Thin Privilege

Check it out:
http://thisisthinprivilege.tumblr.com/


I recently watched a video in which a women was interviewed about a cause that she advocates and they mention a blog that she moderates. The blog is called "This is Thin Privilege." The blog has caused a lot of heated debate and spin-off blogs in the few years that it has been in operation.

Essentially, the blog centers around posts that describe what "thin privilege" is, what it looks like, and the ways in which overweight people encounter it on a daily basis. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept of privilege, it's basically defined as:
“Privilege exists when one group has something of value that is denied to others simply because of the groups they belong to, rather than because of anything they’ve done or failed to do."

So, for example, white people have some sort of privilege (in theory) over black people, only because they are white (they face less discrimination, poverty, etc.). So, in this case, they ascertain that there is nothing inherently wrong (unhealthy) with being overweight, but that society's perception creates an illusion of being fat as something negative. It's described by this blog as:

"Thin privilege systematically reduces each of us to our dress size, or hip measurement, or waist size; then grants favors, opportunities, or simple lack of punishment when the numbers are low enough. "

Their main points are that that there is no obesity epidemic (rather pharmaceutical companies changed the definition of obesity in order to make a profit from the diet industry) fat does not equal unhealthy (they cite studies that claim being overweight doesn't cause health problems), that diets do not work (fat people are almost always overweight because they are born that way and they should not try to lose weight), and that overweight people are entitled to the same treatment as their average-weighted counterparts (they should not pay extra for XL clothing, they should never have to buy 2 plane tickets).

They list countless examples of thin privilege, a few of them:

1. Thin people never get denied medical treatment due to their weight.
2. It is difficult for overweight folks to find clothing that fits.
3. Fat people have a more difficult time dating, and finding gainful employment.
4. People assume that because they are fat, that they are also lazy and don't exercise.

The list goes on. Read a little bit of their blog for a more complete picture of their cause:

I've been reading this blog and thinking a lot about it's message lately.

What do you think? Do you think that thin people have an advantage over fat people in most 1st world countries? (By the way, they embrace the word fat and think people should use it in place of obese or overweight, which implies something inherently wrong--a disease or flaw).

 

I think it is a privilege to be.

 

I don't think they necessarily have an advantage.. often terrible personalities about it all though.

My cousin is actually "over weight" yet when she gets checked up at a doctor she's perfectly healthy, all the good fats etc. Everything where is should be, yet she carries the weight. I guess the hurtful thing about it would be the people that criticize her as being "lazy" when she really isn't. Now that creates confidence problems in her which I'd deem as a disadvantage I guess in a social situation but it's not like she's going to be going for modelling jobs either, so the weight for a career I don't think alters too much. I see all sizes of secretaries, receptionists, doctors etc. I don't think it really matters much anymore unless your profession is health, recreational activities or the exploitation of ones body.

 

Thin or not much privilege.

 

We all create temporary conditions to the extent we are able.

 

i thought it was going to be about how thin/narrow/substanceless prevelages really are.

 

It turned out that way. What a mind!

 

what makes me so mad about people who are overweight and make up these things like thin privilage, is they act like they cant change being fat, they act like they were born with 1 arm.

EVERYBODY can gain and lose weight, your not some special freak of nature that just magically got fat. I'd think if someone disliked being fat so much, they would change their lifestyle instead of complain. Just blows my mind how they act like they cant change it, like you cant regrow an arm

 

Seems a thin or not much of a privilege.

 

Hey look, those tumblr feminists say stuff with no grounding in reality, and the whole world looks at them.... I should say some shit with no grounding in reality and repeatedly misuse the words privilege and systematic, and everybody will look at me and give me everything I want.

It's an issue that can be picked apart pretty easily, but not a discussion that deserves to be had in a serious way.

 

wait what you mean by this? like as in thin privilege is a "thin" privilege ie not a big privilege?

I think having what most consider an attractive body is somewhat a plus as society sadly seems to emphasis outer beauty, not sure about it being a "privilege".

 

I mean yes to the first.
And yes to the second.
Beauty in the eye they say
What you look upon is a value you have given to the world.
The body is not valuable for what is has to offer
Not many find it satisfying to make love to a corpse

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6fQnTyEniM

 

woah, that blog has a few things wrong:

can't say about the rest of the world, but america certainly does have an obesity problem, and its increasing, all organizations recognize that its increasing, and you would have to have to be outright lying to say otherwise.

diets dont work?
this statement is fucking crazy! its medically impossible for a diet not to work. yea i said it. if your fat, dont ever say that, it will make you look fat and stupid.

and fat people want more shit, but want to pay less for it? thats just fucking kick-in-the-nuts crazy.

 

For the great grand vast big huge majority of nearly everybody, you're totally right.

But, there is a bit more to it than that.

There are lots of things that can lead to weight gain, and a practical inability to reverse it in a healthy or lasting way. It obviously constitutes a disability in some cases, even if the disability is caused by mental issues and is self-inflicted or avoidable.

If people have disabilities, they need to be cared for.

That doesn't mean everyone else is flaunting their thin privilege by simply living normally - noticing that the rest of the world is thinner and having more fun as a result of their lower weight is what we call a "wakeup call".

 

yes i do recognize that some people, ahem, SOME people, do have some kind of crazy combination of medical conditions that might prevent them from losing weight.

but u know what, some times shit like this pisses me off because its really not that easy for me to be so damn good-looking. it takes alot of work e'r day, i have to run, work out, eat as much food as possble, etc. i've been trying to gain ten pounds for a few months, and its very hard. so if there are some priveleges to looking good as fuk, ive definately earned them. i dont feel like they should be marginalized in any way, but dont come to my shirt shop wanting extra shirt for free!

 

If these lard arses are so pissed about not being able to find clothes that fit why dont they fucking do something about it? If they are ok with their body then thats fine, although i would hope they dont complain about certain things.

btw i used to be kinda chunky and i agree their is no "diet" that will help, its the amount of what food youre eating that helps. It's very very simple yet so many people are confused thinking they can only eat salads and a tiny piece of chicken.

 

hey your right, its all about being educated, and also seeking out that information to better yourself.

when i started getting into weight lifting, i read everything i could on diets to gain weight, what kind of exercises build more muscle, and all that shit. if your fat and you want to change you have to do the same thing.

 

Different people have different metabolisms. Not everyone who is obese eats excessively or is necessarily sedentary. It's just like how some people can eat huge amounts of the worst foods, never exercise, yet not gain weight. People oversimplify things when they say people are fat because they're lazy or eat too much. Just as some are gentically predisposed to be thin, others are genetically predisposed to be fat, and those people often have a harder time losing weight and keeping it off. But I don't like people who place the blame on others because they're the ones with the poor self-image. People have always judged others. If it's not being judged on appearance, it's something else.