I love, love love Kate Harding and the rest of the bunch at Shapely Prose. It's awesome that you and Gilly linked to this. I've been doing a lot of reading lately about the fat-acceptance movement and HAES and the more I read, the more sense it makes. I wish I could get everyone, especially every woman I know, to consider giving up on the fantasy in favor of just being their fabulous selves. Still, I'm not sure how to spread the love without making people uncomfortable. For instance, the folks on my friendslist who use their journal to post their weight-loss stats, and other friends on weight watchers - I'm not sure how to post a link or broach the subject without making them feel targeted or self-conscious.* Now that I think about it, I could just follow your example and refrain from editorializing. (But that's so hard!)
(Also, it feels like it might come off as weird to be advocating for fat acceptance when I don't think people view me as especially fat. Despite carrying enough weight with my height to qualify as overweight, I know I still enjoy more thin privilege than most fat folks. Still, I grew up as a fat girl, and I've had my share of weight ups-and-downs, body image issues, and screwed-up eating habits, so it's still a personal issue for me, even as I know I'm not regularly getting shafted by insurance and doctors, facing hiring discrimination and harassed about my looks and eating habits by strangers, etc. Still, I've carried away a lot of quality insights from the women and men who write for the FA blogs, and I'd like to join those who want a just world for fat and think alike.)
Er, that last line should have read, "join those who want a a just world for fat and thin alike." Although a just world for thinkers wouldn't be a bad thing.
(Also, it feels like it might come off as weird to be advocating for fat acceptance when I don't think people view me as especially fat. Despite carrying enough weight with my height to qualify as overweight, I know I still enjoy more thin privilege than most fat folks. Still, I grew up as a fat girl, and I've had my share of weight ups-and-downs, body image issues, and screwed-up eating habits, so it's still a personal issue for me, even as I know I'm not regularly getting shafted by insurance and doctors, facing hiring discrimination and harassed about my looks and eating habits by strangers, etc. Still, I've carried away a lot of quality insights from the women and men who write for the FA blogs, and I'd like to join those who want a just world for fat and think alike.)
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