SO the idea is that the word ‘fat’ is a scary, horrible, and harsh insult, right?
Am I the only one that doesn’t find it that insulting?
Thoughts?
Really. When people refer to me as ‘cuddly’ ‘squishy’ ‘curvy’, these are all lovely. I’m more than happy to be all of these things. But it’s usually pretty obvious that these lovely friends/acquaintances of mine are avoiding one specific word, that taboo among women, that dreaded state: ‘fat’.
There are so many things I find more insulting. When people say ‘fat’ they are insulting image more than they are insulting health, and for me, being comfortable with my image- hell I like my body this size- it just doesn’t really hold any sting. My boobs are sometimes inconvenient, but mostly I just have nice cleavage. I like the shape of waist to hip and I’m really starting to enjoy large thighs on women. Plus, I adore beach swimming, and the buoyancy is simply awesome. As well as the fact that it takes over 3 hours for me to start getting cold, even at night.
So I like my body, so to call me ‘fat’ I take as nothing more than an observation of what is truly there. I am fat. This is in absolutely no way a fish for sympathy or compliments or comfort. This is me expressing my complete lack of fear of this word.
Now, to insult my health- yeah that does sometimes get to me, because I do really wish to be healthier. I am fat because I am ridiculously self indulgent when it comes to food, and pretty god damn lazy when it comes to exercise (aside from swimming). So if ‘fat’ is an insult to my health- it does touch on an insecurity.
For women to be dying so frequently of eating disorders, I really think the connection between weight/size to image security needs a solid battering. Our society has fucking harsh standards, and though it is circulated and exacerbated by the media of magazines, films, television, the change has to start with us. Women and men as individuals to accept ourselves. If we hate ourselves for our weight, it’s not a wonder we expect others to hate us for it.
So accept yourself. Accept what you are and what you aren’t and maybe you’ll start noticing that not only do you find yourself but other women and men of varying sizes to be not only totally acceptable, but attractive.
I am fat, feel free to observe so- because I don’t feel this should be inherently offensive. It isn’t. So don’t act like it is.
