Why isn't the bullying of fat kids national news?
I listen to NPR a lot. Yesterday on my way to work, 8:48 (which is a local Chicago program (I think)) had a segment on about the ongoing bullying of kids who are gay or perceived to be gay. They said something in their segment which really struck a chord with me.
The representative from the Illinios Safe School Alliance was talking about the bullying of kids who are LGBTQ or imagined to be LGBTQ and made a very profound statment. She said that the number two reason for bullying in Illinois schools was sexuality or perceived sexuality. My first thought was "and I bet number 1 is being fat." She then proceeded to say that sexual preference was only second to being bullied for "body size or looks."
I am 100% sympathetic to the bullying of all kids. I love the "It Gets Better" project. I am not trying to be confrontational or to marginalize the plight of kids questioning or embracing their sexuality in a society that is less than accepting. However, I'm disappointed that the number one cause of bullying in Illinois schools is body size or looks (with body size being mentioned first) and there are no outcries about that. I think ridiculing of any kind is vicious and wrong. I just wonder why it's "ok" to be taunted because you're too fat or too thin or flat chested or well endowed; because you're too short or too tall or have frizzy hair. I'll admit, my sensitivity as a woman who has always struggled with her size comes into play. My memory immediately goes back to sixth grade when one of the most popular kids in school asked me why I was even bothering to fix my hair on picture day because "it won't help" or in seventh grade when another boy called me a fat ass one morning before school. Why isn't our society outraged about these thing? My gut says that it is because society fears those who are fat; fears that obesity is contagious; fears that if they gain weight they may be the next to be ostracized.
I'm sick of sizeism being acceptable. I'm tired of feeling like society thinks it is ok to railroad fat people because being fat is "avoidable." More than anything I suppose I was saddened to hear facts that support what I already knew deep down - even at an early age kids are being told they aren't good enough because of the way they look - and distraught that it was said in such a matter of fact way.
I just needed to share with people who would understand.
The representative from the Illinios Safe School Alliance was talking about the bullying of kids who are LGBTQ or imagined to be LGBTQ and made a very profound statment. She said that the number two reason for bullying in Illinois schools was sexuality or perceived sexuality. My first thought was "and I bet number 1 is being fat." She then proceeded to say that sexual preference was only second to being bullied for "body size or looks."
I am 100% sympathetic to the bullying of all kids. I love the "It Gets Better" project. I am not trying to be confrontational or to marginalize the plight of kids questioning or embracing their sexuality in a society that is less than accepting. However, I'm disappointed that the number one cause of bullying in Illinois schools is body size or looks (with body size being mentioned first) and there are no outcries about that. I think ridiculing of any kind is vicious and wrong. I just wonder why it's "ok" to be taunted because you're too fat or too thin or flat chested or well endowed; because you're too short or too tall or have frizzy hair. I'll admit, my sensitivity as a woman who has always struggled with her size comes into play. My memory immediately goes back to sixth grade when one of the most popular kids in school asked me why I was even bothering to fix my hair on picture day because "it won't help" or in seventh grade when another boy called me a fat ass one morning before school. Why isn't our society outraged about these thing? My gut says that it is because society fears those who are fat; fears that obesity is contagious; fears that if they gain weight they may be the next to be ostracized.
I'm sick of sizeism being acceptable. I'm tired of feeling like society thinks it is ok to railroad fat people because being fat is "avoidable." More than anything I suppose I was saddened to hear facts that support what I already knew deep down - even at an early age kids are being told they aren't good enough because of the way they look - and distraught that it was said in such a matter of fact way.
I just needed to share with people who would understand.