Thin privilege is not having your body used as a shorthand for a long list of negative qualities, characteristics and traits. Dolores Umbridge. Ursula. Kingpin. Jabba the Hut. The Dursleys. Fat lawyers and politicians in 150 years of political cartoons. It’s no coincidence that so many villains in books and movies are fat. Their weight…
Why do people hate and fear fat bodies? Weight stigma — also known as fatphobia, fatmisia, anti-fatness and fat hatred — ties into threads of power and profit going back centuries. Let’s look at one of the factors: The just world fallacy. Our culture wants us to believe that bodies are simple machines with simple…
In which I discuss the concept of body grief, grieving the loss of body privileges and how to talk about that without reinforcing oppressive beauty ideals. See @bodyimagewithbri for more on body grieving! Find a version with subtitles here. If you’d like to represent actual fat people in your marketing, check out my inclusive stock…
I’m still not officially open for client photography sessions due to the delta COVID variant, but I recently made an exception for a(n outdoor, distanced, vaccinated) group session that’s been in the works since pre-pandemic and will be revealed soon. Dr. Spriggs (she/her) was part of that group, and she stayed for a few minutes…
My CPAP machine, which I’ve named Whistler, and I have reached a truce, more or less. My sleep and energy levels are mostly back to normal, and I’m so grateful. That doesn’t mean I sleep perfectly every night, but it’s so, so improved from the sleep deprivation hell I went through last winter. I settled…
In which I talk about fat shame around toilet seats. If you’d like to represent actual fat people in your marketing, check out my inclusive stock photo site by clicking Stock Photos at the top of the page, and get three free stock photos every month by signing up for my newsletter:
Fat people suffer worse health outcomes due to weight stigma? Blame fat people and call them inherently diseased. Fat people are more at risk from COVID due to biased healthcare? Blame fat people and tell them they deserve it. Fat people can’t buy attractive, well-fitting clothing? Blame fat people and call them frumpy and unfashionable….
“You would be surprised how seldom it occurs to people that their problems are not their fault. By focusing on fairness and justice, a patient may have a chance to find what has so frequently been lost: an ability to care for and stand up for herself. Guilt can be replaced with a clarifying anger,…
Reader M. asks, “Does it get any easier? Or does it just get harder the more vocal you get? I had a situation in which my admin team of my local athletic group, all thin or smallfat women with the exception of me, did not back me up when I called out some inspiration porn…
Children begin absorbing and reflecting weight stigma as young as 3-5 years old. That’s how pervasive anti-fat bias is in our society, and it’s wrong and oppressive to have generations of children growing up pre-prejudiced against other humans simply for the size of their bodies. And, of course, what does that do to developing minds,…
In which I discuss the audacity of thin privilege, what “everybody knows” about fat bodies, how even “bad” bodies deserve dignity, and the desperation behind enforcing oppressive systems.
I went to the chiropractor this morning and I am wiped, y’all. I’m grateful to have the freedom of a flexible schedule that allows me to lie down for a while, so I’m going to go do that. This much-needed chiro adjustment wasn’t something I particularly wanted to do, but that’s what radical self-care is:…
Did you know that Plan B (also known as the morning-after pill) is only effective for people who weigh 155 pounds or less? Fat people are left out of medical testing, equipment design, research and medication dosages. Privilege is unearned, but it’s not something you need to feel bad or guilty about. Let’s work to…
Today The Fat Athlete and I were talking about body image and how it’s a never-ending journey. It’s easy to think that a positive or healthy body image, or body acceptance, is a destination that some lucky people have reached and you just can’t seem to find. But no matter how much work we do…
Thin privilege is never having your body shape used as a shorthand in books, comic books and movies for gluttony, greed or villainy. If a fictional villain is shown in a thin body (e.g., Maleficent), we know that she is villainous due to her actions. (Along with musical and timing cues, as well as other…
Why do people hate and fear fat bodies? Weight stigma — also known as fatphobia, fatmisia, anti-fatness and fat hatred — ties into threads of power and profit going back centuries. Let’s look at one of the factors: Other industries. From the beauty industry to the wellness industry, dozens of major industries reap the financial…
Weight stigma is absolutely ubiquitous in healthcare. We know from studies that doctors treat fat folks differently. Many doctors assume that we’re lazy, gluttonous or noncompliant just from our body sizes, and a significant number don’t even want to touch us. Here’s a little of my own story about fatphobia, fatmisia and weight stigma in…
I recently challenged my Body Liberation Guide readers to answer the question, “What is valuable and precious about fat bodies beyond being a comfort object? How many things can you think of?” Reader Bee Gee’s response was wonderful and glorious, and they generously gave me permission to share it here.
