Lauren Chapman is a senior journalism news and telecommunications major and writes ‘Miss Know-It-All’ for The Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper. Write to Lauren at lechapman@bsu.edu.
I am fat.
It’s not exactly a shocking revelation to anyone who has viewed my mugshot for this column. It’s positively horrible.
Recently, I posted on my Facebook account about insensitive comments my PFW lecture had made. My professor had explained to my mostly-freshman class that Type B personalities are normally overweight.
I made a joke about it — because, of course, if you’re laid back you’re definitely fat. My Facebook friends proceeded to back me up. And one Facebook friend in particular posted a pro-fat lady video.
While the video was posted in support, I cringed and shut my laptop considering the best response.
But please take this as a piece of advice, from a fat woman to a world of people who have the best intentions: don’t make assumptions when talking about body shaming.
NOT ALL FAT PEOPLE HAVE BODY ISSUES
I have always been fat. There is an adorable picture of me as a child buried in “Looney Tunes” chocolate cookies, stuffing them into my face.
My parents are overweight. My grandparents are overweight.
I also work out three times a week. I haven’t dieted since I did the “rice diet” with my mom as a freshman in high school.
I watched the women in my life torture themselves with fad diets and body image issues throughout my adolescence and found a way into adulthood avoiding all that.
Besides, I’m far too cute and charming for all that nonsense.
I don’t need Meghan Trainor or Bette Midler or Christina Aguilera to sing a song for me. I don’t need a fat-girl anthem. I don’t need to be told I’m beautiful despite being a plus-size shopper.
Terms like “more cushion for the pushin’” and “more to love” manage to hurt worse than the childhood nickname bullies gave me — “Lauren Fatman.”
Those kind of comments say the only way an overweight person can be loved is if you’re a chubby-chaser or have some sort of fetish. It’s kind of crazy, but maybe people love one another because they’re people.
SKINNY-SHAMING SUCKS
Don’t tell someone to eat a Twinkie. If you’re actually concerned about someone having an eating disorder, bullying them into consuming food doesn’t do any help.
Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” don’t for thin women. The song “All About that Bass” is catchy, but it also tells the world of thin women their bodies aren’t good enough for men.
That logic has a host of problems. First, your body is for you, not solely for the entertainment and enjoyment of men. Second, there are billions of people in this world who are attracted to millions of different types of people.
Don’t worry about your size, because if someone is only attracted to you for the size (or lack thereof) of your parts, that person could replace you with silicone.
CELEBRATE EVERYONE
The world is amazingly diverse. People of different colors and perspectives make the world a more interesting place.
Body-shaming isn’t a single-gender issue. Men are thin- and fat-shamed as well. Slender guys are told to bulk up. Fat guys are told to put down the Doritos and controller.
Some men are just born with a six-pack. Some women jump into b-cups before they are in second grade. Some men will never grow taller than 5 feet tall. Some women will never gain weight from the copious amounts of food they eat.
The diversity of size is something to celebrate.
As someone who was bullied when I was younger, I love the fact that mass media is promoting pro-body songs. But you don’t have to put down one group of body types to celebrate the other.
My anaconda do.
I’m all about that bass, treble and fade.
The world is hard enough as it is. There is no reason to make it harder for people. Go love everyone’s bodies and brains and talents.
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