In magazines, if someone who is in the public eye is fat, there will be comments about it, in articles that have nothing to do with their body or their weight. We’ve (hopefully) moved beyond sexism, homophobia and racism when writing about a public figure, but when fat comes into it, it’s something that people can’t seem to see past. Before I go any further, I’m not putting ‘fatophobia’ on a par with sexism, homophobia and racism, but using them as some sort of comparison. It’s more on a par with religion, because those are more choices than states of being.
Fat women are described with words such as ‘curvy,’ ‘voluptuous’ and ‘womanly.’ If the article is complimentary, or if the woman in question has big boobs, these are seen as positives, but if the article has a judgmental tone, they are synonyms for fat. And in the bad way. These adjectives can describe slimmer women too and words such as ‘womanly’ and phrases such as ‘real woman have curves’ are derogatory to thin women, who are no less womanly than fatter women. Yet these are loaded words and can harm a woman’s self-image and feeling of self-worth, if this is all they hear.
Fat women (and men, although I’m focusing more on women here) are criticised for being over society’s standards of a ‘good’ weight, yet when they lose weight, they are scrutinised over, judged and evaluated. Often the facts and figures are altered to make it seem more dramatic and newsworthy. They cannot win. The papers just want a story. A lot of other parties praise weight loss too, creating incentive for other women to follow suit and lose weight because they have damaged self-esteem and are unhappy with their bodies.
As a fat woman, I have to say I look up to women who don’t fit society’s ‘norm’ and the break the mould. Women who love their bodies, as they are, whatever their size and shape. Seeing women who clearly enjoy being who they are is inspiring, especially if they have a body that more resembles society’s actual norm or my own. Since I was young, I’ve always admired Dawn French, a fat woman who has succeeded in many things, is funny and had an adoring husband. She embodied all that 13 year old Amy wanted to be and have. Her body shape does not define who she is, but it was part of the reason that I looked up at her. ‘This woman is fat, yet has a career based on being funny and is married with a child,’ is what I perceived. So maybe you can understand why I have conflicting feelings about her weight loss.
I can’t help but feel a little bit disappointed, when beautiful women such as Dawn French, Nigella Lawson, Crystal Renn and Scarlett Johansson lose weight. Especially when it is the fault of pressure and criticism that has caused them to do so. What message does it convey? Life is better when you’re thinner? It doesn’t have to be and it is most definitely a personal choice, not one that is dictated to you. It is your body and you have control over your happiness and how you perceive your body. If you love your body, then you decrease the power other people have over you. Happiness is not waiting for you at that desired dress size or weight. You can be happy now. Nothing is stopping you, except love for you and your beautiful body.
Of course I understand losing weight for health reasons, but one can be fat and fit. Communities such as Health at Every Size promote health and happiness at any size, through self acceptance, pleasurable physical activity and normalised and intuitive eating. I also understand that losing weight should not be shamed, but I personally find it a great pity when people feel that they have to.
I think it a great shame that those who relished in eating what they liked, who loved their bodies and encouraged others to do so, have lost weight. I understand that some may believe me to be irrational, unfair and judgmental. Of course I am. I don’t know their personal decisions and circumstances but I mourn the decreasing visibility of fat and ‘other’ shaped bodies in the public eye.