Thin privilege is a higher likelihood of being taken seriously in business and entrepreneurial contexts. Participating in business-related spaces as a fat person is exhausting. Other entrepreneurs and business owners don’t think my target market is a “real” market worthy of being served. I’m treated like I can’t possibly know the first thing about business…
I recently talked about how people who are privileged in a particular area often expect people who are marginalized in that area to educate them, give them ideas and even fix their organizations for free. I’m also thinking about people like @ragenchastain, who answer literally thousands of emails per month to provide free labor around…
Why do people hate and fear fat bodies? Weight stigma — also known as fatphobia, fatmisia, anti-fatness and fat hatred — ties into threads of power and profit going back centuries. Let’s look at one of the factors: The diet industry. Worth $72 billion in 2020, the diet industry is one of the obvious culprits…
Use these beautiful plus-size pregnancy stock photos from Body Liberation Stock to increase the diversity of your marketing materials, website and social media feeds.
Our fat bodies are valuable for more than what they offer other people. So often, when people try to come up with something good about fat bodies, the first and only idea is “comfort.” So many folks have fond memories of snuggling with lovely warm soft fat bodies as children, or snuggling their own children….
I recently talked about how people who are privileged in a particular area often expect people who are marginalized in that area to educate them, give them ideas and even fix their organizations for free. I’m also thinking about people like @ragenchastain, who answer literally thousands of emails per month to provide free labor around…
Our bodies are valuable for more than what they offer other people. So often, when people try to come up with something good about fat bodies, the first and only idea is “comfort.” So many folks have fond memories of snuggling with lovely warm soft fat bodies as children, or snuggling their own children. After…
Content note: Trauma, water fear, injury Every time I get into wild water (not a pool or hot tub), it’s a victory over my anxiety disorder. When I was about 13, I went wading in the ocean at a church camp on the North Carolina coast. I loved ocean swimming and had zero fear. The…
I’m old-fashioned and still buy all my music, because I’m super picky about what I listen to and I like owning my mp3s. (I once managed to narrow a Pandora list down to exactly four songs because I couldn’t stop messing with it.) My playlists could use some fresh sound, so I bought some new…
Weight stigma — also known as fatphobia, fatmisia, anti-fatness and fat hatred — ties into threads of power and profit going back centuries. Let’s look at one of the factors: Toxic masculinity and sexism.
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits cross-legged on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask worn over…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits cross-legged on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask worn over…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits cross-legged on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask worn over…
A fat white woman sleeps on her side in a bed with white sheets in a room with beige walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. The machine sits next to her on a side table. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air…
A fat white woman sleeps on her side in a bed with white sheets in a room with beige walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask worn over the mouth, nose or both….
A fat white woman sleeps on her side in a bed with white sheets in a room with beige walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask worn over the mouth, nose or both….
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is putting on, taking off or adjusting the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is taking off the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is taking off the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is putting on, taking off or adjusting the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask…
A fat white woman in a fuzzy gray and white bathrobe sits on a bed with white sheets in a room with beige and aged metal walls. She is wearing the mask and tubing of a CPAP machine. A continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, delivers a consistent flow of air to a mask…
