I’m sorry, that was rude and uncalled for. It’s hard for me, as 350+ lbs to see someone much smaller than me in fat spaces.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Anonymous asked: I'm sorry, that was rude and uncalled for. It's hard for me, as 350+ lbs to see someone much smaller than me in fat spaces.

For everyone else, this is re this message:

Thank you for apologising - I actually saw the apology before I saw your initial message, which made reading it a little easier.

First of all, I totally understand why you said it (or I don’t know, typed it if we’re being pedantic). I am definitely less fat than a lot of the people who post in fatshion february and I definitely have more privilege than people who are fatter than me. I am ‘average-sized’ enough (HATE using that sort of term, but it’s the only way I can think to express it) to be able to shop in most places and avoid a lot of the random abuse and assumptions which unfortunately come with being above a certain weight, or shaped a certain way.

One of the reasons I haven’t every posted an OOTD for fatshion february before is because I worried that I might get this sort of message. Not just because frankly it makes me feel like crap, but also because I didn’t want to feel like I was invading a space which was not mine. However I did post it, because the fat positivity/Health At Every Size movement has simply changed my life. A year ago I wouldn’t have even looked twice at the clothes I’m wearing in these pictures let alone left the house in them. I lived in jeans and t-shirts for years because I felt like I couldn’t wear anything else or people would notice that I was fat.

I am so happy to be able to be part of a community which celebrates beauty at every size (and shape, and colour, and able-ness), because that’s not something I get from the rest of society. I too have to listen to Size 8 people complaining about how fat they are and feel shit. I don’t want to have to justify my fatness to the fat positive community while simultaneously defending my body as a good body to the rest of the world.

But I understand that I do have to acknowledge and constantly examine the privilege I do have, even if I don’t agree that it can be classified as thin privilege. I’m sorry that my photo made you feel bad, but I’m not going to stop participating in online fat-activism, because it’s a very important part of my life.

Thanks again for apologising, it meant that I could address this issue without feeling hurt and angry, which is always better.

I hope you enjoy the rest of fatshion february!