Melissa McEwan on Fat and Self-Acceptance
From January, but hey, better late than never:
It remains a radical act to be fat and happy in America, especially if you’re a woman (for whom “jolly” fatness isn’t an option). If you’re fat, you’re not only meant to be unhappy, but deeply ashamed of yourself, projecting at all times an apologetic nature, indicative of your everlasting remorse for having wrought your monstrous self upon the world. You are certainly not meant to be bold, or assertive, or confident—and should you manage to overcome the constant drumbeat of messages that you are ugly and unsexy and have earned equally society’s disdain and your own self-hatred, should you forget your place and walk into the world one day with your head held high, you are to be reminded by the cow-calls and contemptuous looks of perfect strangers that you are not supposed to have self-esteem; you don’t deserve it. Being publicly fat and happy is hard; being publicly, shamelessly, unshakably fat and happy is an act of both will and bravery.
Thrilled as I am to be Shakesville’s new resident fat-ranter, it’s worth noting that Melissa was handling the subject quite brilliantly before I ever came along.
I found your blog just recently and was reading you here but am thrilled to see you over at Shakesville!
Melissa was handling the subject quite brilliantly before I ever came along
Aww, thanks!
Damn that’s good. :D