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Thin privilege...?
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". Just because you don't realise you have a privilege it doesn't mean it doesn't exist, just you may not be aware of it. " I guess this is what I was reflecting on. I read the article thinking “this is utter rubbish - I don’t feel in any way automatically privileged because I’m a size 8... I’ve bloody worked my arse off for everything I have in my life... that’s hard work and sacrifice, not privilege” etc etc ... But then I stopped and thought, hang on, would I even be aware of advantages I have due to my size? If I’ve never been on the other side. I don’t know... I’m still torn about whether it’s a thing or not. | |||
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"Yes. It doesn't mean your life is easy because you're thin. It means you don't experience specific descrimination related to your weight. " What if someone comments “gosh you’re looking too thin, eat something please!” Or in a restaurant with friends “is that ALL you’re having? My god surely you can eat more than that?” I’ve experienced both these things and whilst unpleasant and shaming, is this discrimination? Genuinely not sure. | |||
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"i used to be bigger, a 16/18 and women were lovely, some men would glance at me but generally I’d be treated like a person from both sides Now I have an eating disorder and I’ve dropped to a 4/6 and I’m struggling to gain weight, men now treat me like an object and women glare at me On here they’re all lovely but walking down the street can be horrible, I’ve started using earphones to avoid everyone tbh " This is incredibly sad. And really illustrates the point from the other side, I guess...  | |||
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"Yes. It doesn't mean your life is easy because you're thin. It means you don't experience specific descrimination related to your weight. What if someone comments “gosh you’re looking too thin, eat something please!” Or in a restaurant with friends “is that ALL you’re having? My god surely you can eat more than that?” I’ve experienced both these things and whilst unpleasant and shaming, is this discrimination? Genuinely not sure. " I was bullied horrifically in high school for being a size 6 and having thighs that didn't touch. That's just people being arseholes though. Fat discrimination is fat people taking years longer to get a medical diagnosis and receiving less pain relief than thin people because their doctors just keep telling them to lose weight even if their medical problem has nothing to do with being overweight. Fat women wait longer to be diagnosed with gynaecological issues. | |||
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"I don’t think it’s important whether or not it really exists, but that being as thin as possible is sold to us as being the ideal so it’s all about beliefs. If I had a £ for each time someone has said to me that their troubles would disappear if they were thinner, I’d be a very rich woman indeed. Marketing sells the beauty concept to each culture based not on what the people actually look like (on the whole) but what they could look like if they spend enough money, one more product, oh just another, this one will definitely work.... There is definitely a movement towards change in this country but it’s difficult to change a mentality overnight." I suppose the same might apply to a terribly skinny teen girl, who, having being made to feel ashamed of her flat chest her whole school life, caves into the pressure of the beauty ideal and has a boob job at the mere age of 19. Thinking this will make her problems “go away” as then she’ll be a “real woman” with breasts. I suppose these ideals affect us all, slim or not...  | |||
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"That's the thing about privilege, generally unless you've experienced life from the other side of the tracks you just take that privilege for granted. Ie I didn't appreciate how shops and pavements and public transport are all set up for the "privilged" able bodied until I had to push my mum round in a wheelchair (and to a lesser extent my kid in a pushchair). As an able bodied person I'd taken for granted that I could negotiate doorways, kerbs, stairs,high steps up onto transport, narrow aisles,etc etc, I didn't have to contemplate how "others" didn't have that privilege. Just because you don't realise you have a privilege it doesn't mean it doesn't exist, just you may not be aware of it. " I don't necessarily see it as a privelage, but it is possible that others are disadvantaged in some ways... Just because one is disadvantaged doesn't imply the other is privelaged | |||
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"I don’t think it’s important whether or not it really exists, but that being as thin as possible is sold to us as being the ideal so it’s all about beliefs. If I had a £ for each time someone has said to me that their troubles would disappear if they were thinner, I’d be a very rich woman indeed. Marketing sells the beauty concept to each culture based not on what the people actually look like (on the whole) but what they could look like if they spend enough money, one more product, oh just another, this one will definitely work.... There is definitely a movement towards change in this country but it’s difficult to change a mentality overnight. I suppose the same might apply to a terribly skinny teen girl, who, having being made to feel ashamed of her flat chest her whole school life, caves into the pressure of the beauty ideal and has a boob job at the mere age of 19. Thinking this will make her problems “go away” as then she’ll be a “real woman” with breasts. I suppose these ideals affect us all, slim or not... "Exactly and it’s never a case of who has ‘suffered’ most. | |||
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"Fat discrimination is fat people taking years longer to get a medical diagnosis and receiving less pain relief than thin people because their doctors just keep telling them to lose weight even if their medical problem has nothing to do with being overweight. Fat women wait longer to be diagnosed with gynaecological issues." I guess these sort of facts are what I’m interested in. Does this actually happen? And that’s what I’m getting at by asking whether it exists as a concept. Similarly, I read in this article that if myself and an overweight lady went to the same job interview, all other things being equal in terms of qualification, experience and personality, I’d be more likely to get it based purely on being a size 8. It’s facts like these, I’m interested in, I think... | |||
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"I don’t think it’s important whether or not it really exists, but that being as thin as possible is sold to us as being the ideal so it’s all about beliefs. If I had a £ for each time someone has said to me that their troubles would disappear if they were thinner, I’d be a very rich woman indeed. Marketing sells the beauty concept to each culture based not on what the people actually look like (on the whole) but what they could look like if they spend enough money, one more product, oh just another, this one will definitely work.... There is definitely a movement towards change in this country but it’s difficult to change a mentality overnight. I suppose the same might apply to a terribly skinny teen girl, who, having being made to feel ashamed of her flat chest her whole school life, caves into the pressure of the beauty ideal and has a boob job at the mere age of 19. Thinking this will make her problems “go away” as then she’ll be a “real woman” with breasts. I suppose these ideals affect us all, slim or not...
Exactly and it’s never a case of who has ‘suffered’ most."No, that isn’t at all what I’m asking. I’m just genuinely curious as to whether this is indeed a type of discrimination that I’ve been blind to my whole life, I guess ... | |||
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"I don’t think it’s important whether or not it really exists, but that being as thin as possible is sold to us as being the ideal so it’s all about beliefs. If I had a £ for each time someone has said to me that their troubles would disappear if they were thinner, I’d be a very rich woman indeed. Marketing sells the beauty concept to each culture based not on what the people actually look like (on the whole) but what they could look like if they spend enough money, one more product, oh just another, this one will definitely work.... There is definitely a movement towards change in this country but it’s difficult to change a mentality overnight. I suppose the same might apply to a terribly skinny teen girl, who, having being made to feel ashamed of her flat chest her whole school life, caves into the pressure of the beauty ideal and has a boob job at the mere age of 19. Thinking this will make her problems “go away” as then she’ll be a “real woman” with breasts. I suppose these ideals affect us all, slim or not... "I think people are confusing body shaming and discrimination. Everyone experiences body shaming at some point and all body types are shamed in some way or another. We live in a shitty society where we're pit against each other and under a lot of pressure to meet certain body ideals but its never enough. It's shitty and its horrible but it's a different issue to fat discrimination. And that doesn't mean just bullying people for being fat. It means fat people facing medical and financial disadvantages. | |||
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"I haven't seen or experienced anything like that, I'm a size 16 and never ever been made to feel like my weight has put me at a disadvantage by either gender. If you are determined to get on in life you will regardless of your size/gender etc because I believe it comes from within yourself. " I’m definitely of a similar belief to you. I’ve worked my butt off for what I have in my life, I made it work against ridiculous odds, at times. I’m not sure an overweight person would have had any harder a time than I did, given equal levels of ambition, hard work and determination not to quit...? But I’m open to considering different viewpoints I guess, which is why I asked this question.  | |||
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"Fat discrimination is fat people taking years longer to get a medical diagnosis and receiving less pain relief than thin people because their doctors just keep telling them to lose weight even if their medical problem has nothing to do with being overweight. Fat women wait longer to be diagnosed with gynaecological issues." Yep. I had a very serious gynaecological issue that was causing me a lot of pain. The first two GPs said that if I lost weight it would go away. Because clearly losing a couple of stones would fix everything. It wasn't until I ended up in crippling pain and admitted to the hospital that they actually listened to me. It's not so much about oh, person x gets y and z said to them. It's about the implications on their medical care received (as an example). | |||
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"I was reading an article online about the concept of “thin privilege”, whereby according to some, just the very fact of being slimmer means you are automatically advantaged in life. Examples given were that slim people pay less for their clothes, which are generally better fitting and more fashionable; slim people don’t have to endure comments about what they should and shouldn’t eat by strangers; if a slim person goes to the doctors with a complaint it’s not automatically assumed to be attributed to their weight .... etc. These were just a few examples cited. Having reflected on this, I can honestly say as a slim person all my life, I’ve never actually felt more privileged or been consciously aware of any such advantages. Does one have to be aware of it for it to exist? Just wondered what others’ thoughts are? Is “thin privilege” a real thing? " I think "thin privilege ' exists but I'm pretty sure the examples given in the article you read don't bear it out. As far as I know clothes cost the same in most high street stores whatever size they are. I buy petite as I'm not very tall, I pay the same as women who buy the "tall" range. I'm size 12, I pay the same as women who buy size 20. Off the peg fits differently on different people regardless of size and the styles are the same. What I eat has been commented on throughout my life "ooo you'll get fat" "shouldn't you be watching your figure" "how can you eat all that bread and stay slim". I can't comment on the doctor thing but I do know that a lot of my friends say they're often advised to lose weight by their doctor, is that "thin privilege" or a doctor giving medical advice? A lot of people project their insecurities on to others or think that because someone has more money, is better looking, is slimmer etc etc that their life is easier, their problems fewer and they must be happier. People including friends have called me "skinny bitch" "skinny cow" who would never speak to me again if I called them "fat bitch". Having said all that attitudes towards bigger people *can* be different than those towards slimmer people. Their weight does tend to be blamed for things that are attributable to something else, they do get judged because of it, they do get bullied and nobody should be treated differently due to a physical characteristic...but they are. | |||
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What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it? | |||
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"I don't see any of this being discrimination, shaming or privilege? It's just people being cunts to one another. OP what was the context of the article? Rare to read independent articles, without a financial or ulterior motive. Relentless forward progress (to use a sporting adage). Or ignore the haters if you aren't sporty "I don’t think it was the most reputable source... It just piqued my interest. | |||
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"Yes. It doesn't mean your life is easy because you're thin. It means you don't experience specific descrimination related to your weight. What if someone comments “gosh you’re looking too thin, eat something please!” Or in a restaurant with friends “is that ALL you’re having? My god surely you can eat more than that?” I’ve experienced both these things and whilst unpleasant and shaming, is this discrimination? Genuinely not sure. I was bullied horrifically in high school for being a size 6 and having thighs that didn't touch. That's just people being arseholes though. Fat discrimination is fat people taking years longer to get a medical diagnosis and receiving less pain relief than thin people because their doctors just keep telling them to lose weight even if their medical problem has nothing to do with being overweight. Fat women wait longer to be diagnosed with gynaecological issues." But I'm not fat and it took years for my serious back condition to be taken seriously by the medical profession. On one occasion I was told to "soldier on". I actually needed surgery and titanium implants in my spine. | |||
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"I don’t think it’s important whether or not it really exists, but that being as thin as possible is sold to us as being the ideal so it’s all about beliefs. If I had a £ for each time someone has said to me that their troubles would disappear if they were thinner, I’d be a very rich woman indeed. Marketing sells the beauty concept to each culture based not on what the people actually look like (on the whole) but what they could look like if they spend enough money, one more product, oh just another, this one will definitely work.... There is definitely a movement towards change in this country but it’s difficult to change a mentality overnight. I suppose the same might apply to a terribly skinny teen girl, who, having being made to feel ashamed of her flat chest her whole school life, caves into the pressure of the beauty ideal and has a boob job at the mere age of 19. Thinking this will make her problems “go away” as then she’ll be a “real woman” with breasts. I suppose these ideals affect us all, slim or not...
I think people are confusing body shaming and discrimination. Everyone experiences body shaming at some point and all body types are shamed in some way or another. We live in a shitty society where we're pit against each other and under a lot of pressure to meet certain body ideals but its never enough. It's shitty and its horrible but it's a different issue to fat discrimination. And that doesn't mean just bullying people for being fat. It means fat people facing medical and financial disadvantages. "Lacey what financial disadvantages do larger people face? | |||
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" I don’t think it was the most reputable source... It just piqued my interest. "Ha ha it was a fucking cake magazine wasn't it  | |||
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"There seems to be a couple examples around medical / gynaecological issues. That’s seems really unfair. I think research is needed to understand why on Earth that’s allowed to happen.
