Is weightism the last acceptable prejudice? Learn to accpet yourself and fight weightism.
If you have ever been teased for being fat, you know the effects of weightism. Being a victim of fatism wears on your self-esteem and confidence. Teasing and hurtful comments stay with an obese person forever as they replay the comments to themselves.
The problem of weight bias is very real. Weightism effects women more often than men, but it can interfere with you getting a job, finding a quality companion and being treated fairly in general.
People with prejudice against obese people wrongly assume that they are lazy, cynical, unclean, ignorant and out of control. Their assumptions are based on the idea that what you look like matters the most. If they took the time to get to know the individual, they would see that obese people are no different on the inside. Fat doesn’t erase thoughtfulness, friendliness, creativity, determination, intelligence, sensitivity or passion. The fact is every person deserves a fair chance regardless of their size or weight because it is what is on the inside that really counts.
How to Deal with Weightism
Though fatism is prevalent and escaping fat prejudice entirely isn’t possible, there are some things obese people can do to deal with weightism.
Accept yourself for who you are. Know who you are, what you are good at and what you stand for. Don’t let anyone take that away from you.
Realize that anyone lashing out or showing prejudice has their own self-confidence issues. The way they deal with is it by trying to make other people feel bad about themselves. Don’t fall for it. Hold your head high.
Get rid of your own thoughts of weightism. Often when people are teased they internalize the negative comments. Don’t make someone else’s unfair judgments become your own.
Don’t compare yourself to unrealistic images. Magazine photos can be doctored to look perfect, erasing areas of unwanted fat. Models are often unhealthy and go to great measures to stay thin, including bulimia and anorexia.
Treat your body with respect. Skip fad diets, weight loss pills and obsessively weighing yourself. Follow a healthy eating plan and daily exercise to feel your best and prevent diseases.
Weightism is a form of prejudice and a sign of ignorance. You may not be able to change the way some people think, but you can change the way you think and how you react to those who are prejudice against obese people.
The copyright of the article Weightism in Weight Loss is owned by Tracy Rose. Permission to republish Weightism in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
This has bothered me for a long time--the fact that prejudice for any
reason is not only acceptable, but not illegal. Thanks for bring this to
the forefront.
Aug 10, 2009 4:59 PM
Guest :
At 93kg I had a car full of young men scream fat pig and oink at me last
week. Although I know I am carrying extra kg's but am far from FAT their
comments have really stuck with me! In a way, their comments have been a
good thing- its given me the motivation I needed to get out and loose the
extra 18kgs Im carrying!! Excellent article- its so very very true!
Oct 29, 2009 9:00 AM
Guest :
People here show they don't know what weightism really is- it's not just
behaving negatively toward overweight people, but it's also thinking that
being over a overweight is "bad". For instance, the Guest that
commented above wrote: "In a way, their comments have been a good
thing- its given me the motivation I needed to get out and loose the extra
18kgs Im carrying!!" Don't you realise that saying that's EXACTLY
like someone saying "I got screamed at because I'm black, but in a way
their comments have been a good thing - its given me the motivation I
needed to get out and bleach my skin!!"
My point is, by
saying that, they're admitting that they AGREE with the people who teased
them - they're submitting to a weightist idea, and doing EXACTLY what the
bullies want. This is what allows weightism to continue and get worse.
This is the real problem with weightism against overweight people -
it's become so ingrained in society that rather than defending themselves,
the victims feel guilty because they think the prejudiced people are right.
This is a real problem.
People should realise the truth - that
something being "good" or "bad" is SUBJECTIVE. Being
overweight shouldn't be seen as definitively "bad" or
"ugly", because there are plenty of people who find someone
carrying more weight a lot more physically attractive than someone thin.
People should realise that beauty's in the eye of the beholder - it's
determined by the PERSON WHO'S LOOKING. Everyone has different tastes, so
it shouldn't be surprising.
I'd also like to point out to Tracy
Rose -I'm sorry to say this, but you don't see the point of weightism. You said: "Their assumptions are based on the idea that what you
look like matters the most." NOT ENTIRELY - it's based on the wrong
idea that "good looks" is a factual matter, when it's NOT. When
you make that kinds of statement, you're practically admitting that you,
like the prejudiced people, think it's bad to look a certain way. It's
not entirely a matter of "it's what's inside that counts" - that
statement is true but it's just BESIDE THE POINT. You show the same
ignorance when you say "Fat doesn’t erase thoughtfulness,
friendliness, creativity, determination, intelligence, sensitivity or
passion."- And you're suggesting that it DOES erase beauty and
attractiveness?
What you SHOULD be saying is, there are plenty
of people who'd find your body attractive, no matter what your size/weight.
Not everyone has the same idea of what a "good body" is.
