Basically, any time a bigger woman with a bigger following on social media posts a photo, comments flood in telling her that she is being unhealthy, that she's going to die soon and that she is promoting a bad lifestyle. People claim that body positivity is promoting unhealthy lifestyles, encouraging young girls to be fat and is dangerous. (Never mind the fact that it is encouraging nothing except for loving yourself despite your size.)
Honestly, most plus-sized women are ~over it~
They aren't phased by, "enjoy dying soon" because they get their medical advice from a doctor, not an internet troll. They don't worry about "encouraging an unhealthy lifestyle" because their know their intention is to show their love for their body.
But then, some nobody-clothing company decided to come out of the woodwork with this fat-phobic monstrosity.
https://twitter.com/Tess_Holliday/status/103990358...
In one word, YIKES.
In a lot more words, what in the HELL is this? Let's break down this cesspool of fat-shaming shit, shall we?
"Being fat is not beautiful."
Here's the thing. Maybe you don't find fatness beautiful. Maybe you don't find skinniness beautiful. Maybe that's because you have a very specific preference, or maybe its because you see beyond a person's weight to see their beauty. Regardless, you are not required to see beauty in any body size. You should, however, keep your opinions to yourself. And if you can't, you sure as shit don't need to put your feelings on a mass-produced $168 sweatshirt.
Body positivity isn't about making people believe being fat is beautiful. It is about making YOU believe that YOU are beautiful, no matter your weight or dress size. It isn't about fatness vs. skinniness, it is a movement focused on allowing yourself unapologetic self-love that goes beyond your exterior.
Being fat doesn't have to be beautiful. It doesn't have to be not beautiful. It just is. It is simply something that some people are. Saying that it isn't beautiful is an unnecessary attack on a group of people who weren't ever really trying to convince you otherwise.
"It's an excuse."
An excuse... for what? For not exercising? For not eating well? First off, many overweight people are such because of various diseases, medical side-effects and other similar issues. But beyond that, fat people don't owe it to you or to anyone to be "fit" or "skinny". Maybe they've struggled with disordered eating in the past and don't want to try to lose weight for fear of falling back into old habits. Maybe, just like you think being fat isn't beautiful, they don't feel like they'd be beautiful at a smaller size. Maybe, God forbid, they actually LIKE the way they look?
Beyond that, fat people who are actively trying to lose weight aren't going to be skinny immediately. You can work hard in the kitchen and the gym day in and day out and not see serious results for months or even years. But that doesn't matter, because this dumb sweatshirt sees every single fat person at every single stage of their life as not beautiful and making excuses.
The sweatshirt as a whole
Honestly, who is the target demographic for this sweatshirt? People who are willing to spend almost $170 to be an asshole? The company made a half-assed attempt to explain it, saying the point was to put the worst body-shaming quotes on shirts to point out the horrors of trolling and shine a light on fat-shaming. But the model wearing the sweatshirt is not plus-sized and the biggest size is an XL. So, let's just all call BS on that one right off the bat.
This sweatshirt is a piece of garbage. Fat-shaming (whether you're just being mean or faking interest in the person's) health is garbage. Everything about this is a dumpster fire. If you think fat people aren't beautiful but think this is OK, take a good long look at yourself. Because the "not beautiful" one might be you.
