Ragen Chastain writes a letter. Here’s a tiny bit:
Dear Fat Kid,
I hope that you are surrounded by people who understand that you and your fat body are amazing. If you’re not, then my first thought is to tell you that your body is amazing and that bullies are just people who are insecure or desperate to feel important. …
Suggesting that fat people should lose weight to avoid this treatment is totally and completely wrong on every level – the problem is not fat people, the problem is people who stigmatize fat people, and the solution to social stigma is ending social stigma, not weight loss. You deserve to be treated with basic human respect.
I know that not everyone is fully on board with fat acceptance (me, I’m sympathetic), but I think it’s well worth considering that stigma and/or shame are probably not helpful and may well be harmful.
Speaking of which, I recently came across a very interesting (and HAES-friendly) paper — Shame, Blame, and the Emerging Law of Obesity Control. Author and American University law prof Lindsay Wiley makes for a compelling case (IMO) why the shame-based strategies of public health’s anti-smoking efforts are perhaps not the best model for efforts to address obesity.
I agree! Especially when it comes to our children. How can we shame them about their bodies and expect them not to carry that within as they grow into adults. I have weight issues, and 1 of my sons does too( I have 4). So this hits me close.
Me too. I had my first visit to the drs office for weight in 5th grade.