Losing weight quickly can actually send the message to your body that you're starving yourself, and it will therefore try to compensate for the loss w/ stored fat.
Anyway, my whole point is that people are beautiful and remarkable. They're beautiful because every person is unique and has a gift to give to the world (even if they don't know it themselves). Judging people based on weight is akin to judging people based on race; we're all different, but different doesn't have to mean ugly or negative. We should all endeavor to stop judging beauty by the media's standards and start looking at the heart. That's the only permanent kind of beauty that exists anyway-- we're all bound to be bald and wrinkly someday. ^_^
*And I don't mean to accuse anyone reading this of being discriminatory.*