Why the shift from body positivity to fat empowerment?

Here is the thing ultimately, we all agree that all bodies are valid and good. The original body positivity movement was in support of primarily fat bodies but also otherly abled bodies. The movement shared a love for bodies that lacked representation. That is net positive in intent! Woohoo!

Here is what happened, though, body positivity got co-opted. We don’t want a single person out there thinking that we are saying not to celebrate your body regardless of its dimensions or ability. Instead, we are saying that thin, non-disabled people started claiming the term as their own and started to drown out the less represented groups. 

We have seen it be turned against fat people, hurled as a weapon to shame us. That may not have even been intentional, but it was impactful. We need to break that down and chat about it.

Here is an example; it is not an accusation or an ugliness. Someone considered underweight, saying that someone told them to “eat a sandwich.” Then follows that with “So much for body positivity, that only matters for fat people.”

Let’s break that thinking up. 

A) We agree that no one should be policing your body; your body is worthy!

B) Even when someone says an unkind thing, you still have substantial thin privilege. 

People have always built our world to your size; society has built parameters that some of us literally cannot fit in. We can’t find clothes, we don’t fit in some chairs, we experience alarming levels of medical neglect, and we are abused and ridiculed by society. On the other hand, you can ride on airplanes, have dinner in a restaurant, go to the gym, find new clothes, go to amusement parks, be heard by medical professionals, etc. Your life is easier for being thinner than that of fat people. 

That is not your doing (or we hope not). That is a privilege that you live with and makes things easier for you. We want some space to fit in the world, too; we want chairs without arms in restaurants, desks, medical equipment adaptable for size and weight, and travel accommodations. Our physical safety is often in jeopardy because safety equipment will not protect our bodies. 

It is not a crime to be privileged; that is not a mark against you. However, knowing that you are in a position to listen and help, to have compassion. 

C) The passive-aggressive (or worse) implication that it’s “only the fat people that people care about body positivity for.” You are saying that it is our fault, that the sole act of wanting to be able to live freely in the bodies that we have has hurt you. While we know that we are just trying to have rights to the space we need and the ability to live without shame, we are now inclined to feel guilty for the asking. 

Saying hurtful things to anyone about their body is wrong; body-shaming is never acceptable. However, we will not stand aside and let our voices diminish further. We have a right to love ourselves, which does not take anything away from thinner people.

There are different kinds of privilege within the fat community. For example, small and medium fats can typically find clothing and participate in activities that some of our Super fats and Infinifats cannot. 

We don’t owe anyone an explanation about our bodies or why they are larger. To require an explanation is to devalue us as we are. It simply doesn’t matter; it is not anyone’s business. So much new information has further separated weight from indication of health, but health is also not a measurement of worth, even if it were an accurate measure.

We are worthy, valuable, and demand respect for us and you. We need our banner to represent us more and not push us back further. So many of us are choosing to step out of the “bopo” light. We are taking our energy to the fat empowerment or fat liberation space. 

Radical Self Love is the goal for all of us. We need our voices to be crystal clear because we are not here for being silenced anymore.