Fat Acceptance in the News

April 28, 2009

Fat Acceptance in the News

Obese anti-dieting crusaders lead charge for overweight civil rights – not bad, though as Kate noted she’s co-author of Lessons from the Fat-o-spherewith Marianne Kirby.

TV host: Style could boost healthier image – mostly about What Not To Wear but includes a few paragraphs about Dr Linda Bacon’s book Health At Every Size.

Club nights for plus-size Valley patrons prove popular – about nightlife promoters in Long Beach and Phoenix focusing on size-positive promotions like “Club Bounce” and “Club FulFilled”.

‘Books’ and ‘readers’ swap stories – about the Santa Monica library program of checking out human “books” to facilitate learning about others, including fat activist and president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance Lesleigh Owen.

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Books, fat acceptance, News

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Living 400lbs

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6 responses to “Fat Acceptance in the News”

Bree

April 28, 2009 at 1:57 pm

I know fat-hate is rampant in a lot of places, but it still shocks me a little that fat people, especially fat women, are not allowed entrance into clubs because staff feels they’re going to scare everyone off. When I used to go clubbing, I was never denied and I was one of the biggest gals in the place. Nightclubs really need to get off their high horse and stop these discriminating practices. Wanting to dance and drink and have fun is not just for the thin.

I find it interesting that this report says fat people are more accepted at neighborhood bars and places that cater to Black and Hispanic populations…hmm, could that be because the population in those places have more working-class patrons, older patrons, and are not as upscale as the big danceplexes? Which once again brings class and economic status into the mix.

Reply
1. living400lbs
  
  April 29, 2009 at 10:30 am
  
  I know fat-hate is rampant in a lot of places, but it still shocks me a little that fat people, especially fat women, are not allowed entrance into clubs because staff feels they’re going to scare everyone off.
  
  I haven’t been much for the club scene, but I would think that would mostly be clubs where you have to fit a certain dress code, etc to get in too. That does NOT make it okay, just that it’s clubs that are already being exclusionary based on looks.
  
  Reply
Lisa

April 29, 2009 at 5:19 am

RE: “fat” people more accepted at neighborhood bars and places that cater to Black and Hispanic populations…….Not that I’m trying to generalize, but perhaps it’s because it’s also a cultural acceptance within those communities? Larger women are more accepted and also seen as more attractive than their smaller counterparts. Could also be that blacks and hispanics are no strangers to discrimination either.

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Elizabeth

April 29, 2009 at 8:32 am

I found the top story you linked to on another site with REALLY snarky remarks after. I was going to post my own, taking them to task, but you had to register…

Linda Bacon has written a book debunking various myths about weight, and really emphasizing HEALTH, and not WEIGHT. It’s called “Health at Every Size.” It even explains the science of weight regulation and why people weight what they do. She says when you actually start to separate out the issues, research shows that weight itself plays remarkably little role in our health. Weight fears are exaggerated, she says — and the real health concerns that you can actually modify are things like eating habits (enormously important to me), stress and activity (I exercise a lot, so I know I’m pretty healthy that way). Let’s put the emphasis on supporting everyone in developing healthier habits and stop bashing fat people. You can read an excerpt from her excellent book if you’d like.

Reply
1. living400lbs
  
  April 29, 2009 at 10:05 am
  
  Yeah, a lot of news sites in particular have snarky comments.
  
  Re Dr Bacon’s book, I reviewed it last fall, with links to the site and so forth.
  
  Reply
2. Heidi
  
  April 29, 2009 at 2:44 pm
  
  I think a (paraphrased) quote from Dr. Bacon’s book is probably the best summation of the kinds of comments that size-activists get on news sites…namely, that people see the word “fat” and have a kneejerk reaction without even seriously considering the article or anything to which it refers.
  
  As she says, it’s their problem and not ours…so some days I choose to respond and other days I just can’t be bothered. It’s such a deeply ingrained notion in Western society that some days the battle just isn’t worth fighting!
  
  Reply

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