Weight Class

CN: Weight, body image

For all the bitter disagreements entrenched in “The Discourse,” the one thing it seems everyone is agreed on is that fat people are shitty. Whether wrapped in lazy jokes, concern trolling, misleading (and outright wrong) representations of science and research, or just overt disgust, taking a pop at a fatty comes along with its very own get out of jail free card.

In its current iteration, there’s a very real classist element that goes ignored. Once upon a time, it was fashionable to be pale, because it signified that you didn’t need to labour outside. Now, it’s fashionable to be tan, because it indicates that you have the resource to spend leisure time…outside. “Fitness" and “wellness" are also marketing concepts that have been appropriated for similar purposes. Being able to afford the equipment, clothing, registration fees, gym memberships, Goop vagina jade, the juice mud flagellation retreat in Andorra, etc, let alone having the time and energy to dedicate to these causes is a class signifier.

You need look no farther than the way fat people are characterised in the media, in entertainment, and — in all likelihood — some portion of your own prejudices to see that this is the case. “If only they weren’t so lazy. If only they stopped eating junk. If only they got some exercise. If only they stopped being a drain on our health service.”

Every day of my life, everywhere I go, I am made unwelcome, forced into a perpetual silent apology for my very existence. When hugging anyone, or making physical contact with anyone other than my family, I feel anxious because I worry how my disgusting body is going to make the other person uncomfortable.

There’s no simple distillation of food/weight/health. If you have committed yourself to an absolutist position, you have been sold a well-marketed con.

Today, I am not wearing an undershirt. Probably for the first time in 20 years. I always wear one, not because I want to, but so that my outer clothing will be less adherent to my form, and so that if I sweat, there is a layer to keep that fact from public view, nevermind that it is only princes who don’t sweat. But you don’t see anyone giving them stick for having a cheeky pizza in Woking, do you?

My pro-tip to all ye noble anti-fat folks is that you can hold off on all that well- or mal-intentioned hatred, because there is no disdain you can project which a fat person hasn’t already internalised and directed towards themselves. You are not the bearer of the missing secret which is going to unlock the mysteries of slimness and fitness.

We act as if there’s nothing worse to be than fat. As if being thin is somehow an achievement to be celebrated, no matter the basis. You know what’s worse than being fat? Being cruel and unkind. You know what’s worse than that? Being cruel and unkind and expecting to be congratulated for it.

So, I’m not wearing an undershirt today. Fuck you, if that’s a problem for you.