What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it? "It depends. In most big organisations it's 100% down to points appearance, age, ethnicity , gender etc aren't significant. Smaller places are different | |||
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" I don’t think it was the most reputable source... It just piqued my interest.
Ha ha it was a fucking cake magazine wasn't it "Just checked and it was in fact The Independent.  | |||
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"There seems to be a couple examples around medical / gynaecological issues. That’s seems really unfair. I think research is needed to understand why on Earth that’s allowed to happen.
What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it? "Unfortunately I’ve seen the job interview scenario happen. In an old job I sat in on interviews and the final two candidates were really close but one was bigger one was slim ... my old boss gave the job to the slimmer candidate because he deemed the overweight one more likely to be off with health problems. | |||
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"There seems to be a couple examples around medical / gynaecological issues. That’s seems really unfair. I think research is needed to understand why on Earth that’s allowed to happen.
What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it?
It depends. In most big organisations it's 100% down to points appearance, age, ethnicity , gender etc aren't significant. Smaller places are different"This was one of the examples given in the article. I can’t fathom how any interview panel could say “all things behind equal, we’ll take the slimmer person”. Based on what??  | |||
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"Fat discrimination is fat people taking years longer to get a medical diagnosis and receiving less pain relief than thin people because their doctors just keep telling them to lose weight even if their medical problem has nothing to do with being overweight. Fat women wait longer to be diagnosed with gynaecological issues. I guess these sort of facts are what I’m interested in. Does this actually happen? And that’s what I’m getting at by asking whether it exists as a concept. Similarly, I read in this article that if myself and an overweight lady went to the same job interview, all other things being equal in terms of qualification, experience and personality, I’d be more likely to get it based purely on being a size 8. It’s facts like these, I’m interested in, I think... " It does. Its a documented issue. I don't know so much about the issues like being less likely to get jobs. I've heard of it but I don't know much about the evidence. However I have read a lot about the medical side of it, especially in gynaecology as that is my field. Not only do fat people face barriers to treatment due to discrimination directly from medical professionals but everything is set up to cater to thin people and there is little education on how to adapt care properly to fat people. It's a bit like the issue you may have heard of recently of all textbooks and journals featuring white people so doctors weren't very educated on what certain conditions looked like on other ethnicities. A good example is the morning after pill. If you have a high BMI you need to take two for it to be effective. This isn't very well published and most people don't know. This means that more fat people don't take the dose they need and therefore it doesn't work leading to an unwanted pregnancy. | |||
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"But I'm not fat and it took years for my serious back condition to be taken seriously by the medical profession. On one occasion I was told to "soldier on". I actually needed surgery and titanium implants in my spine. " That's really unfortunate but it's a bit of a red herring fallacy isn't it? Yes, medical conditions are sometimes not taken seriously for years but the point is that fat people are constantly told that losing weight will help solve their issues/not believed even if the weight isn't actually the issue. | |||
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"There seems to be a couple examples around medical / gynaecological issues. That’s seems really unfair. I think research is needed to understand why on Earth that’s allowed to happen.
What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it?
Unfortunately I’ve seen the job interview scenario happen. In an old job I sat in on interviews and the final two candidates were really close but one was bigger one was slim ... my old boss gave the job to the slimmer candidate because he deemed the overweight one more likely to be off with health problems.
"The health problems justification is interesting... I suffer from chronic migraines and asthma, at times both of these can interfere to a greater or lesser degree with my working day. But I wonder if it’s a case of statistically, I’m less likely to have these problems than a larger person? | |||
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"There seems to be a couple examples around medical / gynaecological issues. That’s seems really unfair. I think research is needed to understand why on Earth that’s allowed to happen.
What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it?
It depends. In most big organisations it's 100% down to points appearance, age, ethnicity , gender etc aren't significant. Smaller places are different
This was one of the examples given in the article. I can’t fathom how any interview panel could say “all things behind equal, we’ll take the slimmer person”. Based on what?? "Un cons cious (banned word apparently) bias. | |||
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"I dont think thin privilege exists because anyone can be thin therefore is it really a privilege? " Interesting... Can you say more about what you mean? | |||
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"I haven't seen or experienced anything like that, I'm a size 16 and never ever been made to feel like my weight has put me at a disadvantage by either gender. If you are determined to get on in life you will regardless of your size/gender etc because I believe it comes from within yourself. I’m definitely of a similar belief to you. I’ve worked my butt off for what I have in my life, I made it work against ridiculous odds, at times. I’m not sure an overweight person would have had any harder a time than I did, given equal levels of ambition, hard work and determination not to quit...? But I’m open to considering different viewpoints I guess, which is why I asked this question. "But you can only base what you know from your own experiences. Reading stuff others have written which hasn't been researched properly is dangerous because it hinders people and justifies behaviours whether it be concious or subconcious Good for you, me and millions of others have worked hard for what we have too, all shapes and sizes and I would feel pretty insulted if someone suggested that my weight got me there....Um no, because that would negate all my intelligence and standing as a person.... Drive/ambition/determination are key regardless of how much you weigh. It's a ridiculous statement imho An example similar. I read an article saying that Children from disadvantaged homes living in poorer areas are less likely to go to University... I raised my son on a council house estate, we got by. He was born abd raised in the small village he grew up in, not many opportunities for progression. According to that article he shouldn't of gone to University He did and completed his degree in game development and maths in Dundee, now working as a game developer in Edinburgh....Earning more money than most 24 year olds So no, statistics etc mean nothing. Hard work, motivatin and determination get you everywhere. Lets stop oppressing people and lets start enabling and supporting. | |||
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"There seems to be a couple examples around medical / gynaecological issues. That’s seems really unfair. I think research is needed to understand why on Earth that’s allowed to happen.
What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it?
It depends. In most big organisations it's 100% down to points appearance, age, ethnicity , gender etc aren't significant. Smaller places are different
This was one of the examples given in the article. I can’t fathom how any interview panel could say “all things behind equal, we’ll take the slimmer person”. Based on what??
Un cons cious (banned word apparently) bias. "Someone further up said higher likelihood of health problems was the justification in one example she was aware of. I have a number of health issues and my BMI is 20.  | |||
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"But I'm not fat and it took years for my serious back condition to be taken seriously by the medical profession. On one occasion I was told to "soldier on". I actually needed surgery and titanium implants in my spine. That's really unfortunate but it's a bit of a red herring fallacy isn't it? Yes, medical conditions are sometimes not taken seriously for years but the point is that fat people are constantly told that losing weight will help solve their issues/not believed even if the weight isn't actually the issue. " I can't argue with that because I have no direct experience or statistics to counter your post. I do know that * in my experience* women who seek medical advice for pain are likely to be dismissed with medication rather than a cause being sought and it will be implied that they are exaggerating the level pain. | |||
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"I haven't seen or experienced anything like that, I'm a size 16 and never ever been made to feel like my weight has put me at a disadvantage by either gender. If you are determined to get on in life you will regardless of your size/gender etc because I believe it comes from within yourself. I’m definitely of a similar belief to you. I’ve worked my butt off for what I have in my life, I made it work against ridiculous odds, at times. I’m not sure an overweight person would have had any harder a time than I did, given equal levels of ambition, hard work and determination not to quit...? But I’m open to considering different viewpoints I guess, which is why I asked this question.
But you can only base what you know from your own experiences. Reading stuff others have written which hasn't been researched properly is dangerous because it hinders people and justifies behaviours whether it be concious or subconcious
Good for you, me and millions of others have worked hard for what we have too, all shapes and sizes and I would feel pretty insulted if someone suggested that my weight got me there....Um no, because that would negate all my intelligence and standing as a person....
Drive/ambition/determination are key regardless of how much you weigh.
It's a ridiculous statement imho
An example similar. I read an article saying that Children from disadvantaged homes living in poorer areas are less likely to go to University...
I raised my son on a council house estate, we got by. He was born abd raised in the small village he grew up in, not many opportunities for progression. According to that article he shouldn't of gone to University
He did and completed his degree in game development and maths in Dundee, now working as a game developer in Edinburgh....Earning more money than most 24 year olds
So no, statistics etc mean nothing.
Hard work, motivatin and determination get you everywhere.
Lets stop oppressing people and lets start enabling and supporting.
"Yes I agree with you entirely. I grew up in abject poverty having lost my mum at the age of 7. I’ve been to uni 3 times and have a PhD. So I agree with your sentiment. I’m not sure if you’re misreading the intended spirit of my OP. I’m simply trying to learn more about this issue ... | |||
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"There seems to be a couple examples around medical / gynaecological issues. That’s seems really unfair. I think research is needed to understand why on Earth that’s allowed to happen.
What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it?
It depends. In most big organisations it's 100% down to points appearance, age, ethnicity , gender etc aren't significant. Smaller places are different
This was one of the examples given in the article. I can’t fathom how any interview panel could say “all things behind equal, we’ll take the slimmer person”. Based on what?? "Based on their preconceptions of body type. | |||
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"Yet fat people get to use more seat on public transport! And IM the privileged one... "Can of worms, don't forget thr NHS.... | |||
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"I haven't seen or experienced anything like that, I'm a size 16 and never ever been made to feel like my weight has put me at a disadvantage by either gender. If you are determined to get on in life you will regardless of your size/gender etc because I believe it comes from within yourself. I’m definitely of a similar belief to you. I’ve worked my butt off for what I have in my life, I made it work against ridiculous odds, at times. I’m not sure an overweight person would have had any harder a time than I did, given equal levels of ambition, hard work and determination not to quit...? But I’m open to considering different viewpoints I guess, which is why I asked this question.
But you can only base what you know from your own experiences. Reading stuff others have written which hasn't been researched properly is dangerous because it hinders people and justifies behaviours whether it be concious or subconcious
Good for you, me and millions of others have worked hard for what we have too, all shapes and sizes and I would feel pretty insulted if someone suggested that my weight got me there....Um no, because that would negate all my intelligence and standing as a person....
Drive/ambition/determination are key regardless of how much you weigh.
It's a ridiculous statement imho
An example similar. I read an article saying that Children from disadvantaged homes living in poorer areas are less likely to go to University...
I raised my son on a council house estate, we got by. He was born abd raised in the small village he grew up in, not many opportunities for progression. According to that article he shouldn't of gone to University
He did and completed his degree in game development and maths in Dundee, now working as a game developer in Edinburgh....Earning more money than most 24 year olds
So no, statistics etc mean nothing.
Hard work, motivatin and determination get you everywhere.
Lets stop oppressing people and lets start enabling and supporting.
Yes I agree with you entirely. I grew up in abject poverty having lost my mum at the age of 7. I’ve been to uni 3 times and have a PhD. So I agree with your sentiment. I’m not sure if you’re misreading the intended spirit of my OP. I’m simply trying to learn more about this issue ... "No not misreading the intent at all, just offering my own experiences which negate the privelige theory | |||
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"Yes. It doesn't mean your life is easy because you're thin. It means you don't experience specific descrimination related to your weight. What if someone comments “gosh you’re looking too thin, eat something please!” Or in a restaurant with friends “is that ALL you’re having? My god surely you can eat more than that?” I’ve experienced both these things and whilst unpleasant and shaming, is this discrimination? Genuinely not sure. I was bullied horrifically in high school for being a size 6 and having thighs that didn't touch. That's just people being arseholes though. Fat discrimination is fat people taking years longer to get a medical diagnosis and receiving less pain relief than thin people because their doctors just keep telling them to lose weight even if their medical problem has nothing to do with being overweight. Fat women wait longer to be diagnosed with gynaecological issues. But I'm not fat and it took years for my serious back condition to be taken seriously by the medical profession. On one occasion I was told to "soldier on". I actually needed surgery and titanium implants in my spine. " That is crappy and I'm sorry to hear that. However the studies say that overall fat people wait longer. | |||
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"I dont think thin privilege exists because anyone can be thin therefore is it really a privilege? Interesting... Can you say more about what you mean? " Yes, normally privilege is associated with Race, Royal etc. Attributes that you cannot necessarily change. | |||
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"There seems to be a couple examples around medical / gynaecological issues. That’s seems really unfair. I think research is needed to understand why on Earth that’s allowed to happen.
What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it?
It depends. In most big organisations it's 100% down to points appearance, age, ethnicity , gender etc aren't significant. Smaller places are different
This was one of the examples given in the article. I can’t fathom how any interview panel could say “all things behind equal, we’ll take the slimmer person”. Based on what??
