“The Stereotypical Lazy Fat Person”
Jezebel republished an essay by Tasha Fierce at Red Vinyl Shoes called “As Fat As I Wanna Be,” articulating the idea that if you eat junk food, and are lazy, and don’t exercise, and are fat, you still don’t deserve to be shamed and concern trolled and vilified for your fatness. The Jezebel post is here:
When someone is fat shamed, the person doing the shaming often justifies it as them being concerned for the fat person’s health. Of course we know that’s bullshit. Fatphobia has nothing to do with health, if someone was really concerned they wouldn’t harp on it to the detriment of fat people’s self esteem. And a ton of fat people can attest that they eat healthily and exercise. I however, cannot. So is the health argument justified in my case? Well, no, because fat also has nothing to do with health. It’s the food I eat that’s the issue. It’s the fact that I eat when I’m definitely not physically hungry. It’s my lack of exercise.
I shouldn’t be expected to prove that oh well I’m trying really hard not to be fat but OMG I’m still fat so leave me alone! If I’m fat by design then so fucking what, I’m “choosing to be fat”. Of course I would still be fat if I ate well, didn’t overeat and exercised, though I might be less fat. But guess what, I don’t really give a shit right now. I am the stereotypical lazy fat person, and I have a right to be that if I damn well please. I’m not repping for the entire FA movement. I’m not trying to set an example. And really, if it’s unacceptable to be a non-HAES fat then how can we say we’re accepting fat? We’re only accepting it if you make sure to do everything right but are still fat? We say fat isn’t a choice. Is it wrong if it is? I’ve gained roughly 10 pounds or so (I’m guessing by the way my clothes fit) since my surgery simply because I’ve chosen to not follow the rules. But that’s my choice and I am sure as shit not going to be shamed by either HAES enthusiasts or bigoted fatphobes.
In response to the comments at Jezebel, Tasha has posted a followup that’s also worth reading:
I’m sorry if you feel like my wanton gluttony is making your fat friends look bad because they exercise and eat right and here I am, blowing it for them, being the stereotype they try so hard not to be. My point was that, again, FAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO OUTLINE THE WAYS THEY’RE TRYING TO NOT BE FAT, OR THE MEASURES THEY TAKE TO COUNTER THE ILLEGITIMATE CLAIMS THAT FAT = UNHEALTHY.
Right after I read this, we got a comment that I considered unapproving. But instead I think it fits right into this conversation, because it outlines helpfully outlines exactly what kind of fat people we’re allowed to be.
MY support is with those overweight people who will not quit and whose attitude shines with optimism and a desire to become healthy people-inside and out. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION!!!
That’s right–as Kirstie Alley and Carnie Wilson have shown us time and time again, we’re allowed to be overweight as long as we “never quit” trying, publicly and vocally, to be thinner. As long as we stay on the merry-go-round of dieting, and publicize how well we eat and how much we exercise. And it’s the best first line of defense against a lot of people–it shuts people up. Yeah I’m fat, but… (but I exercise four days a week, but I’m a vegan, but I never eat fast food, but I take a dance class, but but…)
What if the real answer is: yeah, I’m fat. And so what?
Posted by mo pie
Filed under: Advocacy, Carnie Wilson, Celebrities, Fat Positive, Fatism, Feminism, Health, Kirstie Alley
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Why should I have to keep trying? Why should I have to justify anything about my life to anyone? It’s my life to live however I please and it’s no one’s business how I live it – good, bad, or indifferent. I’m still a human being worthy of respect, whether I’m doing everything I can to be as healthy as I can be or doing nothing at all to be healthy. Non-fat people don’t have to go through this kind of crap, so why should fat people?
So yeah, I think the real answer is: Yeah, I’m fat. So what?
We deserve to be treated like people because we are people. Full Stop.
I deserve human rights not in spite of my waistline, but because of my humanity.
I’m wondering what the inspirational part is for, for that particular commment. Human rights are human rights no matter what, absolutely regardless of diet or exercise or whatever for the fat and thin alike (and any other shape we want to describe).
I wonder what the “trying” means though – I try to live a life that I think supports my happiness. Party of me being happy means eating a diet that is varied and part of that means exercising. Happiness DOES NOT equate thinness and I am quite fat and don’t think that exercise and a diet based on whole foods is going to make me thinner, it hasn’t but it makes me feel better inside emoptionally, mentally and physically. I just like it. What I choose to do with my life is not an imperative for anyone else. I don’t care what people think about my lifestyle or if they approve or disapprove. I do what pleases me first. Period. Hopefully others can do the same.
