Sorry for the lapse in blogging, More Cabaret hosted our first all plus-size variety show in Los Angeles and it was awesome. Then we moved, that was less awesome but is more awesome now that we’re actually in the new house. Anyway, I’m back and I’ve missed you all!
I’m not sure why, but recently I’ve been receiving lots of e-mails and comments discussing one of the arguments that I often hear “against” the concept of Fat Acceptance. Here are a couple examples from the e-mails I got (I tried to pick from each end of the spectrum):
I just can’t get behind accepting fatness. I like my body as it is, I don’t want to be fat and I will do whatever it takes not to be fat.
Fuck you fat acceptor fucks and your fat acceptance. You will never make me be a fat fuck like you!
I used to think that people only made this argument to try to derail the actual conversation around Fat Acceptance, but just in case there are people who are really concerned about this, let me try to provide some clarity:
The Fat Acceptance/Size Acceptance movement is not a monolith and there are various perspectives as to what exactly FA/SA means. Nobody speaks for the entire movement including me, we can each only speak to our own perspective. That said, I’ve never heard anyone in any FA/SA space anywhere suggest that Fat Acceptance is about compulsory fatness for everyone. I cannot imagine how people got the idea that if Fat Acceptance/Size Acceptance proponents get “our way” everyone will be forced to become fat.
This is about civil rights – life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and being treated with basic human respect – for people of all sizes. With that in mind, here are some things that will and will not happen to people who disagree with me if I get “my way” as a Size Acceptance Activist:
Things that WILL NOT happen to those who disagree with FA/SA if I get “my way”:
- They will be forced to become fat
- They will be forced to give up their prejudices and stereotypes about fat people (don’t get me wrong, I think it would be just dandy if they did but I’m not trying to control people’s thoughts)
Things that WILL happen to those who disagree with FA/SA if I get “my way”:
- They will get to make choices for themselves and their own bodies, but not for others (For example: public health will be about making options and information available to the public, not about making the individual’s body the public’s business)
- They will no longer be allowed to turn their personal prejudices into public policy (for example, they will have to stop waging wars that aim to eradicate everyone of a certain size.)
How about a short video to help answer the question – Does Fat Acceptance mean that everyone will be forced to become fat?
So to sum up, Fat Acceptance: Yes to respecting body diversity, no to forced fatness. I hope that clears some things up.
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