Based on their preconceptions of body type."Sorry i didn’t make that clear enough. I meant what are the content of these preconceptions? What is their subconscious bias when they compare the two? I’m not suggesting you have the answers, just wondering aloud ... | |||
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"I haven't seen or experienced anything like that, I'm a size 16 and never ever been made to feel like my weight has put me at a disadvantage by either gender. If you are determined to get on in life you will regardless of your size/gender etc because I believe it comes from within yourself. I’m definitely of a similar belief to you. I’ve worked my butt off for what I have in my life, I made it work against ridiculous odds, at times. I’m not sure an overweight person would have had any harder a time than I did, given equal levels of ambition, hard work and determination not to quit...? But I’m open to considering different viewpoints I guess, which is why I asked this question.
But you can only base what you know from your own experiences. Reading stuff others have written which hasn't been researched properly is dangerous because it hinders people and justifies behaviours whether it be concious or subconcious
Good for you, me and millions of others have worked hard for what we have too, all shapes and sizes and I would feel pretty insulted if someone suggested that my weight got me there....Um no, because that would negate all my intelligence and standing as a person....
Drive/ambition/determination are key regardless of how much you weigh.
It's a ridiculous statement imho
An example similar. I read an article saying that Children from disadvantaged homes living in poorer areas are less likely to go to University...
I raised my son on a council house estate, we got by. He was born abd raised in the small village he grew up in, not many opportunities for progression. According to that article he shouldn't of gone to University
He did and completed his degree in game development and maths in Dundee, now working as a game developer in Edinburgh....Earning more money than most 24 year olds
So no, statistics etc mean nothing.
Hard work, motivatin and determination get you everywhere.
Lets stop oppressing people and lets start enabling and supporting.
Yes I agree with you entirely. I grew up in abject poverty having lost my mum at the age of 7. I’ve been to uni 3 times and have a PhD. So I agree with your sentiment. I’m not sure if you’re misreading the intended spirit of my OP. I’m simply trying to learn more about this issue ...
No not misreading the intent at all, just offering my own experiences which negate the privelige theory"Ah ok - it was just your “good for you” comment - I guess I misread that. I also don’t think I believe in the thin privilege theory -so we are essentially in agreement. But I’m open to leaning and hearing others’ views, hence my post | |||
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"Yes. It doesn't mean your life is easy because you're thin. It means you don't experience specific descrimination related to your weight. What if someone comments “gosh you’re looking too thin, eat something please!” Or in a restaurant with friends “is that ALL you’re having? My god surely you can eat more than that?” I’ve experienced both these things and whilst unpleasant and shaming, is this discrimination? Genuinely not sure. I was bullied horrifically in high school for being a size 6 and having thighs that didn't touch. That's just people being arseholes though. Fat discrimination is fat people taking years longer to get a medical diagnosis and receiving less pain relief than thin people because their doctors just keep telling them to lose weight even if their medical problem has nothing to do with being overweight. Fat women wait longer to be diagnosed with gynaecological issues. But I'm not fat and it took years for my serious back condition to be taken seriously by the medical profession. On one occasion I was told to "soldier on". I actually needed surgery and titanium implants in my spine. That is crappy and I'm sorry to hear that. However the studies say that overall fat people wait longer. " That's not right, is it being addressed do you think? In recent hospital visits I've noticed that some seating, beds etc are being adapted and made bigger but that's not the same as adjusting attitudes. | |||
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"I dont think thin privilege exists because anyone can be thin therefore is it really a privilege? Interesting... Can you say more about what you mean? Yes, normally privilege is associated with Race, Royal etc. Attributes that you cannot necessarily change. " So your view would be, if you cannot change something you can be disadvantaged because of it, eg race. But if you can change it, you’re on an equal footing with everyone? | |||
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"There seems to be a couple examples around medical / gynaecological issues. That’s seems really unfair. I think research is needed to understand why on Earth that’s allowed to happen.
What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it?
It depends. In most big organisations it's 100% down to points appearance, age, ethnicity , gender etc aren't significant. Smaller places are different
This was one of the examples given in the article. I can’t fathom how any interview panel could say “all things behind equal, we’ll take the slimmer person”. Based on what??
Based on their preconceptions of body type.
Sorry i didn’t make that clear enough. I meant what are the content of these preconceptions? What is their subconscious bias when they compare the two? I’m not suggesting you have the answers, just wondering aloud ... "A few preconceptions I've heard about bigger people. They're lazy, they're slow, they're greedy... | |||
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"Yes. It doesn't mean your life is easy because you're thin. It means you don't experience specific descrimination related to your weight. " This  | |||
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"There seems to be a couple examples around medical / gynaecological issues. That’s seems really unfair. I think research is needed to understand why on Earth that’s allowed to happen.
What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it?
It depends. In most big organisations it's 100% down to points appearance, age, ethnicity , gender etc aren't significant. Smaller places are different
This was one of the examples given in the article. I can’t fathom how any interview panel could say “all things behind equal, we’ll take the slimmer person”. Based on what??
Un cons cious (banned word apparently) bias.
Someone further up said higher likelihood of health problems was the justification in one example she was aware of. I have a number of health issues and my BMI is 20. "I also have a number of health problems and I'm not overweight. Same with my boss. People do often associate being thinner with being healthier though. If you gave my medical history to someone and had them choose from a group who they thought it belonged to I imagine they would pick a fat person due to the heart problems. | |||
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"I dont think thin privilege exists because anyone can be thin therefore is it really a privilege? Interesting... Can you say more about what you mean? Yes, normally privilege is associated with Race, Royal etc. Attributes that you cannot necessarily change. " What if someone wants to be fat and enjoys being fat yet wants to enjoy the same "privilege" as a thin person, or a thin person who would like to be fatter but doesn't want to lose their "privileged" status.....? Could apply the same theory to tv in basic terms. Don't dress up in order to get treated like a non-tv. But I don't agree with that mindset.... I think privilege is a beautiful thing and we all have it to a certain degree. Ppl should be grateful for it rather than jealous of those who have more. Someone always has more, always....  | |||
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"There seems to be a couple examples around medical / gynaecological issues. That’s seems really unfair. I think research is needed to understand why on Earth that’s allowed to happen.
What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it?
It depends. In most big organisations it's 100% down to points appearance, age, ethnicity , gender etc aren't significant. Smaller places are different
This was one of the examples given in the article. I can’t fathom how any interview panel could say “all things behind equal, we’ll take the slimmer person”. Based on what??
Un cons cious (banned word apparently) bias.
Someone further up said higher likelihood of health problems was the justification in one example she was aware of. I have a number of health issues and my BMI is 20.
I also have a number of health problems and I'm not overweight. Same with my boss. People do often associate being thinner with being healthier though. If you gave my medical history to someone and had them choose from a group who they thought it belonged to I imagine they would pick a fat person due to the heart problems. "Isn’t that interesting. I think this is one of the things that frustrates me at times when you hear comments to the effect of “being slim would solve all my issues”. It sort of invalidates the struggles slim people can and do inevitably have. They may not be the same issues - but being slim doesn’t guarantee this walk in the park lifestyle many assume it does... | |||
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" I think we live in an age where if you have something, someone else doesn't, you're considered privileged or lucky and sometimes made to feel uncomfortable. If you have more than me or better things, I'm pleased for you well done. Life isn't and never will be completely equal, you just have to get the best you can, by being the best you can?....totally agree. Life and people are never equal make the most of the hand you have been dealt " | |||
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"Yes. It doesn't mean your life is easy because you're thin. It means you don't experience specific descrimination related to your weight. What if someone comments “gosh you’re looking too thin, eat something please!” Or in a restaurant with friends “is that ALL you’re having? My god surely you can eat more than that?” I’ve experienced both these things and whilst unpleasant and shaming, is this discrimination? Genuinely not sure. I was bullied horrifically in high school for being a size 6 and having thighs that didn't touch. That's just people being arseholes though. Fat discrimination is fat people taking years longer to get a medical diagnosis and receiving less pain relief than thin people because their doctors just keep telling them to lose weight even if their medical problem has nothing to do with being overweight. Fat women wait longer to be diagnosed with gynaecological issues. But I'm not fat and it took years for my serious back condition to be taken seriously by the medical profession. On one occasion I was told to "soldier on". I actually needed surgery and titanium implants in my spine. That is crappy and I'm sorry to hear that. However the studies say that overall fat people wait longer. That's not right, is it being addressed do you think? In recent hospital visits I've noticed that some seating, beds etc are being adapted and made bigger but that's not the same as adjusting attitudes." I think they're trying. It's probably why I'm seeing so many journal articles about it at the moment. I'm beginning to see more and more about the morning after pill issue I mentioned above. Its a start. Its going to take time though. | |||
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"I dont think thin privilege exists because anyone can be thin therefore is it really a privilege? Interesting... Can you say more about what you mean? Yes, normally privilege is associated with Race, Royal etc. Attributes that you cannot necessarily change. What if someone wants to be fat and enjoys being fat yet wants to enjoy the same "privilege" as a thin person, or a thin person who would like to be fatter but doesn't want to lose their "privileged" status.....? Could apply the same theory to tv in basic terms. Don't dress up in order to get treated like a non-tv. But I don't agree with that mindset.... I think privilege is a beautiful thing and we all have it to a certain degree. Ppl should be grateful for it rather than jealous of those who have more. Someone always has more, always.... "I don't think privilege is a beautiful thing. Nor do I think people should be grateful for it instead of "jealous" of those who have more.
I think in an ideal world the biases that others have would be openly challenged and discussed. People would have a level playing field and be afforded the same opportunities regardless of their weight, race etc. I think that it's rather lazy and dismissive to just accept others to be thankful for prejudices that they can't challenge. | |||
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"Thats not privilege, everybody can spare an hour a day exercise or go to the gym, to eat clean etc, its a lifestyle choice, if someone is overweight then its because they eat too much or theybare too lazy to train, not trying to insult anyone but those are just the facts xx" Everyone is entitled to their opinion. This fits with what a poster above said about the definition of privilege as being something that occurs as a result of characteristics we cannot change such as race... | |||
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"There seems to be a couple examples around medical / gynaecological issues. That’s seems really unfair. I think research is needed to understand why on Earth that’s allowed to happen.
What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it?
It depends. In most big organisations it's 100% down to points appearance, age, ethnicity , gender etc aren't significant. Smaller places are different
This was one of the examples given in the article. I can’t fathom how any interview panel could say “all things behind equal, we’ll take the slimmer person”. Based on what??
Un cons cious (banned word apparently) bias.
Someone further up said higher likelihood of health problems was the justification in one example she was aware of. I have a number of health issues and my BMI is 20.
I also have a number of health problems and I'm not overweight. Same with my boss. People do often associate being thinner with being healthier though. If you gave my medical history to someone and had them choose from a group who they thought it belonged to I imagine they would pick a fat person due to the heart problems.
Isn’t that interesting. I think this is one of the things that frustrates me at times when you hear comments to the effect of “being slim would solve all my issues”. It sort of invalidates the struggles slim people can and do inevitably have. They may not be the same issues - but being slim doesn’t guarantee this walk in the park lifestyle many assume it does... "No. However if I was bigger I would probably have faced a harder time with my medical problems. I have friends who certainly have. I heard an interesting story from one recently about how she had to teach the nurse who did her smear how to put a speculum in on a bigger body as the position they usually use doesn't always work for bigger women. | |||
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" I think in an ideal world the biases that others have would be openly challenged and discussed. People would have a level playing field and be afforded the same opportunities regardless of their weight, race etc. I think that it's rather lazy and dismissive to just accept others to be thankful for prejudices that they can't challenge." You have summed up my reason for posting, Meli. I want to learn more about it if indeed it exists, so that it can be openly challenged and discussed. | |||
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"I dont think thin privilege exists because anyone can be thin therefore is it really a privilege? Interesting... Can you say more about what you mean? Yes, normally privilege is associated with Race, Royal etc. Attributes that you cannot necessarily change. What if someone wants to be fat and enjoys being fat yet wants to enjoy the same "privilege" as a thin person, or a thin person who would like to be fatter but doesn't want to lose their "privileged" status.....? Could apply the same theory to tv in basic terms. Don't dress up in order to get treated like a non-tv. But I don't agree with that mindset.... I think privilege is a beautiful thing and we all have it to a certain degree. Ppl should be grateful for it rather than jealous of those who have more. Someone always has more, always....
I don't think privilege is a beautiful thing. Nor do I think people should be grateful for it instead of "jealous" of those who have more.
I think in an ideal world the biases that others have would be openly challenged and discussed. People would have a level playing field and be afforded the same opportunities regardless of their weight, race etc. I think that it's rather lazy and dismissive to just accept others to be thankful for prejudices that they can't challenge."So are we all gonna be Prine Minister in this ideal world? We'll all be privileged to take those important decisions she or he would normally make or would it be more productive to allow one person the privilege to lead based on our privilege to vote and our privilege to rely upon the wisdom and knowledge of others....?  
