Two Things That I've Learned About Myself
Two things that I’ve learned about myself
1. I’m not interested in Twitter arguments. It’s not good for my brain, and most often, does nothing but frustrate me. When I’m able to engage in thoughtful dialogue, I will. Sometimes. And then sometimes I will just choose to disengage if the human I’m talking to is not interested in dialogue, but is looking to throw barbs. I’m not interested in fighting with strangers on the Internet. Not even kind of.
2. Not understanding a concept is a normal part of growth. It is human. It is okay and important.
I did not know about Health at Every Size until I did. This understanding has changed my life.
I did not appreciate ableism until I became a disabled person. I’m still working on not apologizing for my shifting needs.
I didn’t endeavor to engage in thoughtful conversations about racism because they made me feel less than settled, and are now a part of conversations that I have regularly.
I have never NOT witnessed the oppression of fat humans, but did not always think about this in the context of fatphobia and weight stigma.
I didn’t know. And now I know better.
The word “privilege,“ Is used in common vernacular a lot more now, than I’ve noticed it before. I’m happy to be corrected on that. I’m also happy to see it in use.
Thin privilege.
White privilege.
Financial privilege.
Privilege of access.
Generally not-oppressed, privilege.
None of these things need to make any of us comfortable. If they make you feel uneasy, lean in. Acknowledging privilege is not the same thing as abdicating responsibility. But blatantly disregarding its existence, is just ignorant.
This post is on the heels of engaging with a human, briefly, about the fact that “thin privilege” exists. The rebuttal was something along the lines of “thin privilege is this the same thing as a stupid privilege.” Whatever.
But if you don’t understand the concept of thin privilege, and are going to insist on seeing the “research,“ about it, then know I’m going to point you to research about the impact of weight stigma.
The oppression of fat bodies is the reason that thin privilege exists.
Vadiveloo, 2016
Phelan, 2017
Tomiyama, 2018
#haes #weightstigma #oppression #sexism #patriarchy #disability #racism #fightthepatriarchy #lgbtrights #disabilityrights #fatpositive #fatactivism #activism #thinprivilege #eatingdisorderrecovery #healthateverysize
