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Fat Club...

I read this article yesterday about why 'weight diversity' activists are standing up for the right to be fat. The writer interviewed an amazing woman that I have had the chance to meet and work with during my days of FatGirl Speaks, Marilyn Wann. I am really ambivalent about the article. On one hand, it was completely skewed and did a poor job representing MW. She is a brilliant activist, and knows her stuff. The author didn't seem to be writing an unbiased piece, but more of a personal opinion piece with quotes from people she interviewed. And on the other hand, that's how lots of people think. They truly believe that people like me are disgusting, slovenly, unkempt 'takers.'

I did find some of her (the author's) comments interesting...

First Rule of Fat Club: fat people are not all living in shame.

Second Rule of Fat Club is clear and an accepted fact by all: fat people are not always fat because they eat a lot. Consider also genetics, depression, isolation, poverty, a messed-up metabolism through a history of yo-yo dieting, combined – to a lesser or greater extent – with a degree of personal choice.

Third Rule of Fat Club: Not all fat people are sedentary.

Rule Number Four: thin people – particularly women and girls – live under the oppression of a fattist society, too.

Where as I can get behind some of the sentiments, I still wonder why it matters? Why does it matter to thin(other) people if I am living in shame (or not)? Does it really matter why I am fat, or just that I am fat? If I want to sit on the couch all day watching reruns of Criminal Minds, is that any of your business? And lastly, ALL people, men, women, young, old, fat, thin - are effected by the oppression in a fattist society.

Anyway, just thought I would share some of my thoughts. I would love to hear what others thinks...

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