What does thin privilege mean?

[MrsAnamCara]

I've seen a few posts on social media about it, what does it mean? Is it related to the health at any size movement that I've heard about?

Is it about societal created standards and a real thing or theory?

TIA

Well Tim, that’s a matter of preference of course, but if a size 8 woman and a size 22 woman both had to pop into town to buy a black dress at short notice - which one do you think would find it easier to get what they needed? So you could say that thinner women have an advantage in this area. That’s not to say thinner ladies have easy lives, but it is an area which is something they don’t have to struggle with like larger women.

I see your point Jesus, but I think it’s a bit black and white. I don’t think it’s fair to say showing compassion to fatter women is whinging, but whatever floats your duck I guess.

I think things like being able to buy clothes that fit in any high street shop (rather than plus size range) is thin privilege

The vast majority of shops do not sell clothes small enough for me. It’s not just a problem for larger people I can assure you. It’s worse as you get older because you can no longer get away with wearing children’s or shopping in shops that cater to teens.

I don't think being slim has any thing to do with patriarchal beauty standards. I believe some lesbians find slim women attractive as well.

Can I just add that my colleague's behaviour hasn't changed. She has always remained polite, confident and cheerful. It's people's reactions to her that have changed as her appearance has changed. I had never witnessed anything like this before and it's been interesting if quite shocking.

Yeah sparkle that is true, but a size 10 is somewhere in the middle of average. A fairer comparison might be a size 22 and a size 4. I think they would find it equally tricky.

My size 6 4ft11 friend has always found it fairly tricky as well. I imagine if you were a 6ft woman with size 9 feet you would also have issues.

Similarly, and inspired by another active thread going on tonight, I have 32ff boobs and can only buy horribly expensive sports bras from bravissimo or similar. Do all the 32 B women who can just buy a top with a built in sports bra thingy have boob privilege? Or does sometimes being an outlier in terms of averages mean that you have to plan (and pay ) a bit more as businesses work on averages.

I don’t see that the women’s clothes size argument stands up. A size 4 or 6 woman is going to have similar difficulties to a size 20 or 22

Shoe sizes are similarly scarce at each end of the distribution curve, it’s simply a case of manufacturers maximising their profits by producing items in sizes that are most likely to sell

I don't think being slim has any thing to do with patriarchal beauty standards. I believe some lesbians find slim women attractive as well.

Lesbians don't grow up outside of society. We all imbibe the same cultural lessons.

In my personal experience (granted this is anecdotal) it depends on your cohort. Most of the places I’ve worked I’ve been one of a minority of slim women. This means a lot of comments from other women about my weight, how I must “hate food” (I love food actually), how I must think I’m “better than them” as I don’t get lunch at McDonald’s, how “men don’t like bone racks”, and on and on.

So it doesn’t always feel like a position of power or privilege.

^ I can confirm that I certainly do have trouble finding clothes.

All good points, of course people who are tall or petite have similar issues - I was merely using the plus size example to illustrate my understanding of thin privilege. It of course doesn’t mean they’re the only women who struggle to find clothes, or struggle in other ways.

If you’re interested in a google there are some good articles and blogs on thin privilege across the web, would recommend if you fancy reading about the plus size perspective.

What next - do I have breath privilege because I don't have asthma??

It's called a consequence of your choices

Or indeed illness or disability... anyone who thinks that it's as easy as "eat less move more" is exercising (yeah, see what I did there) not quite thin privilege but "proper working metabolism" privilege

Fat is unhealthy.
Healthy people are more attractive.
It's basic human nature, not some patriarchal beauty standard.

When I was thin and petite, I used to have lots of comments from other women along the lines of them being 'real women', someone a 'real man' would want, with the snide meaning being that I was not a real woman and the right type of men wouldn't want me. It was horrible.

I have done some training in unconscious bias though and I think bias against fat people does exist.

The majority of women nowadays are far from slim and a million miles from thin. Clothing manufacturers cater for that broad spectrum. The less than thin woman is catered for because most are .

Bollocks to this.
I get being 'grateful' (is that the right phrase?) that my skin colour doesn't cause instant prejudice and that PoC can face hardship through absolutely no fault of their own. But I am not being made to feel guilty because I know when to stop eating or when I need to move more.

I’ve been far most of my life but carry hit reasonably. So not huge but 2 stone over ideal weight. When I lose that 2 stone I’m treated very differently by men primarily but generally people. Just a subtle change in attitude & respect in both work & just everyday life. I also dress better & carry myself better as I feel more confident. It gives me presence which I know sounds very arrogant but it is true in my experience.

Wow. ... some of the comments on here. .. . Obviously lots of people do seriously believe that fatter people are just not trying hard enough and thin people are more deserving because being thin is 'hard work'. Utter bollocks.

No one really should get to the point where they're 5 or 6 stone overweight but it my job place it is seen as normal and celebrated. They do eat a lot and pass it on to the already fat children.
Both TAs and many teachers are morbidly obese and laugh about it and encourage it every day.
I would never, ever fat shame someone because it's cruel but I worry that massively fat is acceptable... or worse... a form of feminism.

I really couldn't care if or why people are overweight.
However don't try and piddle some BS about 'thin privilege' because that indicates that those slimmer should either a) be grateful for their size and b) feel sympathy for those larger people and do more to make them feel comfortable. Not my problem.

People overeat for complicated reasons
IMO they are treated badly and chronic overeaters do not get the treatment or sympathy someone with anorexia would
My close friend is obese and I am frequently shocked by how she is treated
The abuse she gets is awful. Strangers comment all the time. Usually young men but occasionally women

Many women ( and men) today are horribly overweight through bad lifestyle choices, not enough exercise and eating too much. It’s not a great look but they obviously don’t deserve to be badly treated . However for the most part they made themselves fat and fairly or not, people will make judgements about them - it seems unfair but it’s a fact of life.