I told you we should debate more on fab, and THINK more. Privilege always gets brought back to race and sex it whatever the person talking has personally suffered from, it's so much more though, and yes to me it can be very beautiful.... Ppl all over the world are currently doing great things to enable me to be me, which I benefit from, and I feel privileged not based in my race or sex at all.... | |||
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"I have been a size 10 and a size 22 and have been treated differently in many scenarios when I was big to when I was smaller yes I have never paid more money for a bigger size though and how well it looks on a person is not about how it is made, that depends on the persons shape and size" I do have to say though that even as a size 12, a lot of high street fashion is catered to a slim build and shape and basically just gets scaled up to bigger sizes even though those styles often don't work for larger sizes. I'm a bit of an awkward in between as I often find styles of clothing for plus size women woule suit me better but they often don't do my size. | |||
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"I dont think thin privilege exists because anyone can be thin therefore is it really a privilege? Interesting... Can you say more about what you mean? Yes, normally privilege is associated with Race, Royal etc. Attributes that you cannot necessarily change. So your view would be, if you cannot change something you can be disadvantaged because of it, eg race. But if you can change it, you’re on an equal footing with everyone?" Of course, you are the master of your own destiny. You can't change what school you went to or what university your Daddy went to but you can do something about your weight. If someone doesn't like being fat then its up to them to change it. As for being a privilege, well im not sure a size 6 is very privileged when paying the same price for an item of clothing as a size 18 whos garment took longer to make and used more material. | |||
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"There seems to be a couple examples around medical / gynaecological issues. That’s seems really unfair. I think research is needed to understand why on Earth that’s allowed to happen.
What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it?
It depends. In most big organisations it's 100% down to points appearance, age, ethnicity , gender etc aren't significant. Smaller places are different
This was one of the examples given in the article. I can’t fathom how any interview panel could say “all things behind equal, we’ll take the slimmer person”. Based on what??
Un cons cious (banned word apparently) bias.
Someone further up said higher likelihood of health problems was the justification in one example she was aware of. I have a number of health issues and my BMI is 20.
I also have a number of health problems and I'm not overweight. Same with my boss. People do often associate being thinner with being healthier though. If you gave my medical history to someone and had them choose from a group who they thought it belonged to I imagine they would pick a fat person due to the heart problems.
Isn’t that interesting. I think this is one of the things that frustrates me at times when you hear comments to the effect of “being slim would solve all my issues”. It sort of invalidates the struggles slim people can and do inevitably have. They may not be the same issues - but being slim doesn’t guarantee this walk in the park lifestyle many assume it does...
No. However if I was bigger I would probably have faced a harder time with my medical problems. I have friends who certainly have. I heard an interesting story from one recently about how she had to teach the nurse who did her smear how to put a speculum in on a bigger body as the position they usually use doesn't always work for bigger women. "Wow really. What about the smaller than average women? What I mean is, if a lady who’s BMI was on the lower end of healthy, perhaps struggling with an eating disorder, needed treatment. Would her gynae treatment be the same as that for a healthy sized woman, or would she need adaptations too? If so, is there more awareness of how to adapt treatment for very slim women? Not sure if that makes any sense - just wondering about the other side of the coin | |||
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"I dont think thin privilege exists because anyone can be thin therefore is it really a privilege? Interesting... Can you say more about what you mean? Yes, normally privilege is associated with Race, Royal etc. Attributes that you cannot necessarily change. What if someone wants to be fat and enjoys being fat yet wants to enjoy the same "privilege" as a thin person, or a thin person who would like to be fatter but doesn't want to lose their "privileged" status.....? Could apply the same theory to tv in basic terms. Don't dress up in order to get treated like a non-tv. But I don't agree with that mindset.... I think privilege is a beautiful thing and we all have it to a certain degree. Ppl should be grateful for it rather than jealous of those who have more. Someone always has more, always....
I don't think privilege is a beautiful thing. Nor do I think people should be grateful for it instead of "jealous" of those who have more.
I think in an ideal world the biases that others have would be openly challenged and discussed. People would have a level playing field and be afforded the same opportunities regardless of their weight, race etc. I think that it's rather lazy and dismissive to just accept others to be thankful for prejudices that they can't challenge.
So are we all gonna be Prine Minister in this ideal world? We'll all be privileged to take those important decisions she or he would normally make or would it be more productive to allow one person the privilege to lead based on our privilege to vote and our privilege to rely upon the wisdom and knowledge of others....?
I told you we should debate more on fab, and THINK more. Privilege always gets brought back to race and sex it whatever the person talking has personally suffered from, it's so much more though, and yes to me it can be very beautiful.... Ppl all over the world are currently doing great things to enable me to be me, which I benefit from, and I feel privileged not based in my race or sex at all.... "-it +or  | |||
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"Thats not privilege, everybody can spare an hour a day exercise or go to the gym, to eat clean etc, its a lifestyle choice, if someone is overweight then its because they eat too much or theybare too lazy to train, not trying to insult anyone but those are just the facts xx Everyone is entitled to their opinion. This fits with what a poster above said about the definition of privilege as being something that occurs as a result of characteristics we cannot change such as race..." What about gender then? | |||
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" I also have a number of health problems and I'm not overweight. Same with my boss. People do often associate being thinner with being healthier though. If you gave my medical history to someone and had them choose from a group who they thought it belonged to I imagine they would pick a fat person due to the heart problems. " But has anyone ever said that to you though? Where does that association come from? Like I said above I am a size 16 and have a heart problem, nobody has ever said or assumed it is linked to my weight. It isn't it is genetic....I asked my cardiologist about my weight and nope cholesterol level normal and I'm otherwise healthy. So not sure where these judgements about weight and illness come from? | |||
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"I dont think thin privilege exists because anyone can be thin therefore is it really a privilege? Interesting... Can you say more about what you mean? Yes, normally privilege is associated with Race, Royal etc. Attributes that you cannot necessarily change. So your view would be, if you cannot change something you can be disadvantaged because of it, eg race. But if you can change it, you’re on an equal footing with everyone? Of course, you are the master of your own destiny. You can't change what school you went to or what university your Daddy went to but you can do something about your weight. If someone doesn't like being fat then its up to them to change it. As for being a privilege, well im not sure a size 6 is very privileged when paying the same price for an item of clothing as a size 18 whos garment took longer to make and used more material." I do agree about the clothing thing. You’re buying a smaller product as a smaller person, so you get less; therefore you pay less. That makes basic mathematical sense to me. | |||
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"Yes. It doesn't mean your life is easy because you're thin. It means you don't experience specific descrimination related to your weight. " I'm in agreement with Lacey here. I've been a size 10 and I'm now size 16-18 and I definitely can see the privileges of being slimmer. When I speak to my doctor now about my mental health I'm told I should lose some weight as that will help my depression, whereas when I've spoken to them when I'm slim I'm offered more help and sympathy straight away. I also visited a few months ago as I am always exhausted and so tired with migraines and I was told it was due to my weight and my doctors refused to check my thyroid. I had to fight for it to be checked whereas that would never have happened if I was slimmer. | |||
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"Thats not privilege, everybody can spare an hour a day exercise or go to the gym, to eat clean etc, its a lifestyle choice, if someone is overweight then its because they eat too much or theybare too lazy to train, not trying to insult anyone but those are just the facts xx" That’s quite a generalised statement and it is insulting and just feeds to the stereotyping of overweight people! Yes there are some lazy people who sit on their arses and eat bad all day but that is not the case in all overweight people , some of us work our butts off and do the best we can , I am not lazy and the insinuation that I am is hurtful. No not everyone can spare a hour to go to the gym everyday, I often work 15 hour shifts so the last thing I want to do after that is go to the gym , there are people with family commitments that would not be able to do that , people who can’t afford to go to the gym , people with anxiety that can’t even leave the house etc etc etc . So please don’t assume that someone carrying extra weight is a lazy fast food guzzling person ! | |||
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"Thats not privilege, everybody can spare an hour a day exercise or go to the gym, to eat clean etc, its a lifestyle choice, if someone is overweight then its because they eat too much or theybare too lazy to train, not trying to insult anyone but those are just the facts xx Everyone is entitled to their opinion. This fits with what a poster above said about the definition of privilege as being something that occurs as a result of characteristics we cannot change such as race... What about gender then? " I suppose this depends on whether you believe one particular gender is more privileged than the other, in a societal sense. We hear about ‘white privilege’ in terms of race, implying non white races are disadvantaged. This thread is about ‘thin privilege’ (whether or not that exists, who knows...), so we are saying larger people are the disadvantaged group. Which gender would be the more privileged one, and which the more disadvantaged? | |||
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"So are we all gonna be Prine Minister in this ideal world? We'll all be privileged to take those important decisions she or he would normally make or would it be more productive to allow one person the privilege to lead based on our privilege to vote and our privilege to rely upon the wisdom and knowledge of others....? "I'm not even going to touch this fallacious, "slightly" ridiculous argument. It's not really that relevant to the discussion. You did make me laugh though.
" I told you we should debate more on fab, and THINK more. Privilege always gets brought back to race and sex it whatever the person talking has personally suffered from, it's so much more though, and yes to me it can be very beautiful.... Ppl all over the world are currently doing great things to enable me to be me, which I benefit from, and I feel privileged not based in my race or sex at all.... "I am thinking (I refuse to caps that word). It's evident you see privilege as a beautiful thing and really, that's not surprising. It benefits you, doesn't cause you issues so yes, you would. I know that privilege is so much more than personal anecdotes or experiences. It encompasses it but it's not just about that. Bringing it back to the OP (and apologies for going off tangent), I do think that at a very base level we should be afforded the same medical care. That's surely one area of privilege that we should be looking at. Accepting the status quo because it works for some of us isn't how we learn and grow as a society. | |||
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"There seems to be a couple examples around medical / gynaecological issues. That’s seems really unfair. I think research is needed to understand why on Earth that’s allowed to happen.
What are people’s thoughts on the job interview scenario? Would a slimmer person with equal points in interview as an overweight person in terms of qualification, experience and personality, be more likely to get it?
It depends. In most big organisations it's 100% down to points appearance, age, ethnicity , gender etc aren't significant. Smaller places are different
This was one of the examples given in the article. I can’t fathom how any interview panel could say “all things behind equal, we’ll take the slimmer person”. Based on what??
Un cons cious (banned word apparently) bias.
Someone further up said higher likelihood of health problems was the justification in one example she was aware of. I have a number of health issues and my BMI is 20.
I also have a number of health problems and I'm not overweight. Same with my boss. People do often associate being thinner with being healthier though. If you gave my medical history to someone and had them choose from a group who they thought it belonged to I imagine they would pick a fat person due to the heart problems.
Isn’t that interesting. I think this is one of the things that frustrates me at times when you hear comments to the effect of “being slim would solve all my issues”. It sort of invalidates the struggles slim people can and do inevitably have. They may not be the same issues - but being slim doesn’t guarantee this walk in the park lifestyle many assume it does...
No. However if I was bigger I would probably have faced a harder time with my medical problems. I have friends who certainly have. I heard an interesting story from one recently about how she had to teach the nurse who did her smear how to put a speculum in on a bigger body as the position they usually use doesn't always work for bigger women.
Wow really. What about the smaller than average women? What I mean is, if a lady who’s BMI was on the lower end of healthy, perhaps struggling with an eating disorder, needed treatment. Would her gynae treatment be the same as that for a healthy sized woman, or would she need adaptations too? If so, is there more awareness of how to adapt treatment for very slim women? Not sure if that makes any sense - just wondering about the other side of the coin "I personally can't think of any adaptions she might need relating to gynae but I'm open to learning. Being underweight doesn't really affect access to your vagina. Where I work we have treated a woman with an eating disorder before, I think they checked her potassium levels before treatment and everything else went ahead as normal. | |||
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"Thats not privilege, everybody can spare an hour a day exercise or go to the gym, to eat clean etc" [Citation needed] "I dont think thin privilege exists because anyone can be thin" [Citation needed] "you are the master of your own destiny." Why aren't you the richest and most powerful person on Earth, then? | |||
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Also that privilege could be removed if I were to abuse it....
