Contents
Hello! Fat shaming is discrimination against people who are overweight. They are accused of being simply lazy and like to eat junk food without feeling the measure. Considered «sick» and offended by inventing humiliating nicknames.
And today we will try to figure out what stereotypes about obese people exist, as well as how to deal with this rather serious type of bullying.
History
I think it will not be news to anyone that before, until the middle of the 19th century, full girls were considered the standard of beauty, as well as health. Because they could bear and give birth to children without any problems. They were the muses of many great artists, such as Rembrandt or Titian.
Yes, and being overweight was a clear sign of prosperity, a person could afford to eat fully, and not starve, like the majority of the population of that time.
But at the beginning of the 20th century, skinny young ladies came into fashion, while the rest began to be perceived as unattractive, at times ugly. There were even postcards with cartoons, quite clearly ridiculing people with fullness.
Moreover, society even began to blame them, demanding immediate action to meet generally accepted standards. Which, of course, hit on self-esteem, especially for women for whom it is important to feel beautiful and desirable, to be successful among men.
The term itself comes from the English words fat (fat, thick) and shaming (shame). And intertwined with body shaming. The victims of which are not only obese people, but also thin, tall, with large or small ears, noses, and so on.
In general, who also does not fit into the canons of beauty in modern terms.
Fatshamers believe that their humiliating remarks motivate those who do not meet the «norm». It is believed that if some blogger, “phyton” finds time for training and pays attention to his diet, then why do the rest use only excuses?
Popular stereotypes and myths
Fat is ugly
As already mentioned, in the Renaissance, the masters almost worshiped young ladies in the body. They wrote out every millimeter, every dimple of cellulite. Accordingly, fat in itself is not an ugliness, it all depends on the preferences of people, their preferences and tastes.
We are surrounded by too much information that is not really real. The beautiful bodies of supermodels are photoshopped, most of them are sick with anorexia. And this disease is fatal. Someone turns to plastic surgeons, puts on tons of makeup. With the help of which you can even change the nationality, not to mention hide the flaws.
Although recently gaining popularity and models plus size. They conquer the catwalks and the hearts of people who are not fatshamers. Promoting the idea that any body can be beautiful and desirable.
Fat people are lazy
And sometimes they are even considered not smart enough. After all, a developed person would probably guess that he needs to eat less and play more sports. Is not it?
This deprives us of the right to choose, to be who we are, to live the way we want. Must fit and be marketable.
It turns out that each of us has the right to control another person, even an outsider. Based on ideas that surely knows how to do it right.
Although in fact, it often turns out that a beautiful figure is just a feature of the physique that was inherited, or a high metabolic rate. When you can even eat an elephant, but you won’t gain a single gram.
Obesity is a disease
To some extent, yes, it can occur due to disorders in the endocrine system, subsequently gene syndromes, diabetes, and so on. But not every overweight person is sick.
Therefore, the “good intentions” of fat-shamers, who allegedly care about the health of individuals who are prone to overweight, raise a number of questions. For example, why is there no discrimination in society, harassment of people who do not undergo fluorography at the right time? Or who does not do MRI, ultrasound?
Everyone is responsible for their own life and health. And the manifestation of power in relation to others is just an attempt to amuse one’s pride and raise self-esteem. It is much easier to accuse another of laziness, gluttony, and so on, than to pay attention to one’s own shortcomings, to what one does not like in life.
This gives the illusion of superiority, so the most aggressive fatshamers are individuals who, in fact, have nothing else to offer the world, except for a toned figure. I mean, she’s the only achievement they recognize.
Why does it exist?
Because it’s beneficial. If the persecution of overweight people did not bring any dividends, it would simply not exist. Fitness centers, sporting goods stores, clothing stores, cosmetics stores, and more would have no customers if people were not desperately striving to conform to the norms accepted in society.
Aggressive advertising with skinny photoshopped beauties actually imposes artificial values. People forget about the inner world, focusing mainly on appearance.
As a result, there is another kind of discrimination — objectification. That is, the attitude towards another person as a thing, when his individuality, feelings, values are not taken into account. He simply becomes an object for which there is no pity, regret, love …
Fat shaming also functions as a natural population regulator. Excessively thin women, who are still at the peak of popularity, in fact, often have difficulty conceiving. Often, the only way to get pregnant, carry a healthy baby, and give birth is to gain weight.
Completion
The one who does not accept other people as they are — in fact, does not allow himself to be himself. What makes it impossible to live freely breathing deeply. Then the question arises of who is more unhappy, the victims or their persecutors, who are trying to assert themselves at the expense of others?
And that’s all for today, dear readers! Subscribe to the blog to receive daily new information that will help you in this sometimes difficult, but very important process of self-development.
Take care of yourself and be happy!
Finally, we recommend that you read an article on how to ignore negative people.
The material was prepared by a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, Zhuravina Alina