Silentbeep, I really like “I try to live a life that I think supports my happiness.” :)
That last pull quote is scary to me. Allow me to Capstranslate:
I SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT TO ME, AS LONG AS THEIR LIVES CAN BE CARVED UP INTO EASY-TO-DIGEST CHUNKS OF INSPIRATION FODDER FOR MY DELECTATION!
Why do we need to justify our lives to people? Being fat doesn’t remove us from the human population, no matter how much we’re unwanted. We have the same right to be treated with respect as anyone else.
Sometimes I feel that I’m betraying some part of the FA movement because I am agressively losing weight right now.
These kinds of debates always leave me feeling ambivalent since I support body acceptance, but I also think it’s better if people do try to lead a healthier life.
The bottom line though is that people should be treated as people. It’s rude and unacceptable to critique a stranger on their life just based on their outward appearance.
Rei – as a fellow FA follower also losing weight, I can assure you that there will always be someone judging us as too fat, even if one was down to single-digit sizes. I hate the taste in my mouth as I think that thought.
I’ve struggled with this a lot and it feels really good to read someone else with the same concerns. This is why I’m not more involved in the FA movement – often it doesn’t feel like much of a movement at all, because fat people still fall all over themselves to prove how IT’S NOT THEIR FAULT they’re fat, THEY’RE TRYING TO LEAD HEALTHY LIVES NO MATTER WHAT THEIR SIZE so GET OFF THEIR BACKS. Well guess what. I’m NOT trying to eat healthy and exercise, I really don’t have plans to start any time soon, and I don’t give a rat’s ass. I’m happy with myself and my life. If my extended waistline and non-shamed attitude about my complete lack of healthy diet and exercise makes you look at me as less of a person, F&%K OFF. I’m still a valid member of society, a wonderful friend, an intelligent woman, an amazing writer, a loving daughter, and an incredible person. If people don’t see that because of my size, will it really change their minds about me if I’m eating healthy or not? Or will my diet and exercise regime just make them feel better about accepting me – “She IS fat, but she’s working on it so let’s cut her some slack”? HA! I don’t need your slack, jerkfaces.
Thanks for posting this, I feel liberated. YAY!
Honestly, I do not agree with Tasha Feirce. Of course, ‘fat’ people are as deserving as anyother to be accepted and there shouldn’t even be a debate about that, but leading an unhealthy lifestyle is a bad idea for everyone. You choose to be fat, ok, but how is this lifestyle any different from choosing to say, take drugs or being anorexic?
That’s why HAES is such an egalatarian idea- it’s not about being skinny or fat, it’s about being healthy, no matter what your size. Why should eating fast food an not exercising be points to prove when the’re clearly unhealthy life choices for both fat and thin people?
Smaug, I think Tasha was questioning why fat people (who may or may not have a healthy lifestyle, OR be healthy) are made to explain themselves in a way that thin people (who may or may not have a healthy lifestyle, OR be healthy) are.
You’re conflating being fat with being unhealthy. You said “choosing to be fat” instead of “choosing to diet and exercise the way she is.” And then you compared a comparative lack of exercise/healthy food with an eating disorder. Nice, mate. Nice!
Personally, my weight stays around the same, regardless of what I eat or how often I exercise. I imagine lots of fat people would be in the same boat.
What Tasha is saying is that her choices about her own body are no-one’s concern but her own. Even if she is fat.
She’s not living the way she is – diet and exercise, mind – because she has a point to prove to other people. That would imply that her weight is anyone else’s concern. She’s living the way she is because she wants to.
I’m curious about your grasp of FA/HAES. You still conflate fat with unhealthy, and reserve the right to critique other people’s lifestyles as if they are your concern, yet you claim that everyone should be accepted the way they are, regardless of size?
So we should draw imaginary lines through the movement?
Fat, healthy, “healthy” lifestyle
Fat, healthy, “unhealthy” lifrestyle
Fat, unhealthy, healthy lifestyle
Fat, unhealthy, unhealthy lifestyle
Not fat, healthy, healthy lifestyle
Not Fat, healthy, “unhealthy” lifrestyle
Not fat, unhealthy, healthy lifestyle
Not fat, unhealthy, unhealthy lifestyle
You can eat chocolate or lollies everyday, exercise rather sparingly, and still have excellent health readings and status. I do. But I’m not fat, so I suppose that if I were to increase my BMI/weight, my cholesterol count, BP, blood sugar readings and all the rest of it would magically increase, right?