Privilege is personal innit, it means different things to different ppl and therefore it's a losing battle to try to apply it uniformly as standardized bollocks.... Come to think if it I'm privileged to know what it's like to have a ball bag, but you ladies wouldn't expect to have a ball transplant just to standardise your life experience would you....? | |||
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"I was reading an article online about the concept of “thin privilege”, whereby according to some, just the very fact of being slimmer means you are automatically advantaged in life. Examples given were that slim people pay less for their clothes, which are generally better fitting and more fashionable; slim people don’t have to endure comments about what they should and shouldn’t eat by strangers; if a slim person goes to the doctors with a complaint it’s not automatically assumed to be attributed to their weight .... etc. These were just a few examples cited. Having reflected on this, I can honestly say as a slim person all my life, I’ve never actually felt more privileged or been consciously aware of any such advantages. Does one have to be aware of it for it to exist? Just wondered what others’ thoughts are? Is “thin privilege” a real thing? " I think it is. I used to be a size 22-24. Whenever I went to the doctors even for mental health issues I was always told "you should lose weight, it'll make you feel better" I was practically shown the door because of my weight. Well I lost 5 stone, I'm now down to a 14-16 and guess what? I still suffer with crippling anxiety sometimes but now they are more willing to help me because my BMI is only a little over what's classed as "normal" I'm still the same person as I was, there's just less of me now. | |||
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"I have been a size 10 and a size 22 and have been treated differently in many scenarios when I was big to when I was smaller yes I have never paid more money for a bigger size though and how well it looks on a person is not about how it is made, that depends on the persons shape and size I do have to say though that even as a size 12, a lot of high street fashion is catered to a slim build and shape and basically just gets scaled up to bigger sizes even though those styles often don't work for larger sizes. I'm a bit of an awkward in between as I often find styles of clothing for plus size women woule suit me better but they often don't do my size. " Yeah , I was more answering the money aspect, you can still buy a top/ dress for the same price whether you are a size 10 or 22. That's not to say it will look the same on the size 10 me as the size 22 me I found years ago when I was bigger that you could only find tents or Pat Butcher style clothes to buy, it is slightly different now as most people sell large sizes | |||
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"As a curvy woman I dont feel discriminated against or that thin are more privileged than me. I do however feel more targeted for diet campaigns and I cannot understand why, when the average uk womans size is 16, they don't stock more clothes to cater for that. Most infuriating being the 50s dress shops. Online they go to a size 30, in shops you are hard pushed to get a 16. This is just an old "normal" that is still allowed and I am sure with how things are heading it will soon change "Totally agree with this Ivy , yes I can buy some lovely clothes online but I want to go out and shop and come home with more than socks and make up in my shopping bag ! Yes there are a couple of average plus size shops in most shopping centres but given the number of plus size people where are the funky classy edgy plus size shops ? Or more plus size sections in high street shops that aren’t just a small selection of 1 dress 2 pairs of jeans and a few t-shirts ?! X | |||
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" I also have a number of health problems and I'm not overweight. Same with my boss. People do often associate being thinner with being healthier though. If you gave my medical history to someone and had them choose from a group who they thought it belonged to I imagine they would pick a fat person due to the heart problems. But has anyone ever said that to you though? Where does that association come from? Like I said above I am a size 16 and have a heart problem, nobody has ever said or assumed it is linked to my weight. It isn't it is genetic....I asked my cardiologist about my weight and nope cholesterol level normal and I'm otherwise healthy. So not sure where these judgements about weight and illness come from? " When I moved to Liverpool my new GP refused to prescribe me the medication I have been on for 4 years until my consultant insisted on it. I get questioned a lot at the pharmacy and I've previously had people think I'm in the wrong outpatient department. I've also been unfairly judged as lazy for refusing to do things like carry heavy things up stairs or because I get out of breath walking up hill. I dont look like someone with a heart condition apparently . | |||
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"I was reading an article online about the concept of “thin privilege”, whereby according to some, just the very fact of being slimmer means you are automatically advantaged in life. Examples given were that slim people pay less for their clothes, which are generally better fitting and more fashionable; slim people don’t have to endure comments about what they should and shouldn’t eat by strangers; if a slim person goes to the doctors with a complaint it’s not automatically assumed to be attributed to their weight .... etc. These were just a few examples cited. Having reflected on this, I can honestly say as a slim person all my life, I’ve never actually felt more privileged or been consciously aware of any such advantages. Does one have to be aware of it for it to exist? Just wondered what others’ thoughts are? Is “thin privilege” a real thing? I think it is. I used to be a size 22-24. Whenever I went to the doctors even for mental health issues I was always told "you should lose weight, it'll make you feel better" I was practically shown the door because of my weight. Well I lost 5 stone, I'm now down to a 14-16 and guess what? I still suffer with crippling anxiety sometimes but now they are more willing to help me because my BMI is only a little over what's classed as "normal" I'm still the same person as I was, there's just less of me now. " I’ve seen a couple of people comment on treatment by the GP in relation to mental health. That’s an issue I feel strongly about anyway due to my line of work... but leaving that aside, I think it’s awful that psychological difficulties are often randomly attributed to weight. How absurd. | |||
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" I think it is. I used to be a size 22-24. Whenever I went to the doctors even for mental health issues I was always told "you should lose weight, it'll make you feel better" I was practically shown the door because of my weight. Well I lost 5 stone, I'm now down to a 14-16 and guess what? I still suffer with crippling anxiety sometimes but now they are more willing to help me because my BMI is only a little over what's classed as "normal" I'm still the same person as I was, there's just less of me now. "
I remember a woman who went to the docs as she had hurt her ankle , he looked at her and said if you lose weight it will feel better. As losing weight is not an instant thing then it probably wouldn't help her right that minute.
Her ankle didn't get any better so she went to the WIC who sent her to A&E for an X ray, turned out she had broken a bone.
It makes you wonder if it would have been the same outcome with the doctor if the person wasn't overweight
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" I also have a number of health problems and I'm not overweight. Same with my boss. People do often associate being thinner with being healthier though. If you gave my medical history to someone and had them choose from a group who they thought it belonged to I imagine they would pick a fat person due to the heart problems. But has anyone ever said that to you though? Where does that association come from? Like I said above I am a size 16 and have a heart problem, nobody has ever said or assumed it is linked to my weight. It isn't it is genetic....I asked my cardiologist about my weight and nope cholesterol level normal and I'm otherwise healthy. So not sure where these judgements about weight and illness come from? When I moved to Liverpool my new GP refused to prescribe me the medication I have been on for 4 years until my consultant insisted on it. I get questioned a lot at the pharmacy and I've previously had people think I'm in the wrong outpatient department. I've also been unfairly judged as lazy for refusing to do things like carry heavy things up stairs or because I get out of breath walking up hill. I dont look like someone with a heart condition apparently . "Could they mean your age though? My cardiologist refused to see me for long time because he refused to believe someone of my age could have this. It was only by my own Dr begging him and tagging my Dad's medical records to mine which prompted him to see me and he apologised straight away. | |||
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"So are we all gonna be Prine Minister in this ideal world? We'll all be privileged to take those important decisions she or he would normally make or would it be more productive to allow one person the privilege to lead based on our privilege to vote and our privilege to rely upon the wisdom and knowledge of others....?
I'm not even going to touch this fallacious, "slightly" ridiculous argument. It's not really that relevant to the discussion. You did make me laugh though.
I told you we should debate more on fab, and THINK more. Privilege always gets brought back to race and sex it whatever the person talking has personally suffered from, it's so much more though, and yes to me it can be very beautiful.... Ppl all over the world are currently doing great things to enable me to be me, which I benefit from, and I feel privileged not based in my race or sex at all....
I am thinking (I refuse to caps that word). It's evident you see privilege as a beautiful thing and really, that's not surprising. It benefits you, doesn't cause you issues so yes, you would. I know that privilege is so much more than personal anecdotes or experiences. It encompasses it but it's not just about that.
Bringing it back to the OP (and apologies for going off tangent), I do think that at a very base level we should be afforded the same medical care. That's surely one area of privilege that we should be looking at. Accepting the status quo because it works for some of us isn't how we learn and grow as a society."Privilege - I'm not rich or powerful or black or a woman - I'll never know the benefits of those things. BUT, most of all I'm a single parent, a single MALE parent and discriminated against frequently for that - try explaining that to a potential employer.... I choose to focus on the positves however. I'm unlikely to be rich or powerful and ppl will always want to look at me like I'm a pedo when I'm stood in the playground with the "mum's" collecting my girl from school.... I worked a lot harder for my status as a daddy mummy than the regular mums, but it doesn't make me bitter, I just choose to celebrate the positives.... Everyone's discrimination us personal, as I just typed in a previous reply.... | |||
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). But I think the most telling thing for me was when I was Chair of the board of governors at my children's school. During that time I lost 10 stone. Before losing that weight I was often dismissed out of hand, struggled to be taken seriously, and downright ignored by some. After losing weight I was suddenly the one everyone gravitated towards, people wanted to hear what I had to say and I was offered more opportunities to take part in various meetings with external bodies. Was some of that down to how I projected myself as a slimmer woman, an increase in confidence? I've no doubt it was in part but not entirely | |||
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" I also have a number of health problems and I'm not overweight. Same with my boss. People do often associate being thinner with being healthier though. If you gave my medical history to someone and had them choose from a group who they thought it belonged to I imagine they would pick a fat person due to the heart problems. But has anyone ever said that to you though? Where does that association come from? Like I said above I am a size 16 and have a heart problem, nobody has ever said or assumed it is linked to my weight. It isn't it is genetic....I asked my cardiologist about my weight and nope cholesterol level normal and I'm otherwise healthy. So not sure where these judgements about weight and illness come from? When I moved to Liverpool my new GP refused to prescribe me the medication I have been on for 4 years until my consultant insisted on it. I get questioned a lot at the pharmacy and I've previously had people think I'm in the wrong outpatient department. I've also been unfairly judged as lazy for refusing to do things like carry heavy things up stairs or because I get out of breath walking up hill. I dont look like someone with a heart condition apparently .
Could they mean your age though? My cardiologist refused to see me for long time because he refused to believe someone of my age could have this.
It was only by my own Dr begging him and tagging my Dad's medical records to mine which prompted him to see me and he apologised straight away.
