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Original poster

Overweight issue - debate

179 replies

DSM · 10/10/2013 15:42

I've been thinking about this a bit recently, with the 'fat shaming' (which, as any other kind of 'shaming', is vile) and I have a couple of Facebook friends who have posted articles where basically they are justifying being overweight by using the 'my body my choice' line.

I'm conflicted.

First, I absolutely am a feminist and absolutely agree that no person should have to conform to any societal ideal, on anything.

However, I don't think it is 'okay' to be obese, and I don't think it should necessarily be a feminist issue. Both men and women who are obese are unhealthy. Fit people are not obese. I realise, it is not always a choice and there are a lot of people for whom obesity is a medical issue (my sister is one of them) but I certainly wouldn't expect those people to encourage others to be obese, or not tackle their obesity, by affiliating it alongside other feminist principles.

Thoughts?

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eggyweggies · 10/10/2013 18:44

None of the fat- acceptance stuff I've seen claims that obese= healthy.

I think it's more about saying, "here I am, I'm a human being just like skinny people and I can do stuff and have a nice life and even wear nice clothes just like skinny people, even if I do have a less than ideal health issue."

I think fat acceptance is more about accepting the fat person , not the fat iyswim.

Just existing seems to be an issue for obese people. They can't exist without people judging and insulting them- even on the Internet. So actively putting themselves out there is a bold and brave act of self-esteem. It's really not about claiming that it's ok to be fat. It's about saying, I am just as valuable a person as anyone else.

Darkesteyes · 10/10/2013 18:43

What When the red said Every word.

Original poster
DSM · 10/10/2013 18:42

Yes, and those pricks are ridiculous. Of course that's not obese.

Nothing about that fat shaming campaign is right. Nothing.

But that isn't the issue I am trying to discuss.

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WhentheRed · 10/10/2013 18:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
DSM · 10/10/2013 18:40

I agree - people are confusing the issue.

It is okay to be obese.
it is not okay to promote obesity as a feminist issue.

That is, I think, how I feel.

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Darkesteyes · 10/10/2013 18:40

Who is "promoting" an unhealthy way of living. Those pricks were saying that obese is when a womans thighs touch.
My thighs touched when i was a size 12 Now what if someone sees their ridiculous tweets/comments and it triggers an ED.

MooncupGoddess · 10/10/2013 18:38

I see what you mean, Basil; more like 'in an ideal world everyone would be healthy and happy' rather than 'people who aren't healthy and happy should bloody well get a grip'. Can't argue with that.

I think posters are conflating 'being obese is OK' with actual obese pride. I support the former but think obese pride is a bit misguided, if understandable in the curren fat-hating climate.

Original poster
DSM · 10/10/2013 18:38

I said the that people with slower metabolisms need to work harder to maintain a healthy weight than those with faster metabolisms.

Please don't paraphrase what I said.

I would never, ever suggest someone can lose weight if they 'work hard'.

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Original poster
DSM · 10/10/2013 18:36

Ive read the fat shaming stuff. It's what got me thinking (as some friends had also posted about it on Facebook)

There is a big difference between someone being over the 'ideal size' that the misogynists who run those campaigns are shaming, and people being downright obese.

People who are obese seem to be jumping on board with the perfectly-acceptably-sized-but-shamed-for-being-fat people who this shit is aimed at, and that's my issue.

They are not the same thing.

I would 100% back any feminist campaign against the shaming of overweight women. I am not comfortable when that then includes people who are morbidly obese, as I do not think they should be appropriating such an unhealthy size with feminism.

I don't know how I can be proved wrong - I don't entirely have an opinion on this! I've said from the start that I am conflicted between being against societal conformation, and 'promoting' a very unhealthy way of living.

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Darkesteyes · 10/10/2013 18:36

ive been "working hard" for the last two months DSM and have only lost half a stone I power walk every day and today tried running (see linked thread) and have been going to SW for the last month.

Your comments are triggering.

