"Thin Privilege"

vishk2809
vishk2809 Posts: 20 Member
So I was scoping out the tumblr-sphere recently and I stumbled upon this blog called "This is Thin Privilege".
The "privilege" is described in the following examples (courtesy of heyfatchick.tumblr.com) :

-I can be sure that people aren’t embarrassed to be seen with me because of the size of my body.
-If I pick up a magazine or watch T.V. I will see bodies that look like mine that aren’t being lampooned, desexualized, or used to signify laziness, ignorance, or lack of self-control.
-When I talk about the size of my body I can be certain that few other people will hope they are never the same size.
-I do not have to be afraid that when I talk to my friends or family they will mention the size of my body in a critical manner, or suggest unsolicited diet products and exercise programs.
-I will not be accused of being emotionally troubled or in psychological denial because of the size of my body.
-I can go home from meetings, classes, and conversations and not feel excluded, fearful, attacked, isolated, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance, stereotyped, or feared because of the size of my body.
-I never have to speak for size acceptance as a movement. My thoughts about my body can be my own with no need for political alliance relative to size.
-When I am online dating, I will not see a message at the bottom of someone's profile stating a request against my body type.

Basically there's a bunch of people out there, heavier, obese, chubby, whatever people, who are saying that their body type is who and what they are, and they are never going to change because they CAN'T. They don't think that exercise or dieting or changing their lifestyles can help them, they think that is their body type for life. That their obesity was something they were born with. As if it is the same as being black, white, or South Asian. They've started a "fat discrimination" and "fat rights" movement and don't even like people telling them that perhaps it's better to lose weight to be healthier and live longer - because they think their natural state is to BE large. And to even ask "have you considered losing weight?" is equivalent to "have you ever considered using bleaching creams?". As if concern for your fat friend is on the same level as being a racist.

Honestly...I'm not buying that crap. Sounds like a major excuse to be lazy and stay lazy. I WAS heavy. I felt slow and tired and weak. I changed myself. We all have. Us trying to slim down is not because we are caving in to society's expectations, or because we want to partake in "thin privilege". It's because we want to live longer, live better, be less tired, have more energy, feel strong and empowered. This whole concept of "thing privilege" sounds like its been created by a bunch of people who would rather spend the energy to be bitter about being large, rather than expending all that anger in a nice, long run.

Thoughts?

Replies

  • cheerocracy
    cheerocracy Posts: 38 Member
    i agree with everything!
    BUMP!
  • caraguard
    caraguard Posts: 41
    Wow... all I know is that whoever wrote that is in serious need of some confidence. She should probably also start focusing more on herself and not what she thinks other people think about her.

    I agree with you, vishk. Our lives are what we make of them. If there's something you don't like/don't agree with, work to change it.
  • 18guyhornet
    18guyhornet Posts: 195 Member
    Agreed! A perfect example of "living life by default rather than by design". I used to be very over weight - my whole life nearly. But I, not anyone else - I wanted to change. My cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar were all high. I wanted the energy to play with my kids - not be a sideline Dad. Both my wife and I are on a journey together to get healthier - the thinness is a bonus! I haven't - and still don't - feel pressured by society to be thin to fit in. I just want to live better, feel better and live longer. If that's being a conformist to the "thin privilege" then I guess I'm a conformist!
    Kudos for the post!!!
  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,472 Member
    I think there are two questions there.

    Does "thin privilege" exist. Yes, I think it does.

    Do people try to lose weight because they want the (social) advantages that being thin brings? Yes, I think some do.