"My age can be a factor but if anything if I was fat it would give people a reason to assign for why someone of my age had a heart condition. I put on about a stone and a half after I developed it due to going from being an active runner and swimmer to struggling to climb the stairs. Even then I had people say that losing weight might help it even though I was only avout half a stone overweight and I had been in the middle of my healthy weight range for my height when it all started. | |||
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"A silly way to look at things in my opinion. " So you don’t agree with it as a concept? | |||
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"Having fluctuated between a size 24 and a size 12 I definitely have experienced being treated differently as a slim woman and a fat woman. Attitudes towards me in general are the most common to the point where at my biggest I refused to eat in public if I could get away with it. I've had GPs dismiss me entirely with medical problems with no investigation and told simply to lose some weight. Working in HR I saw first hand employees being chosen - all other things being equal - because they were slimmer (mind you I've seen a fair few dubious deciding factors, not just based on size ). But I think the most telling thing for me was when I was Chair of the board of governors at my children's school. During that time I lost 10 stone. Before losing that weight I was often dismissed out of hand, struggled to be taken seriously, and downright ignored by some. After losing weight I was suddenly the one everyone gravitated towards, people wanted to hear what I had to say and I was offered more opportunities to take part in various meetings with external bodies. Was some of that down to how I projected myself as a slimmer woman, an increase in confidence? I've no doubt it was in part but not entirely "This is interesting. I do wonder myself whether your confidence had increased and therefore you presented yourself with more authority, as opposed to the change in your size per se? | |||
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"i used to be bigger, a 16/18 and women were lovely, some men would glance at me but generally I’d be treated like a person from both sides Now I have an eating disorder and I’ve dropped to a 4/6 and I’m struggling to gain weight, men now treat me like an object and women glare at me On here they’re all lovely but walking down the street can be horrible, I’ve started using earphones to avoid everyone tbh " I'm sorry to read this, I just want to wish you well on your road to recovery hun, good luck and be good to yourself xx | |||
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"I was reading an article online about the concept of “thin privilege”, whereby according to some, just the very fact of being slimmer means you are automatically advantaged in life. Examples given were that slim people pay less for their clothes, which are generally better fitting and more fashionable; slim people don’t have to endure comments about what they should and shouldn’t eat by strangers; if a slim person goes to the doctors with a complaint it’s not automatically assumed to be attributed to their weight .... etc. These were just a few examples cited. Having reflected on this, I can honestly say as a slim person all my life, I’ve never actually felt more privileged or been consciously aware of any such advantages. Does one have to be aware of it for it to exist? Just wondered what others’ thoughts are? Is “thin privilege” a real thing? " I think the word privilege can be misleading. The idea isn't that thin/white/cis/straight people have an easy life because of that privilege, it's just that in that one aspect of who they are they don't have the disadvantage that others have. For example, I've been mistreated because I'm bi, but because I'm cis and bi I don't get as much mistreatment as someone who's trans and bi. It doesn't mean that my life is instantly super easy because I have cis privilege and don't get mistreated because of my gender identity/presentation. The concept of thin privilege isn't that thin people have an advantage over us fat folks, it's that thin is the default in society, which makes life more difficult for fat people. So nobody's telling you that because you're thin you've had it easy your whole life, they're just saying that you won't have had to go through the shit that fat people go through just for being fat. | |||
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"I was reading an article online about the concept of “thin privilege”, whereby according to some, just the very fact of being slimmer means you are automatically advantaged in life. Examples given were that slim people pay less for their clothes, which are generally better fitting and more fashionable; slim people don’t have to endure comments about what they should and shouldn’t eat by strangers; if a slim person goes to the doctors with a complaint it’s not automatically assumed to be attributed to their weight .... etc. These were just a few examples cited. Having reflected on this, I can honestly say as a slim person all my life, I’ve never actually felt more privileged or been consciously aware of any such advantages. Does one have to be aware of it for it to exist? Just wondered what others’ thoughts are? Is “thin privilege” a real thing? I think the word privilege can be misleading. The idea isn't that thin/white/cis/straight people have an easy life because of that privilege, it's just that in that one aspect of who they are they don't have the disadvantage that others have. For example, I've been mistreated because I'm bi, but because I'm cis and bi I don't get as much mistreatment as someone who's trans and bi. It doesn't mean that my life is instantly super easy because I have cis privilege and don't get mistreated because of my gender identity/presentation. The concept of thin privilege isn't that thin people have an advantage over us fat folks, it's that thin is the default in society, which makes life more difficult for fat people. So nobody's telling you that because you're thin you've had it easy your whole life, they're just saying that you won't have had to go through the shit that fat people go through just for being fat." Having had time to digest all responses and think about it some more, I completely agree with this. The term “privilege” is unhelpful here I think. Just because slim people haven’t had the same disadvantages as larger people, is it right that we think of them as privileged? When I think of this word I tend to associate it with phrases applied to wealthy people, “oh yes, he/she is from a privileged background”. I think that’s maybe why it grates a little for me. In no way do I fit that particular definition of privileged given my starting point in life. But that’s maybe semantics in terms of how we differently interpret the term itself ... | |||
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"I don’t think it’s important whether or not it really exists, but that being as thin as possible is sold to us as being the ideal so it’s all about beliefs. If I had a £ for each time someone has said to me that their troubles would disappear if they were thinner, I’d be a very rich woman indeed. Marketing sells the beauty concept to each culture based not on what the people actually look like (on the whole) but what they could look like if they spend enough money, one more product, oh just another, this one will definitely work.... There is definitely a movement towards change in this country but it’s difficult to change a mentality overnight." I love your point about marketing of beauty... You can just imagine the slim fast (other diet supplements available) or Nivea... With the small print at the end... "check first if you need to bin out loads of money on this brand as there is a good chance that you are perfect as you already are" | |||
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"I was reading an article online about the concept of “thin privilege”, whereby according to some, just the very fact of being slimmer means you are automatically advantaged in life. Examples given were that slim people pay less for their clothes, which are generally better fitting and more fashionable; slim people don’t have to endure comments about what they should and shouldn’t eat by strangers; if a slim person goes to the doctors with a complaint it’s not automatically assumed to be attributed to their weight .... etc. These were just a few examples cited. Having reflected on this, I can honestly say as a slim person all my life, I’ve never actually felt more privileged or been consciously aware of any such advantages. Does one have to be aware of it for it to exist? Just wondered what others’ thoughts are? Is “thin privilege” a real thing? I think the word privilege can be misleading. The idea isn't that thin/white/cis/straight people have an easy life because of that privilege, it's just that in that one aspect of who they are they don't have the disadvantage that others have. For example, I've been mistreated because I'm bi, but because I'm cis and bi I don't get as much mistreatment as someone who's trans and bi. It doesn't mean that my life is instantly super easy because I have cis privilege and don't get mistreated because of my gender identity/presentation. The concept of thin privilege isn't that thin people have an advantage over us fat folks, it's that thin is the default in society, which makes life more difficult for fat people. So nobody's telling you that because you're thin you've had it easy your whole life, they're just saying that you won't have had to go through the shit that fat people go through just for being fat. Having had time to digest all responses and think about it some more, I completely agree with this. The term “privilege” is unhelpful here I think. Just because slim people haven’t had the same disadvantages as larger people, is it right that we think of them as privileged? When I think of this word I tend to associate it with phrases applied to wealthy people, “oh yes, he/she is from a privileged background”. I think that’s maybe why it grates a little for me. In no way do I fit that particular definition of privileged given my starting point in life. But that’s maybe semantics in terms of how we differently interpret the term itself ... " You're absolutely right, when I first started reading about privilege theories it really got my back up in the same way because it felt like people assuming that because I'm white/cis/in a relationship with a man I have an easy life, and I really don't. It's definitely an easier term to use than "less disadvantaged" though | |||
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"I was reading an article online about the concept of “thin privilege”, whereby according to some, just the very fact of being slimmer means you are automatically advantaged in life. Examples given were that slim people pay less for their clothes, which are generally better fitting and more fashionable; slim people don’t have to endure comments about what they should and shouldn’t eat by strangers; if a slim person goes to the doctors with a complaint it’s not automatically assumed to be attributed to their weight .... etc. These were just a few examples cited. Having reflected on this, I can honestly say as a slim person all my life, I’ve never actually felt more privileged or been consciously aware of any such advantages. Does one have to be aware of it for it to exist? Just wondered what others’ thoughts are? Is “thin privilege” a real thing? I think the word privilege can be misleading. The idea isn't that thin/white/cis/straight people have an easy life because of that privilege, it's just that in that one aspect of who they are they don't have the disadvantage that others have. For example, I've been mistreated because I'm bi, but because I'm cis and bi I don't get as much mistreatment as someone who's trans and bi. It doesn't mean that my life is instantly super easy because I have cis privilege and don't get mistreated because of my gender identity/presentation. The concept of thin privilege isn't that thin people have an advantage over us fat folks, it's that thin is the default in society, which makes life more difficult for fat people. So nobody's telling you that because you're thin you've had it easy your whole life, they're just saying that you won't have had to go through the shit that fat people go through just for being fat. Having had time to digest all responses and think about it some more, I completely agree with this. The term “privilege” is unhelpful here I think. Just because slim people haven’t had the same disadvantages as larger people, is it right that we think of them as privileged? When I think of this word I tend to associate it with phrases applied to wealthy people, “oh yes, he/she is from a privileged background”. I think that’s maybe why it grates a little for me. In no way do I fit that particular definition of privileged given my starting point in life. But that’s maybe semantics in terms of how we differently interpret the term itself ... " Bravo for ‘learning’ something then. | |||
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"I don’t think it’s important whether or not it really exists, but that being as thin as possible is sold to us as being the ideal so it’s all about beliefs. If I had a £ for each time someone has said to me that their troubles would disappear if they were thinner, I’d be a very rich woman indeed. Marketing sells the beauty concept to each culture based not on what the people actually look like (on the whole) but what they could look like if they spend enough money, one more product, oh just another, this one will definitely work.... There is definitely a movement towards change in this country but it’s difficult to change a mentality overnight. I love your point about marketing of beauty... You can just imagine the slim fast (other diet supplements available) or Nivea... With the small print at the end... "check first if you need to bin out loads of money on this brand as there is a good chance that you are perfect as you already are" " I wish I’d read this small print before spending 5 grand on a boob job at 19!! | |||
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" Having had time to digest all responses and think about it some more, I completely agree with this. The term “privilege” is unhelpful here I think. Just because slim people haven’t had the same disadvantages as larger people, is it right that we think of them as privileged? When I think of this word I tend to associate it with phrases applied to wealthy people, “oh yes, he/she is from a privileged background”. I think that’s maybe why it grates a little for me. In no way do I fit that particular definition of privileged given my starting point in life. But that’s maybe semantics in terms of how we differently interpret the term itself ... " The word 'privilege' now has more conatations to fit in with 'identity politics'. It's not just the privilege you can see but those you can't see or be aware of. We are all priviliged in some ways and not in others. The slippery slope is where do you draw the line for legislation? How fine do you split it down? Where do you stop government involvement? The solutions are 'social engineering' but where does that end? At the extreme end it can be re-education classes/camps and getting rid of a certain class of 'priviledged' people. One of my favourite pieces of text is this: 'They came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.' You could say it starts with statues but where does it end? | |||
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"Having fluctuated between a size 24 and a size 12 I definitely have experienced being treated differently as a slim woman and a fat woman. Attitudes towards me in general are the most common to the point where at my biggest I refused to eat in public if I could get away with it. I've had GPs dismiss me entirely with medical problems with no investigation and told simply to lose some weight. Working in HR I saw first hand employees being chosen - all other things being equal - because they were slimmer (mind you I've seen a fair few dubious deciding factors, not just based on size ). But I think the most telling thing for me was when I was Chair of the board of governors at my children's school. During that time I lost 10 stone. Before losing that weight I was often dismissed out of hand, struggled to be taken seriously, and downright ignored by some. After losing weight I was suddenly the one everyone gravitated towards, people wanted to hear what I had to say and I was offered more opportunities to take part in various meetings with external bodies. Was some of that down to how I projected myself as a slimmer woman, an increase in confidence? I've no doubt it was in part but not entirely
This is interesting. I do wonder myself whether your confidence had increased and therefore you presented yourself with more authority, as opposed to the change in your size per se? "It was a mixture of both. I was always confident of my position and knowledge within the board of governors. I worked hard to equip myself for the role and to carry it out to the best of my ability. That was a constant throughout my fluctuating weight. But I had to assert myself less as a slimmer woman. People were more willing to hear me, more keen for my input. | |||
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" Having had time to digest all responses and think about it some more, I completely agree with this. The term “privilege” is unhelpful here I think. Just because slim people haven’t had the same disadvantages as larger people, is it right that we think of them as privileged? When I think of this word I tend to associate it with phrases applied to wealthy people, “oh yes, he/she is from a privileged background”. I think that’s maybe why it grates a little for me. In no way do I fit that particular definition of privileged given my starting point in life. But that’s maybe semantics in terms of how we differently interpret the term itself ... The word 'privilege' now has more conatations to fit in with 'identity politics'. It's not just the privilege you can see but those you can't see or be aware of. We are all priviliged in some ways and not in others. The slippery slope is where do you draw the line for legislation? How fine do you split it down? Where do you stop government involvement? The solutions are 'social engineering' but where does that end? At the extreme end it can be re-education classes/camps and getting rid of a certain class of 'priviledged' people. One of my favourite pieces of text is this: 'They came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.' You could say it starts with statues but where does it end? "This is where I’m going wrong ... I don’t know or understand much about ‘identity politics’. I’ve been blissfully ignorant. Always time to change that though! | |||
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" Having had time to digest all responses and think about it some more, I completely agree with this. The term “privilege” is unhelpful here I think. Just because slim people haven’t had the same disadvantages as larger people, is it right that we think of them as privileged? When I think of this word I tend to associate it with phrases applied to wealthy people, “oh yes, he/she is from a privileged background”. I think that’s maybe why it grates a little for me. In no way do I fit that particular definition of privileged given my starting point in life. But that’s maybe semantics in terms of how we differently interpret the term itself ... The word 'privilege' now has more conatations to fit in with 'identity politics'. It's not just the privilege you can see but those you can't see or be aware of. We are all priviliged in some ways and not in others. The slippery slope is where do you draw the line for legislation? How fine do you split it down? Where do you stop government involvement? The solutions are 'social engineering' but where does that end? At the extreme end it can be re-education classes/camps and getting rid of a certain class of 'priviledged' people. One of my favourite pieces of text is this: 'They came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.' You could say it starts with statues but where does it end? "Statutes are just words. Much more important are the attitudes and beliefs that we truly should all be given the same chances in life. | |||
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"Thats not privilege, everybody can spare an hour a day exercise or go to the gym, to eat clean etc [Citation needed] I dont think thin privilege exists because anyone can be thin [Citation needed] you are the master of your own destiny. Why aren't you the richest and most powerful person on Earth, then? " How do you know that I'm not | |||
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I'm still a miserable cow whatever size I am so haven't noticed any privileges either way. | |||
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"Thats not privilege, everybody can spare an hour a day exercise or go to the gym, to eat clean etc [Citation needed] I dont think thin privilege exists because anyone can be thin [Citation needed] you are the master of your own destiny. Why aren't you the richest and most powerful person on Earth, then? How do you know that I'm not "Or what if that’s not your idea of “destiny”? Perhaps you’re happy with your lot as it stands? | |||
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"I veer between size 14/16 & 22/24. When I'm bigger no-one comments on how I look or what I eat. When I'm slimmer they do. My face is too thin, I'll put all the weight back on eating that cake, etc etc.
