It happened (again) in a progressive Facebook group that I am in. Someone posted a picture of a fat woman wearing a pro-donald shirt with William Barr's face photoshopped over hers. The ensuing thread was a pile of fat-shaming hot garbage.
When I pointed it out, I was met with a couple attempted justifications. The first being that it was just a photoshop gag. Pro-tip, if a "photoshop gag" involves a fat person being fat-shamed, then it's not just a photoshop gag, it's also a fat joke. See also: fat suits.
The other attempt at an excuse was the one that I hear most often, that people are "angry and frustrated" and "need to vent" blah blah blah.
This is bullshit. You are either against fat-shaming, or you support it. If you claim to be against it but then you participate in it, then guess what - you support it. You don't get to say that it's ok if you do it because you are angry, or frustrated, or because the person you are fat-shaming is objectively terrible, or for any reason.
The idea that something fatphobic (or racist, or transphobic etc.) that is said in anger somehow doesn't count as fatphobic (or racist, or transphobic etc.) is complete, total, utter nonsense. If you fat-shame when you're angry, you're fatphobic and you need to fix it. (Similarly, if you hurl racial epithets when you're angry, you need to fix your racism, and if you deadname trans people you don't like, you need to fix your transphobia, etc.)
Fat-shaming is wrong. There is never any excuse or justification that makes it ok. Nope, not even that one. Or that. There's none. Seriously.
It's really not complicated - if you say that you don't believe in fat-shaming, then you have to take a pass on fat-shaming. If you're not willing to do that, then congratulations, you've just identified an area for some self-work around your own fatphobia. Please get on that as soon as possible for all of our sakes. Thanks in advance.
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Sick of diet talk? Want to tell fatphobes to take a hike? Want to explain how important fat-friendly seating is? There are songs for that. Jeanette DePatie and I have collaborated on some revamped holiday songs that we are releasing between now and the new year! Below is a playlist of the songs we've released so far. If you want to make sure not to miss future videos, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel!
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Book and Dance Class Sale! I'm on a journey to complete an IRON-distance 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! ( DancesWithFat Members get an even better deal, make sure to make your purchases from the Members Page!)
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 (still!) training for an Iron-distance triathlon! 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.
Hi, I'm Ragen Chastain. Speaker, Writer, Dancer, Choreographer, Marathoner, Soon to be Iron-distance triathlete, Activist, Fat Person. View all posts by Ragen Chastain
