Sometimes the insults that are flung at me just make me laugh (seriously – landwhale – seriously? There are fat animals that live on land, there is no need to make up an animal just for the sake of sizeism.) A couple common insults, however, always make me think “you say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Fat (see also: Fatty, Fatso, Fatty McFatFat etc.)
I named my blog DancesWithFat. I named my other blog IronFat I regularly call myself fat. If you are trying to insult me by calling me fat it’s time to up your insult game or gtfo. (By the way, if you’re now going to suggest that you are saying “fat” like it’s a bad thing because being fat is unhealthy, you’ve just added healthism to your sizeism. What’s the opposite of congratulations?)
If you’re curious, one of the reasons I choose to reclaim the term fat is because it lets my bullies know that they can’t have my lunch money anymore. It’s also because I refuse to let people heap their size prejudice on my perfectly good adjective, and why I don’t participate in things like that whole “You’re not fat, you have fat!” meme. I’m no more insulted by being called fat than I am by being called brunette. Mostly I’m insulted by how lazy and tired this attempt at an insult is.
Social Justice Warrior
I don’t understand how this could ever be a bad thing. I don’t mean to go all The American President on you, but for the record yes, I am a Social Justice Warrior, but the more important question is Why aren’t you Bob?
Nobody is obligated to participate in activism of any kind, but these people are seriously suggesting that social justice isn’t worth fighting for? Are the people who say “Social Justice Warrior” like it’s a bad thing actually proud to be coming down on the side of social injustice? I like how, with this one, they’re not just failing to insult me, they are effectively insulting themselves. Good going y’all.
To me, the problem isn’t really that these so-called insults are ridiculous and embarrassing for those slinging them around (though they are,) it’s that insulting people because of how they look, or because they are attempting to make the world better, is ridiculous and embarrassing for those doing it. And I think that is a bad thing.
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Book and Dance Class Sale! I’m on a journey to complete an IRONMAN triathlon, and I’m having a sale on all my books, DVDs, and digital downloads to help pay for it. You get books and dance classes, I get spandex clothes and bike parts. Everybody wins! If you want, you can check it out here!
Book Me! I’d love to speak to your organization. You can get more information here or just e-mail me at ragen at danceswithfat dot org!
I’m training for an IRONMAN! You can follow my journey at www.IronFat.com
If you are uncomfortable with my offering things for sale on this site, you are invited to check out this post.
