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Safe spaces for “fat-identified” people?

73 replies

AssignedMentalAtBirth · 12/08/2017 14:11

No, I'm not BU for thinking that there are people out there giggling about how far they can take identity politics

www.campusreform.org/?ID=9577

OP posts:
KC225 · 13/08/2017 00:18

Our village has a safe space for fat identified people. It's called Weight Watchers......... Wednesdays 6.30

MorrisZapp · 13/08/2017 00:39

I followed the links and ended up reading some really interesting stuff about the erasure of free speech on American University campuses. Worth looking at.

user7841794168 · 13/08/2017 00:56

Relying on physical appearance is just so reductionist. What we feel inside is the true us.

Reductionist? So if I feel like a highly attractive, size 8 woman then that is the true me? Get in Grin

BoysofMelody · 13/08/2017 01:49

Yes, it's about 'identifying' as being fat. Not being fat itself.

Because 'fat' or 'not fat' are not unambiguous binary categories. Women with healthy BMIs are often "fat shamed" and discriminated about because of their weight. Witness the near skeletal female forms held out as desirable or normal in the media. Those who don't conform to that body shape could be labelled as or think themselves as fat, when they're a healthy weight for their height and build.

Oh and op you do realise what campus reform is? It is a US based website that serves as a voice for the Tea Party on US campuses. To say they have an agenda is something of an understatement.

stillvicarinatutu · 13/08/2017 02:10

ive decided i idenfify as a male very well endowed porn star. its unfortunate im 40 something slightly dumpy female but i am going to concentrate on my gender identity. its what i feel inside.

er. ok.

crazycatguy · 13/08/2017 02:20

I'm both LGBT and overweight.

I have a safe space - KFC.

That being said, there is a LOT of fat-shaming amongst gay men (and this is also borne out in teenage boys of all sexualities and identifications) and the images of gay men that are thrust at me are tall smooth and sixpacked. I am none of those things and I, personally, don't care.

Many people sadly do care and I'd welcome any movement that says the only thing wrong with being overweight are health issues.

Tissunnyupnorth · 13/08/2017 02:59

Today 00:18 KC225

Our village has a safe space for fat identified people. It's called Weight Watchers......... Wednesdays 6.30

Funniest thing I've heard all day. Grin

Seryph · 13/08/2017 10:11

As it happens, I'm LGBT.
Personally I would like to identify as a 9 stone sex goddess, shame I'm closer to 15 stone! Ffs, if you aren't fat and identify as fat you suffer from body dismorphia and need medical help, not a university society telling you that it's okay!

Edsheeranalbumparty · 13/08/2017 10:31

It's actually a discussion group, open to people who are big, and identify as LBQGTI.

What is the 'I' that acronym? It's just getting longer and longer?

I have to say I am getting a bit Hmm at the use of 'identify'. It's like words are now meaningless because you can 'identify' as whatever you want.

Its weird because the exact same people who will go on about 'self identification' being an indisputable thing, will also simultaneously screech 'cultural appropriation' if a university has a 'Hawaiian Night' in the students union.

thatstoast · 13/08/2017 10:38

Ah, this makes sense now. I'm cisfat.

SerfTerf · 13/08/2017 10:40

Just change your name to "sylph", seryph Smile

SolomanDaisy · 13/08/2017 10:46

It's just a simple way of avoiding discussion of what BMI you need to be to join the discussion group. What method would you like them to use instead? Or would you rather the group didn't exist at all?

Ollycat · 13/08/2017 10:49

I have been thinking long and hard about this identifying business and struggle to see how it brings people anything other then misery. Happiness comes from being comfortable with yourself- accepting yourself (your body) for who you are. Deciding you can identify your way out of unhappiness isn't solving anything in the long term - although I grant you that when I buy a new handbag it does bring short term gratification.

Surely we need to accept that somethings just are - sex, weight, age, ethnicity and find ways to be happy within reality.

BossyBitch · 13/08/2017 10:52

I'm completely down with groups for LGBTQ people, overweight people, people with disabilities, women, men, people with a Super Mario addiction problem, ... you name it. The self-identification trend is really going too far even for my hyper-socially-progressive tastes, though.

