Fat Acceptance Advocates Argue Against Weight-based Discrimination
By
WLC
May 15, 2009
Fat-acceptance advocates are becoming more vocal and more numerous. Writing on a section of the Internet known as the "fatosphere," bloggers with names like FatChicksRule and Big Liberty argue that the war on obesity is ruining the self-esteem of overweight people.
"We're promoting health at every size," says Kate Harding, a 34-year-old Chicagoan who founded the Shapely Prose blog. "Being fat does not make me lazy or stupid."
Led by the National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), which was organized in 1969, advocates want to end workplace bias, encourage health care providers to become more tolerant, and promote the availability of plus-size merchandise.
"The emphasis has been 'lose weight and everything will be fine,'" says Lynn McAfee, director of medical advocacy at the Council on Size and Weight Discrimination. "It's becoming really clear that people aren't losing weight. We want to shift the emphasis to making us as healthy as we can be at whatever weight we are."
Only Michigan has state laws aimed at discrimination against overweight people, even though studies show that larger employees are paid less regardless of their job performances. Many overweight people report bias from doctors and being turned down for health insurance.
More stores are responding to pressure to feature clothing in larger sizes. This spring, two major retailers will be offering plus-size clothing for teenagers. Target's Pure Energy Line will go up to a Size 30, and Forever 21 will have a new line in sizes XL to 2X.
"Our customers have been asking for this for so long, and in the past few years, we've really decided it's time to get into it," says Heidi Canalizo, regional manager for Forever 21. "We sell out of XL very quickly. Not everyone is a Size 2."
The president of the National Action Against Obesity is not pleased with Target and Forever 21.
"When you look at the human cost," said MeMe Roth, "what we're doing is we're on the Titanic and rather than forcing our children into the lifeboat, we're telling them to join the band. Worrying about fashion rather than worrying about the food is a horrible message that we're sending to kids."
Comments
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