Riiiiiight, a bit of trolling which targetted my weight, diet and right to post means a disclaimer is in order. I'm not fat. I am skinny. I do not have an eating disorder. I have not been bullied into my size. What I do have is a desire to be strong and healthy for as long as I possibly can, and THAT is what has launched me on this eating clean journey. Not cheap mimicry of Miranda Kerr. Not pressure from patriarchal society. Not jealousy of others; health. Funnily enough, that doesn't seem to be an option since people are quick to assume that health promotion is an attempt at fat shaming. What?!
In spite of my natural shape, brought about by a natural diet, I have frequently been the object of unwanted attention regarding my size. When I was a waitress a customer asked which dessert I would recommend, before looking up and saying "Never mind, you look like you don't eat." If I was fat would it have been ok to say "Never mind you've probably eaten them"? When I worked in high fashion a client walked into the store and exclaimed "My God! You're tiny! What size are you?" If I was fat would it have been ok to say "My God! You're huge! What size are you?" When I was out with friends an acquaintance moaned "I feel so flabby, hanging out with this skinny bitch doesn't help." If I'd been fat would it have been ok to say "I feel so flabby, hanging out with this fat cow helps though." The answer to all these questions is no, that would not have been ok, yet because I was skinny these unsolicited judgements and insults were almost attempts at compliments. On each occasion I was upset and horribly offended, yet expected to say nothing because 'being skinny is great!" Skinny shaming exists, and most if the time we say it's ok!
The new wave of aggresive, vagina weilding feminist have some responsibility (thank you Caitlin Moran). It seems today that a 'real' feminist must adopt a sneering, cynical view of anything other than hairy legs and muffin tops. I'm intimidated by it and feel horribly unrepresented by it, which is odd as I do consider myself a feminist. A recent viral video depicted a beautiful women in her underwear, pointing to all the parts of her body that she loved and was proud of, it was great and I'm sure for her and her peers it felt empowering. Unfortunately, the woman based her (fragile) self love (loathing?) on the fact that she wasn't thin and ended with a call to all "my curvy, gorgeous, REAL women to give skinny bitches the finger." Lovely! I wonder how viral the video would have been if the sizes were reversed! Am I not allowed to be a real woman because genetically I have small hips and tiny boobs? Can't I be proud that I look after myself without having people of a different shape roll their eyes and call me a skinny bitch? Do I have to silently kowtow to PC norms which demand fat people's feelings get precedent?
My blog is not about me advocating dieting and not about encouraging thinspiration, which are dangerous trends. It's not about declaring an ideal shape. Its about food I like to eat. Be fat, be thin, whatever! But keep your opinions to yourself! When it comes to our bodies I am mine, and you are yours. End of!
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