Posts

Showing posts with the label Sizeism

A Difficult and Inconvenient Truth...

Image
If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally die. --Maya Angelou This is a difficult truth to accept: The more weight I lose, the better strangers treat me. I wish it weren't so because while this better treatment might benefit me personally, this suggests that our culture has much work to do in terms of accepting difference on all fronts. And that saddens me. I don't want to be privileged over someone else just because I'm thinner (or younger, prettier, etc.). Privilege ought to be earned, through accomplishments and good deeds, not because of superficial features, such looks, race, age, or size. As I continue to slim down, I'm going to keep this thought firmly in mind and treat all people with the respect they deserve. It would be so easy to forget where I started; this post is my reminder. Peace and respect to all.

Space and Your Place in It

Image
You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space. --Johnny Cash Imagine this: You are a normal-weight earthling who finds herself transported permanently to Planet Skinny where everything is half the normal earthly size. The average chair is wide enough for a very slim earth person and able to hold a maximum of 110 pounds, which is considered obese on Planet Skinny. The space between table and seat in restaurant booths can comfortably accommodate someone with a 36" chest, so if you are any larger, you are resting your boobs on the table. Flying is a nightmare; you must book your flights carefully, often paying for First Class or buying two seats. In short, everywhere you go poses a hassle, so eventually you give up going out in public. Not only is the too-small infrastructure all wr

Thought for the Day--May 7, 2011: NOTICE: "Unattractive, Old, and Fat People Need Not Apply..."

Image
Beauty is a short-lived tyranny. --Socrates Most of us have been bestowed with very ordinary physical attributes, but if you are to believe Madison Avenue, everyone ought to look like media Gods and Goddesses, no larger than size 2 (flirting with obesity!), and no older than 25 (beginning of crone-dom!). But for most jobs, physical beauty does not need to be part of the job description; if an employer is looking for someone to dig ditches, prune trees, build web sites, then an employee's looks should not matter at all--only his or her reliability and ability to do the job well. These characteristics are not always apparent during the job interview, which is why many companies have a 90-day probationary period, so the natural corporate impulse is to hire the most attractive applicant. It's all about common sense: if you are looking to hire a model to help sell your clothing line, then looks and size would matter, especially if your target consumers are coat hangers or wannabe c

Thought for the Day--March 20, 2011--Avoiding Bigots

Image
Bigotry, unfortunately, can come in all sizes, shapes, color, ages, and ethnic groups. Better to surround yourself with a rainbow of people who can bring positive energy into to your life and avoid those who hate others just because they are fat, skinny, black, white, etc. Fat discrimination seems to be the last bastion of institutionalized prejudice; some day, it will change, but for now, just be the best possible person that you can be and try to educate those who would judge you unfairly, for example, "All fat people are lazy. You are fat; therefore, you are lazy." If you can't educate such numpties, then it's best to avoid them. Also, don't resort to reverse bigotry to judge thin people unfairly. For one thing, you don't know how hard that person may work to maintain his/her shape. Even so, most thin people are well-meaning, even if the don't always get how difficult it can be to lose and maintain weight loss. Happy Sunday!

Memoir Madness: Driven to Involuntary Commitment