Two Whole Cakes

1. Fat acceptance is a journey of self-love and societal change

Your body is not a tragedy.

Self-acceptance is revolutionary. Fat acceptance challenges deeply ingrained societal beliefs about body size and worth. It's not just about individual self-love, but about changing how society views and treats fat bodies. This journey often begins with recognizing the harm caused by diet culture and fat stigma, and evolves into embracing one's body as it is.

Cultural shift is necessary. Fat acceptance advocates for creating a world where all body types are respected and valued. This includes fighting for equal treatment in healthcare, employment, and social settings. It's about dismantling systems that profit from body shame and creating spaces where fat people can thrive without constant pressure to change their bodies.

2. Cultural beauty standards are arbitrary and oppressive

Beauty standards are so unpredictable that they cannot even be rightly referred to as a code—a code could be cracked.

Beauty ideals change over time. Throughout history, what's considered beautiful has varied wildly. In some eras, fatness was revered as a sign of wealth and health. Today's thin ideal is just as arbitrary. Understanding this helps us see how current beauty standards are not universal truths, but culturally constructed norms.

Media shapes perceptions. The constant bombardment of idealized bodies in media creates a narrow definition of beauty that few can achieve. This leads to widespread body dissatisfaction and can fuel eating disorders. Recognizing the artificiality of these images is crucial for developing a healthier body image and resisting harmful beauty norms.

3. The diet industry profits from body insecurity and shame

Weight loss is a business, and a profitable one at that.

Dieting rarely works long-term. Despite the promises of the diet industry, studies show that most people who lose weight through dieting regain it within a few years. The industry thrives on repeat customers, not on producing lasting results.

Financial and emotional costs. The diet industry exploits people's insecurities, often leading to:

• Yo-yo dieting and weight cycling
• Negative impacts on physical and mental health
• Wasted money on ineffective products and programs
• A cycle of hope, failure, and shame that keeps people coming back

4. Fashion and visibility are powerful tools for fat activism

Fashion is communication. If you cannot fit fashion, then you are left out of the conversation.

Clothing as activism. For fat people, finding stylish clothing that fits can be a challenge. By creating and wearing fashionable outfits, fat people assert their right to be seen and participate in cultural conversations about style and beauty.

Increasing representation. Visibility in fashion helps:

• Challenge stereotypes about fat bodies
• Provide role models for fat people
• Normalize diverse body types in media and public spaces
• Pressure the fashion industry to be more inclusive

5. Health is not determined solely by body size or weight

The only thing you can tell for sure by looking at a fat person is your own degree of bias against fat people.

Health is multifaceted. Body size is just one of many factors that contribute to overall health. Other important factors include:

• Genetics
• Lifestyle habits
• Access to healthcare
• Socioeconomic status
• Mental health

Weight stigma harms health. The stress and discrimination fat people face can negatively impact their health more than their weight itself. This includes avoiding healthcare due to fear of judgment, increased stress levels, and engaging in unhealthy weight loss practices.

6. Fat discrimination affects education, career, and healthcare

Fat women are statistically less likely to attend college, and make less money than their thinner counterparts, who are themselves making less money than men of all sizes.

Systemic bias. Fat people face discrimination in many areas of life:

• Education: Less likely to be admitted to college or receive financial aid
• Employment: Lower wages and fewer promotions
• Healthcare: Misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment due to weight bias

Intersectionality matters. The impact of fat discrimination is often compounded by other forms of oppression, such as sexism and racism. Addressing fat discrimination requires acknowledging and combating these intersecting biases.

7. Reclaiming the word "fat" is an act of empowerment

I speak fat like a language, like a reminder, like a flag of conquest.

Destigmatizing language. By using "fat" as a neutral descriptor rather than an insult, fat activists challenge the negative connotations associated with the word. This helps separate the physical state of being fat from moral judgments about character or worth.

Empowerment through language. Reclaiming "fat" allows people to:

• Define themselves on their own terms
• Reject euphemisms that imply fatness is temporary or undesirable
• Build community and solidarity with other fat people
• Confront societal discomfort with fatness head-on

8. Eating disorders and fat stigma are interconnected issues

A culture that supports weight loss by any means necessary is a culture that supports eating disorders.

Diet culture fuels disordered eating. The same cultural messages that stigmatize fatness also contribute to the development of eating disorders. The pursuit of thinness at all costs is often celebrated, even when it involves harmful behaviors.

Misconceptions about size and health. Fat people can have eating disorders, including anorexia, but are often misdiagnosed or have their symptoms dismissed due to their size. This highlights how weight stigma can interfere with proper healthcare and support for people with eating disorders.

9. Body autonomy and self-acceptance are fundamental rights

I just want you to know that awesomeness is possible.

Every body deserves respect. Regardless of size, shape, or health status, all bodies have inherent worth and dignity. This principle is at the core of fat acceptance and body positivity movements.

Self-acceptance is a radical act. In a culture that profits from self-doubt, choosing to accept and love your body is a powerful stance. It involves:

• Rejecting harmful beauty standards
• Advocating for your needs in medical settings
• Surrounding yourself with supportive people and media
• Celebrating your body's abilities and uniqueness

Last updated: August 11, 2024