Darkesteyes · 10/10/2013 18:33

And there are plenty of similar anecdotes on the Everyday Sexism website

What i mean by this is that there have been plenty of women who have experienced this sort of mysogyny and have posted their stories on the site

MadCap · 10/10/2013 18:33

You absolutely can be obese and healthy. There was quite allot of press about it this week. Let me get a link for you.

Original poster
DSM · 10/10/2013 18:29

Whilst I absolutely agree that thin does not equal healthy, I definitely agree that obese does equal unhealthy. They are not opposites, they are standalone issues. I think one of the problems society has with size is assuming they are opposing, and they aren't.

One cannot be obese and be fit and healthy. Overweight, yes, but not obese.

If treating fat people adversely is a feminist issue, then how do we fit men into this?

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Darkesteyes · 10/10/2013 18:29

DSM with all due respect the events on Twitter last night prove you wrong.

Take a look at the fat shaming thread i started on here "Fat shaming week on twitter...apparently" and click on the link in my OP There is twitter account specially set up to "celebrate" fat shaming week and on the picture in that account it says No fat CHICKS

And there are plenty of similar anecdotes on the Everyday Sexism website.

now this fat shaming week has been set up because these mysogynists are annoyed that these women do not meet their realms of fuckability. It has NOT been done to help women with their health

eggyweggies · 10/10/2013 18:28

I would majorly disagree that men are as degraded for their body size as women are.

WhentheRed · 10/10/2013 18:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
DSM · 10/10/2013 18:18

I don't know that I agree with that, tbh.

Men and women are equally degraded for their body size. Obese men aren't socially acceptable.

Women being judged in their appearance, feminist issue.
Women being judged for being obese, not feminist issue.

If it becomes sexually degrading, then yes, in hat instance it has come back to feminism. But in the grand scheme of the obesity issue, I don't think its feminists to claim.

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Thants · 10/10/2013 18:13

Smoking isn't gendered though but weight is. Women are judged so much more on their appearance so that makes it part of feminism. If women experience sexually degrading remarks and assaults due to their weight then ofc the weight of a woman is a feminist issue and that's true whether she is obese or anorexic.

Original poster
DSM · 10/10/2013 18:08

If smokers tried to reclaim their right not to be harassed about smoking, and said it was a feminist stance, I would take great issue with that.

Thin does not mean healthy. Fat does not mean unhealthy. But obesity is not healthy, there are no two ways about that. As I have said before, it is NOT my business and I do NOT care if someone is obese!

But, I do care with obesity acceptance becoming a part of feminist inclusion. Because, it is not healthy and should not be promoted as an equal right issue.

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Original poster
DSM · 10/10/2013 18:05

I agree whenthered - but much the same as someone who is cleverer not having to work as hard as someone who is less clever; those with naturally faster metabolisms don't have to work as hard to stay at a healthy weight than those whose are slower. Women, generally, have to work harder than men to gain muscle mass, due to lower levels of testosterone. But they can, they just need to work harder.

So it may be natural to put on weight more easily than another person, but then surely the person who was not blessed with a fast metabolic rate, just has to work harder at maintaining their health?

I disagree with obesity rates being heightened in poverty on account of cheap food, I believe that this statistic is more to do with a lack of education in impoverished areas. You can eat pasta and rice and homemade sauce and far cheaper than high fat foods and ready meals.

Overweight people are entitled to respect and freedom from discrimination. That is not the issue I am talking about.

I am talking about reclaiming obesity as a feminist issue.

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Thants · 10/10/2013 18:03

The thing is it has nothing to do with you if someone is obese. For you to say it's not ok is a judgement. There is no morality in weight.
Thin does not mean healthy and fat does not mean unhealthy. But again even if someone isn't at the optimum of health it is nothing to do with you!

It's strange how we don't see threads like this about smoking...

WhentheRed · 10/10/2013 17:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
DSM · 10/10/2013 17:45

YES that is a good summarisation.

I don't care if they want to celebrate their obesity. I don't mind that at all, it does not affect me.

But I do mind when I am made to feel less of an all inclusive feminist, because I find it hard to support something that is fundamentally bad for the person in question.

I just don't see 'reclaiming obesity' as either a legitimate, or a feminist, movement.

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