Granted, I don’t have an thoroughly unhealthy dietand lifestyle. I still eat vegies, whole grains and fruit like they’re going out of fashion. But my point is that I am not concern-trolled about my choices the way a fat person with the exact same lifestyle and health status would.
They would be told that they are choosing to be fat, and fat=unhealthy, even though they are not unhealthy.
People believe me when I tell them about my diet and health status. People don’t demand that I discuss, justify and modify my choices. My lifestyle is not seen as anyone else’s business. Fat people are often not granted the same courtesy. And that’s the the problem.
Also, fat people can have eating disorders too, you know. They just might be diagnosed as EDNOS because of their weight.
Wow. Sorry. That was overlong, and really rather disjointed. Apologies. If I could delete the above novel, I would.
Shorter version:
A comparatively lazy/less healthy lifestyle =/= poor health/lead to poor health outcomes. People who are being fat at you will continue to be fat at you. The reasons why they are as fat as they are are not your concern.
Whether or not they are attempting to be less fat, or eathing healhfully “enough” or exercising “enough” is not your concern.
Tasha Fierce is just putting forth the idea that her lifestyle, like her health, isn’t anyone elsé’s business. That the need to separate the “good” fat people from the “bad” fat people is bullshit.
She isn’t advocating that anyone follow her lead.
Perla, I’m glad you didn’t delete! And B. Miller, all I can say is YES.
Health shaming (the easy-to-use replacement for fat shaming! No assembly required!) is a very easy place to go, because it’s so compatible with our society and the Protestant Work Ethic/ Bootstrap Mentality philosophies that many of us grew up with. As a bonus, there are environmental angles, too (eating processed food uses more resources! Heavy bodies take more gas to transport!)
But I think the main reason it exists, even when it’s separated from a false conflation of size with health, is that a lot of us (myself included) have internalized fat shame, and it’s ‘ok’ to be fat as long as we’re not ‘that kind’ of fat. If we all show how Good we are, no one will ever be mean about fat any more! Yeah, right.
So I guess it all boils down to echoing B. Miller – “I don’t need your slack, jerkfaces!”
1. I do not, repeat, do not equate fat with unhealthy. If that’s how it came across, my bad.
2. This was just my 2 bit since Tasha has aired her views on a rather forum. It’s a comment not a critique.
3. I do not have an intellectual grasp on HAES, frankly I know it as it’s spelled out- Health at Every Size. And I did not equate being fat with an eating disorder, it was JUST an example!
I agree, Irene, and love what Alice wrote.
I used to be a size 8 and held that size for about ten plus years through insane exercising and dieting. (All thanks to fat shaming coming from every direction.) It caused huge health problems so I get a chuckle out of the notion thin = healthy. Anyway, I’d get comments all the time that I was fat at a size eight. When I shrunk to a size 4 due to stress from a divorce there were still fat comments.
A size four being considered fat was quite the eye-opener. And having left that size, and an 8, ten, 12, 14, etc… far behind continues to open my mind. It’s really astounding the ugliness of people in their treatment of others just by their weight. There’s no pleasing them. Thank goodness I finally got off that pleasing others wagon. Or is that on?
Anyway, kudos to the post/comments!
It seems like a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. If you exercise and eat healthilly whatever your size you are seen as attacking someone who chooses to sit about eating junk food. Maybe it is just not a very admirable choice whatever size you are? You can do it, eat all day,high fat, high sugar, processed foods and barely move from your couch and no one will ever take away this ‘right’ but to expect universal acceptance for this behaviour is not going to happen. Maybe simply because the majority of the worlds population can not do this, can’t even get Ean water or enough calories at all per day to sustain themselves. I don’t think it’s about what a person is doing, but what thier not doing. I am a size 16 and eat a mix of food and don’t do a lot of exercise but frankly if I decided to lay on a couch all day eating or smoking or drinking or anything-at-alling rather than lead a balanced existence where I made efforts towards more than gratifying my appetite I would hope I could listen to anyone who cared enough about me to suggest I may be capable of more.
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