I'm still a miserable cow whatever size I am so haven't noticed any privileges either way. "This is awful. Why do people feel it’s acceptable to comment on what people do or don’t eat? It’s just the height of rudeness... | |||
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"I was reading an article online about the concept of “thin privilege”, whereby according to some, just the very fact of being slimmer means you are automatically advantaged in life. Examples given were that slim people pay less for their clothes, which are generally better fitting and more fashionable; slim people don’t have to endure comments about what they should and shouldn’t eat by strangers; if a slim person goes to the doctors with a complaint it’s not automatically assumed to be attributed to their weight .... etc. These were just a few examples cited. Having reflected on this, I can honestly say as a slim person all my life, I’ve never actually felt more privileged or been consciously aware of any such advantages. Does one have to be aware of it for it to exist? Just wondered what others’ thoughts are? Is “thin privilege” a real thing? " I think people need to use the cards that life has dealt them and stop using the privileged excuse for their poor life. | |||
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" Statutes are just words. Much more important are the attitudes and beliefs that we truly should all be given the same chances in life." Noble sentiments. But at what cost and where does it end? And does society ever end up any more equal? Would you support a campaign which blew up so called unwanted statues? Would you support a violent campaign against so called privileged people? All in the name of creating a more equal/fairer society. No matter how equal we seem to be someone will always find an unequality. The goal posts change and the theories behind them change. As I said it's not about where it starts it's about where it ends. | |||
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"Having fluctuated between a size 24 and a size 12 I definitely have experienced being treated differently as a slim woman and a fat woman. Attitudes towards me in general are the most common to the point where at my biggest I refused to eat in public if I could get away with it. I've had GPs dismiss me entirely with medical problems with no investigation and told simply to lose some weight. Working in HR I saw first hand employees being chosen - all other things being equal - because they were slimmer (mind you I've seen a fair few dubious deciding factors, not just based on size ). But I think the most telling thing for me was when I was Chair of the board of governors at my children's school. During that time I lost 10 stone. Before losing that weight I was often dismissed out of hand, struggled to be taken seriously, and downright ignored by some. After losing weight I was suddenly the one everyone gravitated towards, people wanted to hear what I had to say and I was offered more opportunities to take part in various meetings with external bodies. Was some of that down to how I projected myself as a slimmer woman, an increase in confidence? I've no doubt it was in part but not entirely "Losing 10 stone is an amazing achievement, if it was something you were trying to achieve, which demonstrates so many positive attributes. I would imagine these attributes are helpful and attractive to a board and external organisations who are looking to achieve their own objectives. I'd imagine it would be inspiring. | |||
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"I think it exists but that's mostly down to being constantly fed images of slim is better or weight loss being something everyone who isn't slim should be trying to achieve. That could me my own self loathing too though. I guess it depends on how you feel in your own body as to what messages you pick up or not. " That makes sense. And I guess as a slim woman those types of messages aren’t something that I’m aware of as they aren’t being fed to me? Hence your point about me being less likely to pick up on them... | |||
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"I think it exists but that's mostly down to being constantly fed images of slim is better or weight loss being something everyone who isn't slim should be trying to achieve. That could me my own self loathing too though. I guess it depends on how you feel in your own body as to what messages you pick up or not. " There should be less self loathing Sinderella. Your pictures are stunning. I'm so jealous x | |||
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"I was reading an article online about the concept of “thin privilege”, whereby according to some, just the very fact of being slimmer means you are automatically advantaged in life. Examples given were that slim people pay less for their clothes, which are generally better fitting and more fashionable; slim people don’t have to endure comments about what they should and shouldn’t eat by strangers; if a slim person goes to the doctors with a complaint it’s not automatically assumed to be attributed to their weight .... etc. These were just a few examples cited. Having reflected on this, I can honestly say as a slim person all my life, I’ve never actually felt more privileged or been consciously aware of any such advantages. Does one have to be aware of it for it to exist? Just wondered what others’ thoughts are? Is “thin privilege” a real thing? " I think it's a load of bollocks to be honest, I don't feel as if people get more opportunities because they are slim. The clothes argument is abit silly too, there is more material in plus size clothing so its going to be more expensive. | |||
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"Having read the thread, I’d concur with Lacey Red and Mel for making the comments I can in to make! Interesting read. Privilege is a beautiful thing, Nippy? I guess it is when you have it, but where I have privilege I wonder about those without and wouldn’t want to call my having and someone else's not, beautiful. Each to their own. " Privilege and it's meaning is very personal and very different to each human being imho. Some people only need to see the word for the red mist to decend, without questioning it's nature. Also some people use it for effect and to stir that emotion, just as I imagine this original article did. If I said I was privileged to have know you for example then who could possibly tak offence at that expression, yet it is a positive example if privilege? Did you read my other comments Estella, or would you wish to dog whistle shame me and steal what you see as my privilege so that it becomes your own....? I think we are all privileged to be here and to have a voice and I use mine as wisely and respectfully as I can....
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"I think it exists but that's mostly down to being constantly fed images of slim is better or weight loss being something everyone who isn't slim should be trying to achieve. That could me my own self loathing too though. I guess it depends on how you feel in your own body as to what messages you pick up or not. " I think there is definitely a culture of weight loss being something everyone over a certain size should be trying to achieve. People are frequently surprised when I say I've never been on a diet as if its something every woman does. I've often said that this attitude is harmful and creates a bad attitude to food and body image | |||
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"I think it exists but that's mostly down to being constantly fed images of slim is better or weight loss being something everyone who isn't slim should be trying to achieve. That could me my own self loathing too though. I guess it depends on how you feel in your own body as to what messages you pick up or not. I think there is definitely a culture of weight loss being something everyone over a certain size should be trying to achieve. People are frequently surprised when I say I've never been on a diet as if its something every woman does. I've often said that this attitude is harmful and creates a bad attitude to food and body image" Agreed. I also often get asked “how do you do it?” with regard to being slim. When I say I don’t know, this is just the size I am and I don’t actively try to be it or not be it, I get disbelieving looks. As if that can’t possibly be true... | |||
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"That's so funny to me for some reason " What is? | |||
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"I think it exists but that's mostly down to being constantly fed images of slim is better or weight loss being something everyone who isn't slim should be trying to achieve. That could me my own self loathing too though. I guess it depends on how you feel in your own body as to what messages you pick up or not. I think there is definitely a culture of weight loss being something everyone over a certain size should be trying to achieve. People are frequently surprised when I say I've never been on a diet as if its something every woman does. I've often said that this attitude is harmful and creates a bad attitude to food and body image Agreed. I also often get asked “how do you do it?” with regard to being slim. When I say I don’t know, this is just the size I am and I don’t actively try to be it or not be it, I get disbelieving looks. As if that can’t possibly be true... "Yes i agree. Folk state i must workout but i think it all boils down to my genes. | |||
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"That's so funny to me for some reason What is? " The you pay less for clothes cus there is less material lol dunno why | |||
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"I think it exists but that's mostly down to being constantly fed images of slim is better or weight loss being something everyone who isn't slim should be trying to achieve. That could me my own self loathing too though. I guess it depends on how you feel in your own body as to what messages you pick up or not. I think there is definitely a culture of weight loss being something everyone over a certain size should be trying to achieve. People are frequently surprised when I say I've never been on a diet as if its something every woman does. I've often said that this attitude is harmful and creates a bad attitude to food and body image Agreed. I also often get asked “how do you do it?” with regard to being slim. When I say I don’t know, this is just the size I am and I don’t actively try to be it or not be it, I get disbelieving looks. As if that can’t possibly be true... "Yep! Its also often assumed that I will have a bad attitude towards bigger women or that I'm judging what they eat or how they look. | |||
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"That's so funny to me for some reason What is? The you pay less for clothes cus there is less material lol dunno why " You pay less for a single duvet cover than you do for a king size one but my size 8 dress is usually the same price as one size 20 | |||
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"I was looking through some of these replies and it raises an important question in my mind. Who has more privilege - the person perceived by another to be privileged, or the people abusing that person for apparently having that privilege....? It seems to be a symptom of the times lately, with people needing an identity and seeking validation for their existence at whatever cost, to others and themselves.... "This | |||
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"I was looking through some of these replies and it raises an important question in my mind. Who has more privilege - the person perceived by another to be privileged, or the people abusing that person for apparently having that privilege....? It seems to be a symptom of the times lately, with people needing an identity and seeking validation for their existence at whatever cost, to others and themselves....
This "I feel privileged you quoted me.... | |||
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"I was looking through some of these replies and it raises an important question in my mind. Who has more privilege - the person perceived by another to be privileged, or the people abusing that person for apparently having that privilege....? It seems to be a symptom of the times lately, with people needing an identity and seeking validation for their existence at whatever cost, to others and themselves.... "Aren't we in danger of overthinking something? Life's not fair. You can't legislate for all situations and permutations. We seem to use privelage interchangibly with benefit or discrimination. Specifically regarding weight and body shape. There's a healthy norm and outside of that it is pretty clear that people are more prone to health issues. Citations... Look at NHS website. Though happy to stand corrected. Some of this thread seems to be suggesting that the individual should be treated equally, when the decisions people have made may be different. We are what we are and whilst I'm not suggesting it's good that people are disadvantaged, I think some help in developing people's resilience and understanding of their situation would be of more benefit, than encouraging more victim culture. The fact that a large percentage of our population are larger may mean our average size is changing but doesn't mean it is healthy. | |||
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"I don’t think it’s important whether or not it really exists, but that being as thin as possible is sold to us as being the ideal so it’s all about beliefs. If I had a £ for each time someone has said to me that their troubles would disappear if they were thinner, I’d be a very rich woman indeed. Amazing and beautiful legs Marketing sells the beauty concept to each culture based not on what the people actually look like (on the whole) but what they could look like if they spend enough money, one more product, oh just another, this one will definitely work.... There is definitely a movement towards change in this country but it’s difficult to change a mentality overnight." | |||
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"Yes. It doesn't mean your life is easy because you're thin. It means you don't experience specific descrimination related to your weight. What if someone comments “gosh you’re looking too thin, eat something please!” Or in a restaurant with friends “is that ALL you’re having? My god surely you can eat more than that?” I’ve experienced both these things and whilst unpleasant and shaming, is this discrimination? Genuinely not sure. I was bullied horrifically in high school for being a size 6 and having thighs that didn't touch. That's just people being arseholes though. Fat discrimination is fat people taking years longer to get a medical diagnosis and receiving less pain relief than thin people because their doctors just keep telling them to lose weight even if their medical problem has nothing to do with being overweight. Fat women wait longer to be diagnosed with gynaecological issues." This! My sister suffered with horrendous back pain for over 25 years. She’s been constantly told to go away and lose weight, it’s all because she’s fat. She did exactly as they told her, went away and lost over 8 stone but it made no difference. Eventually, a doctor finally listened to her and she was diagnosed with a serious spinal condition. After trying many options to deal with it which have all failed, the only one left is surgery which will have a 50% chance of leaving her paralysed. She has decided that having lived with constant pain for this long, the risk is too great | |||
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"I was looking through some of these replies and it raises an important question in my mind. Who has more privilege - the person perceived by another to be privileged, or the people abusing that person for apparently having that privilege....? It seems to be a symptom of the times lately, with people needing an identity and seeking validation for their existence at whatever cost, to others and themselves.... "Indeed. | |||
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"That's so funny to me for some reason What is? The you pay less for clothes cus there is less material lol dunno why " Yeah I agree the clothes argument is a bit silly. If you want/need something larger, you pay more. Be that a bed, sofa, car, holiday, or clothing. Surely that’s just common sense. | |||
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). One of her exes made fun of the fact she has an A cup chest. Do I have fat privilege for not being subject to that sort of treatment? | |||
