Thin privilege is never having to choose between wearing a seat belt or a coat.

A teal square with a four-leaf-clover background and the text, "Thin privilege is never having to choose between wearing a seat belt or a coat." Lindley's logo is at the bottom.

Thin privilege is being held to lower dress and grooming standards to look “acceptable” socially, professionally or in public.

When people in small bodies wear clothing that’s loose, baggy, or extremely informal (think jammies, sweatshirts/pants, ripped or torn apparel), it’s seen as slouchy casual. When fat people wear the exact same types of clothing, it’s seen as lazy, sloppy, careless and unappealing.

This is a direct illustration of how some bodies are held to different standards than others. If I have to look twice as put together as someone in a smaller body to be seen as acceptably presentable in public, I’m being forced to spend extra time and resources to be treated the same way a person in a thin body would.

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Privilege is unearned, but it’s not something you need to feel bad or guilty about. Let’s work to extend those privileges to the most marginalized bodies, too.

Learn more about body image, ending weight stigma and changing the world with the Body Liberation Guide.

Every Monday, I send out my Body Liberation Guide, a thoughtful email jam-packed with resources on body liberation, weight stigma, body image and more. And it’s free. Let’s change the world together.

Hi there! I'm Lindley. I create artwork that celebrates the unique beauty of bodies that fall outside conventional "beauty" standards at Body Liberation Photography. I'm also the creator of Body Liberation Stock and the Body Love Shop, a curated central resource for body-friendly artwork and products. Find all my work here at bodyliberationphotos.com.