Seeing as resistance seems futile in the face of the overwhelming onslaught, though, I shall henceforth be identifying as a fat, lesbian, teenage atheist Muslim Indian transwoman-daffodil-hybrid in the body of a 35-year-old, skinny white female. I also identify as trans-poor in spite of having an income in the top 10 percent of the population and will hence be applying for tax credits shortly. And I demand my identity choices be respected! Grin

Seriously, though, the mind boggles!

BossyBitch · 13/08/2017 10:54

Surely we need to accept that somethings just are - sex, weight, age, ethnicity and find ways to be happy within reality.
^^ this!

TashieWoo · 13/08/2017 10:58

Another way in which obesity is becoming normalised and the fact it's unhealthy to be fat (whether you identify as fat or not) is totally overlooked. I will probably be called a fat shamer for saying that but hey-ho!

Lurkedforever1 · 13/08/2017 12:14

tashie I partially agree, but only on the basis of it being a group where self identifying rather than medical fact is the prerequisite to be overweight. Because the stats on health issues will be skewed if you include people of healthy weight who just call themselves overweight.

soloman and how supportive and inclusive would that group be if it's over ran by people who are healthy and slim but haven't exercised for a month and feel slightly untoned, and therefore jokingly call themselves fat? As for those who have mh issues and aren't overweight, supporting their illusion they are overweight is no different to a pro anorexia group.

Bmi is bollocks, but perhaps medically overweight or better still an unhealthy body fat % would be a simple requirement.

PollyFlint · 13/08/2017 12:36

My friend's sister runs a group for fat women and I have discussed this very issue with her recently because I thought it was interesting - she was looking for donations of second hand clothes for an event they were running so I asked her what sizes they covered and how they define it. They call themselves 'fat' rather than 'overweight' and do body positivity workshops, fitness for bigger women, plus-size clothes sales etc. When they say 'fat identified' they just say it so that they don't have to put an arbitrary limit on what is 'fat' and what isn't. Some women consider themselves 'fat' at a size 18 and some women consider that a size 18 is positively slender in comparison to them at a size 30. By saying fat identified, it just rules out the possibility of size 30 woman saying 'I don't think this size 18 woman should be here because I don't consider her fat, even though her BMI is off the scale and she gets bullied for her size all the time'.

In theory, yes, that means a body dysmorphic size 8 woman could turn up, but so far it's never happened in five years, and if it did, they would put her in touch with people who could help her with her specific problem of body dysmorphia rather than encourage her to continue (and indeed, she'd get nothing out of the group anyway because she would be too small to take part in the fashion events and the types of issues they discuss with regards to the practicalities of being overweight, eg not being able to fit through turnstiles and having people harass them for their weight in the street, wouldn't affect her.

So, basically, if you have an issue with this you're really making a bit of a fuss over nothing and reading way too much into it. Best all calm down a bit, really.

Gottagetmoving · 13/08/2017 12:45

I just identify as 'me' Although I realise that is not acceptable to lots of people who would want far more information than that if they want me to fill in a bloody form.

Datun · 13/08/2017 14:49

PollyFlint

That's a very fair explanation. And I wouldn't have a problem with it, if it had been invented for groups like this.

But it's the insidious assumption that you can identify as something you're not, which makes it appear as something of a Zeitgeist-hitting gimmick.

I'm not suggesting it is that, in this, or your example, but this 'identify as' method of explaining who you are is being used to promote individuality at all costs, whilst obscuring facts.

It's giving people the opportunity to appropriate facts and experience they don't have, purely on the basis of how they feel.

Probably harmless in this case, as you've explained, but symptomatic of an issue.

donquixotedelamancha · 13/08/2017 14:54

"Safe spaces for overweight LGBT persons who are over weight.~
~Your tread title is disingenuous and goady."

The text of the article quote the uni referring to people who identify as fat (indeed lots of apparent classes as fat)- thus the title is ingenuous.

As someone that objective reality identifies as fat, I don't see any goadyness either.

"Ah, this makes sense now. I'm cisfat."

I'm also cisfat, from eating a lot of transfat... sorry, I'll get my coat.

Boulshired · 13/08/2017 15:00

I would be concerned with the identity so therefore I am part. An anorexic who believes they are fat would need to be made comfortable and included or the identity part is meaningless. How can someone be put in touch with the right help by a group that is inclusive by identity and not body shape.

Datun · 13/08/2017 15:27

How can someone be put in touch with the right help by a group that is inclusive by identity and not body shape.

Perfect.

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