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"If someone doesn't like being fat then its up to them to change it. As for being a privilege, well im not sure a size 6 is very privileged when paying the same price for an item of clothing as a size 18 whos garment took longer to make and used more material. I do agree about the clothing thing. You’re buying a smaller product as a smaller person, so you get less; therefore you pay less. That makes basic mathematical sense to me. " OP here is a perfect example of negative bias towards oversized people that is happening right under your nose, so much so that you are signing up for it yourself. When you buy an item of clothing, you are paying for the design, manufacturing, storage, distribution and marketing; yardage is a very small element of the manufacturing costs, and even then yardage difference between a size 6 and a size 18 for most designs is merely pennies. To create a pricing system that reflects this difference would cost more than it would save, this is why companies generally avoid doing it. So even though large size clothes look enormous next to small size clothes they don't cost much more to produce. What the "my clothes are smaller so should cost less" argument actually points to is an out-an-out resentment that oversized people take up more space (please note how this was also thrown in on this very thread) and use up more resources. This is an example of the intolerance, dehumanisation or scapegoating oversized people experience, because many do follow these "logical" biases (you are so fat therefore you eat too much/don't exercise enough therefore you are lazy and undisciplined, etc). Ironically we also live in a world of excess, where being wasteful with resources is actively celebrated IF done "correctly" (ie. conspicuous consumption). | |||
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" I have a ex-colleague who is naturally very slim. She has food pushed on her all the time. She's been told she looks like she's on meth (by our ex-boss ). One of her exes made fun of the fact she has an A cup chest. Do I have fat privilege for not being subject to that sort of treatment?"This is a really good point, and I think it’s partly why I posted. There are always two sides. I also have had food pushed on me and comments around my size, and similarly was bullied at school for being “flat chested”. Experiences such as these don’t leave you with the impression of being in a “privileged” body. Not one little bit. It suppose it’s all too easy to look at what the opposite person to you has though, and decide they must be privileged as they have what is perceived to be the ideal. But you just never know what the opposite experience truly feels like. | |||
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"If someone doesn't like being fat then its up to them to change it. As for being a privilege, well im not sure a size 6 is very privileged when paying the same price for an item of clothing as a size 18 whos garment took longer to make and used more material. I do agree about the clothing thing. You’re buying a smaller product as a smaller person, so you get less; therefore you pay less. That makes basic mathematical sense to me. OP here is a perfect example of negative bias towards oversized people that is happening right under your nose, so much so that you are signing up for it yourself. When you buy an item of clothing, you are paying for the design, manufacturing, storage, distribution and marketing; yardage is a very small element of the manufacturing costs, and even then yardage difference between a size 6 and a size 18 for most designs is merely pennies. To create a pricing system that reflects this difference would cost more than it would save, this is why companies generally avoid doing it. So even though large size clothes look enormous next to small size clothes they don't cost much more to produce. What the "my clothes are smaller so should cost less" argument actually points to is an out-an-out resentment that oversized people take up more space (please note how this was also thrown in on this very thread) and use up more resources. This is an example of the intolerance, dehumanisation or scapegoating oversized people experience, because many do follow these "logical" biases (you are so fat therefore you eat too much/don't exercise enough therefore you are lazy and undisciplined, etc). Ironically we also live in a world of excess, where being wasteful with resources is actively celebrated IF done "correctly" (ie. conspicuous consumption)." Well I’ve never personally purchased larger size clothes but I assumed they might cost more since they are larger garments. If that’s not the case then I’m open to gaining a better understanding of that. However, I certainly have absolutely no “resentment” to those who are overweight, and I don’t think I’ve personally portrayed anything of the sort. I’ve just sought to better understand. | |||
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"I think the whole concept is ridiculous Clothes? It's almost impossible to find a genuine size 4, vanity sizing ruined that. Comments? I'm always being told to eat more or seeing 'real women' comments. It's a daily problem here that il politely turn a guy down and they'll skinny shame me in return. Yesterday one guy told me I look like a smack head who needs a good meal. As for doctors. I've been so many times for help to gain weight in order to be healthier and I'm always told the same thing "so many women would dream to be your size". That's not the point, my size is unhealthy. Ive put so much work into gaining weight and the skinny shaming can be crushing. Women especially need to realise that no matter your size or shape, we all need to pick eachother up and stop putting people down for things they can't/struggle to control." Well said. | |||
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"However, I certainly have absolutely no “resentment” to those who are overweight, and I don’t think I’ve personally portrayed anything of the sort. I’ve just sought to better understand. " Of course! What I was trying to point out is that we can be complicit to promoting hateful ideas about oversized people without necessarily feeling or having any prejudice. Personally I think both sides are of the same coin - go too far out of "normal" sizing in either direction and you will be the subject of prejudice. I am horrified at body shaming directed towards slim people, women especially but men too. Overall though I think if I could pick between being skinny and being fat I'd choose being skinny, how about you? | |||
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"I think the whole concept is ridiculous Clothes? It's almost impossible to find a genuine size 4, vanity sizing ruined that. Comments? I'm always being told to eat more or seeing 'real women' comments. It's a daily problem here that il politely turn a guy down and they'll skinny shame me in return. Yesterday one guy told me I look like a smack head who needs a good meal. As for doctors. I've been so many times for help to gain weight in order to be healthier and I'm always told the same thing "so many women would dream to be your size". That's not the point, my size is unhealthy. Ive put so much work into gaining weight and the skinny shaming can be crushing. Women especially need to realise that no matter your size or shape, we all need to pick eachother up and stop putting people down for things they can't/struggle to control." Agreed, some comments made about slimmer figures, especially in the bbw threads, are vile. | |||
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"I think the whole concept is ridiculous Clothes? It's almost impossible to find a genuine size 4, vanity sizing ruined that. Comments? I'm always being told to eat more or seeing 'real women' comments. It's a daily problem here that il politely turn a guy down and they'll skinny shame me in return. Yesterday one guy told me I look like a smack head who needs a good meal. As for doctors. I've been so many times for help to gain weight in order to be healthier and I'm always told the same thing "so many women would dream to be your size". That's not the point, my size is unhealthy. Ive put so much work into gaining weight and the skinny shaming can be crushing. Women especially need to realise that no matter your size or shape, we all need to pick eachother up and stop putting people down for things they can't/struggle to control. Agreed, some comments made about slimmer figures, especially in the bbw threads, are vile. " 100%. | |||
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"However, I certainly have absolutely no “resentment” to those who are overweight, and I don’t think I’ve personally portrayed anything of the sort. I’ve just sought to better understand. Of course! What I was trying to point out is that we can be complicit to promoting hateful ideas about oversized people without necessarily feeling or having any prejudice. Personally I think both sides are of the same coin - go too far out of "normal" sizing in either direction and you will be the subject of prejudice. I am horrified at body shaming directed towards slim people, women especially but men too. Overall though I think if I could pick between being skinny and being fat I'd choose being skinny, how about you? "Well, I’ve been a size 6-8 my whole adult life so it’s all I know. Since I don’t know what it is like to be curvier or to weigh more, I can’t assess how that might be. So based on what I know, I’d pick the way I am now; but with naturally larger boobs. | |||
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"Why does everyone feel the need to pull others down? Can't help but feel if we were all happier in our own skins then the beauty and fashion industry would be gutted. Nobody wins when a slimmer person is pitted against a larger one, except for those selling diets, or implants or this that and whatever to make you curvier or thinner. Think we all should care more about being nice to each other not what we look like "100% this | |||
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"Why does everyone feel the need to pull others down? Can't help but feel if we were all happier in our own skins then the beauty and fashion industry would be gutted. Nobody wins when a slimmer person is pitted against a larger one, except for those selling diets, or implants or this that and whatever to make you curvier or thinner. Think we all should care more about being nice to each other not what we look like "100000%. | |||
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"I've never heard of this 1, I'm so glad I grew up in the 80's when really nobody was offended by anything really, we all just lived our lives. " No I hadn’t heard of it either until recently. Obviously you hear the phrase “white privilege” quite often, but not this.. just wanted to hear others’ thoughts on it. It’s been an enlightening experience. | |||
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"Why does everyone feel the need to pull others down? Can't help but feel if we were all happier in our own skins then the beauty and fashion industry would be gutted. Nobody wins when a slimmer person is pitted against a larger one, except for those selling diets, or implants or this that and whatever to make you curvier or thinner. Think we all should care more about being nice to each other not what we look like " | |||
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"I've never heard of this 1, I'm so glad I grew up in the 80's when really nobody was offended by anything really, we all just lived our lives. " Its not always about a simple "being offended" many of these issues still happened back then, just the world was much more enclosed so quite a lot of the damage that was being done was behind closed doors and less in the public eye. Just because things didn't have attention on them, didn't mean they were not happening. | |||
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"I don't believe in any of it. I think it's just inflammatory language" I think it’s definitely unhelpful language. | |||
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"Having read the thread, I’d concur with Lacey Red and Mel for making the comments I can in to make! Interesting read. Privilege is a beautiful thing, Nippy? I guess it is when you have it, but where I have privilege I wonder about those without and wouldn’t want to call my having and someone else's not, beautiful. Each to their own. Privilege and it's meaning is very personal and very different to each human being imho. Some people only need to see the word for the red mist to decend, without questioning it's nature. Also some people use it for effect and to stir that emotion, just as I imagine this original article did. If I said I was privileged to have know you for example then who could possibly tak offence at that expression, yet it is a positive example if privilege? Did you read my other comments Estella, or would you wish to dog whistle shame me and steal what you see as my privilege so that it becomes your own....? I think we are all privileged to be here and to have a voice and I use mine as wisely and respectfully as I can....
"I disagree with you Nippy, it’s not shaming you to say so. Each to their own. | |||
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"Does one have to be aware of it for it to exist? Just wondered what others’ thoughts are? Is “thin privilege” a real thing? " I've been aware as someone who is not thin. But not in a 'get offended about anything' way that is so popular now. Only ever though it would be cool to be thinner
I every aspect of life there are good and bad things. Some we can fix and others we're born with or into.
Personally I think the 'privilege' issue is being taken to the n'th degree for the heck of it.
I think one has to be really sad to start looking for it | |||
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"Yet fat people get to use more seat on public transport! And IM the privileged one... "Of course you are | |||
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"Fat discrimination is fat people taking years longer to get a medical diagnosis and receiving less pain relief than thin people because their doctors just keep telling them to lose weight even if their medical problem has nothing to do with being overweight. Fat women wait longer to be diagnosed with gynaecological issues." I've had this, just got on with life. | |||
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"Does one have to be aware of it for it to exist? Just wondered what others’ thoughts are? Is “thin privilege” a real thing? I've been aware as someone who is not thin. But not in a 'get offended about anything' way that is so popular now. Only ever though it would be cool to be thinner
I every aspect of life there are good and bad things. Some we can fix and others we're born with or into.
Personally I think the 'privilege' issue is being taken to the n'th degree for the heck of it.
I think one has to be really sad to start looking for it "I love your approach to this. | |||
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"Just a few months ago, I was having a private conversation with a work colleague, I wear a size Next 6 and she is/was shall we say a size 18? I really have no idea about sizing, and we were just speaking about in general how there were plenty of shops out there that offer clothes for size 12-32, but there are far less that that cater to the smaller lady, especially ones in their 40's (I don't want to wear clothes aimed for teenagers!) Then another female team member overheard and went on and on and on about how she would never be able to even get her leg into a pair of size 6 jeans, that I was currently wearing, and she wouldn't drop it and went on for at least 30 minutes! By this point, my blood pressure was greatly increasing, and it was on the tip of my tongue to ask her if she body shaming me! So why did she feel if was acceptable? I have no idea, but plenty of women and men also do it on here also, constantly! I find it funny though, that my doctors have never once questioned my weight, I have had contraceptive implants imbedded into muscle by accident and been told tongue in cheek that it was my fault because I'm so small lol and had to have plastic surgery to find and remove it 2 years after it should have been removed, my current implant is now sitting underneath my armpit, because it was done my some inexperienced nurse and has moved significantly, they had to use a scanner to find it, but they implied at the time, that sometimes, things can just be left in the body and when it needs replaced, to just go to an experienced family planning clinic and get a new one put in the arm that I had surgery on, I don't take thing to seriously in life to be fair, but on here? I do feel it is getting worse and that is from both men & women, people need to think more!" Oh yes I’ve had the “god I couldn’t get one leg in those” comments. It’s always a moment... | |||
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"I've never heard of this 1, I'm so glad I grew up in the 80's when really nobody was offended by anything really, we all just lived our lives. No I hadn’t heard of it either until recently. Obviously you hear the phrase “white privilege” quite often, but not this.. just wanted to hear others’ thoughts on it. It’s been an enlightening experience. "So here's a thought, what about those who need glasses, or don't need glasses, those with short legs, or those without short legs... Those who need hearing aids, those who don't need hearing aids, those who are bald, curly, long hair and so on.spots, freckles... I mean we are all different and if you want to see privelage im sure you can. Someone above, very eloquently wrote about pulling each other up... Surely we can recognise and tolerate and even celebrate all of our differences and also recognise that sometimes we have to take responsibility for our selves. | |||
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