fat acceptance | The Czech

Did you know that there is a “backlash that glorifies obesity” and that “people celebrate clinical obesity”?

I didn’t, but apparently it’s all the rage with the kids these days according to The Root. The Root, a normally good blog, took the opportunity to bash actress Gabourey Sidibe (star of Precious) for her obesity, because they kindly hope she can “get a handle on [her] health”.

Us Weekly, I would expect. But from The Root?

In an article titled ‘Precious’ and the Pushback and subtitled “Congrats on the role of a lifetime, Gabourey Sidibe. Self-esteem is a beautiful thing. But we should celebrate your performance, not your size. Obesity is a national epidemic.” writer Alicia Villarosa is very concerned that if we don’t repeatedly and publicly censure Sidibe for her weight, everyone in the country will want to be fat like her. Because, you see, it’s a total secret that obesity is bad for one’s health, and society doesn’t already make life miserable for the obese, and if Villarosa and all other Precious viewers don’t speak out now, everyone’s going to mistakenly think you can be fat and happy and successful.
Gabourey Sidibe
Villarosa goes so far as to berate anyone who would look at her as a role model or who would make a positive comment about her body.

Yes, Sidibe is a promising performer, one who’s already generating Oscar buzz. So if we just stick to her acting, kudos. But if we’re talking about her size—which has become part of the conversation—are people delusional? A five-foot-something woman tipping the scales at over 300 pounds is not something to celebrate. That’s SUPER fat, and no matter how passionately you argue the opposite, medical science will pull the plug on that position: Your health will suffer from carrying such an extreme amount of weight.

Then she plies us with helpful health advice that no one could have possibly thought of themselves.

So the message is to be the healthiest you. That means not hauling around a mountain of excess of weight that limits activities and invites health problems. Nor does it mean starving yourself or over-exercising to the brink of cardiovascular failure. It’s about being comfortable in your own skin and loving yourself, but always striving to be better. If you’re overweight, say yes to dropping some pounds, but do so with an emphasis on obtaining better health.

DEAR FAT PEOPLE: ALWAYS BE TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT. ALWAYS. DO NOT HAVE A CAREER. DO NOT BE SUCCESSFUL. AND DO NOT, DO NOT PASS GO. Also, please stay out of public view, because as soon as someone sees you there’s going to be an OBESITY CRAZE!

cease to resist, giving my goodbye
drive my car into the ocean
you’ll think i’m dead, but i sail away
on a wave of obesity
a wave
wave

i’ve kissed mermaids, rode the el nino
walked the sand with the crustaceans
could find my way to mariana
on a wave of obesity,
wave of obesity
wave of obesity
wave

WAVE OF OBESITY
wave

whew… uh… so we had a little interlude there. Um, as I was saying…

Do we really need an article in the Root reminding us all to fat-shame Sidibe?

Feministe brought this article to my attention. No fat-shaming in the comments please! If you want to learn more about size acceptance, take a look at the Size Acceptance section of my 101 page.

Curious people have a lot of questions, and below you will find lots of answers! I decided to compile some of the awesomest basic resources (101s) out there on the internet about -isms and social justice so that you can find most of what you need in one easy post. So here are some resources about important topics like feminism 101, anti-racism 101, ableism 101, and so much much more! It’s my own 101 101.

WOMANISM/FEMINISM

What is Womanism? Posted by Trula Breckenridge

Definition of the word “Womanism” from A Feminist Theory Dictionary

Finally, A Feminism 101 Blog

Shakesville’s Feminism 101 page

RACE & ANTI-RACISM

Talking About Race

Resist Racism’s Racism 101

Alas, a blog, on How Not to Be Insane When Accused of Racism

CLASSISM

Classism.org

ABLEISM