Thin privilege is not having to learn both sewing and pattern making to have clothing that’s fun, stylish, creative, fits well…or just fits, period. One of the most common dismissals that gets thrown at fat folks when we talk about how apparel companies would rather lose money than make clothing for us is, “You can…
Thin privilege doesn’t make you a bad person or one with super special benefits. The super special benefit is not facing the obstacles placed in the way of fat folks. Your body size is mostly or always included, and you don’t have to constantly think about it. Privilege is unearned, but it’s not something you…
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….
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,…
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…
Thin privilege is getting in and out of your car in a crowded parking lot. It’s never having to try to crawl through your passenger side — or your trunk — to access the driver’s seat. It’s never having to ask, and then trust, a stranger to back your car out of a parking space….
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…
🎉🎉 GIVEAWAY DAY 🎉🎉 I’m excited to be giving away two pairs (four total) tickets to the BodCon’s Beauty and Body Confidence event (online) on August 31! I’m not affiliated with this event, but when they contacted me I was impressed by the range of body sizes, identities and heritages of their speaker lineup. Giveaways…
Thin privilege is having options. Thin privilege is having options for cargo pants, for kayaks, for bras, for in-store shopping, for hiking pants, for boots, for horseback riding, for androgynous clothing, for swimsuits, for cars, for desk chairs. It’s never having to conduct panicked research to figure out which seat on the bus or the…
Thin privilege is not having your “health” status be constantly the focus of, and scrutinized by, an entire culture. A comment from @conceivingitall in a discussion we had the other day made me realize how much fat folks’ health* is a cultural obsession. When you live in a fat body, your health is public property….
