Today’s film, TV and cultural conversations are making big strides in addressing a number of long-entrenched prejudices, so why do many people still act like it’s okay to mock, lecture or belittle fat people? Fatphobia is so normalized and pervasive in our society that we might not even see all the ways it manifests. Today, at last, some more nuanced stories are destigmatizing and centering fat characters in all their complexity — and creators like Shrill’s Aidy Bryant and Lindy West are even reclaiming the word ‘fat’ itself.
Check out The Take‘s dissection of the film/TV trend that still needs to change.
The problem with “Shrill” wasn’t that the main character was plus-sized. It’s that she was an entitled, self-righteous hypocrite and the show’s creators expected us to think of her as some sort of heroine.
This is NOT “fatphobia”. A phobia is generally understood to be a fear, yet is increasinly used incorrectly as though it means hatred. Notice how often the queer community throws the term “transphobia” around. Are there really people afraid of trans-persons or larger persons? Not likely. Dislike? Probably. Please use the correct term. I sincerely doubt that fatphobia even exists.
As if being depressed and getting fat isn’t a thing. Let’s stop being so sensitive!
*Unless you have a legitimate health problem that prevents it*
Just fucking diet and exercise.
“I can’t (won’t) get vaccinated!”
“I can’t (won’t) exercise/eat better!”
Same. Damn. Thing.
(Cue the applause)
“Healthy at any size” versus CDC findings: “About 78% of people who have been hospitalized, needed a ventilator or died from Covid-19 have been overweight or obese, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a new study”
Per the CDC: 73.6% of Americans are officially overweight or obese. And you were saying?