The word "fatphobia," little known until recently, has officially entered the dictionary and has been used in all sorts of contexts since the publication of Gabrielle Deydier's controversial book, "On ne naît pas grosse" (You're Not Born Fat). But what exactly is it? "Fatphobia" literally means " the fear of fat people ." A "fatphobic" person is someone who doesn't hesitate to insult or humiliate another person because of their weight .
For us, fatphobia is so much more than that. Formerly known as Ma Grande Taille , The Body Optimist has been fighting for years to promote values of tolerance and respect . Through our actions, we have done everything we can to ensure that plus-size women and men find their place and no longer feel rejected by a society crushed by the reign of size 6. And this fight continues with The Body Optimist , particularly through this "Fatphobia" section.
The testimonies
For TBO, it is essential to give a voice to its readers and/or to relay the words of plus-size women who have already spoken out on social media about issues surrounding obesity and being overweight.
For example, we highlighted the story of Latoya Shauntay Snell, who explained that despite running 10 marathons, she was still insulted because of her obesity . This was despite the huge buzz generated by Ashley Graham's appearance on the cover of "Sports Illustrated." It seems society is n't ready to accept that a fat woman can be healthy ...
We also share some even more horrifying accounts, such as those collected by the Belgian magazine "Moustique." They revealed that fatphobia is experienced from childhood, as told by Emelyne, now 23, who recounted how, in middle and high school, compass points were placed on her chair to "deflate" her .
Manon, for her part, told us that her entire job interview revolved around her weight . This demonstrates that in 2020, people who are obese or overweight still face discrimination based on their physical appearance. This, we remind you, is punishable by law, as it is completely illegal .
But we also report the incredibly positive stories of some who have decided to fight against fatphobia. For example, there's Shelly Proebstel and her brilliant response when she was fat-shamed on the beach. Then there's singer Amel Bent responding to her detractors, and the passengers on a plane who did everything they could to have a fat-shaming passenger removed from the aircraft before takeoff .
For your part, please feel free to send us your stories or discuss fatphobia on our forum . You can do so publicly or anonymously. In any case, you will not be judged here . Tips and tricks
When you're plus-size, it's normal to have practical or psychological questions. For example, " How do I live with my insecurities ?", "How do I prepare for comments about my weight during the holidays?", or "What's the best response I've found when someone insults me?" Our goal is to give you tools for everyday life, but also to help you stop feeling guilty . You haven't killed anyone! Yes, you're overweight, so what? Other people manage perfectly well with their weight. It's not the end of the world.
We also address parents of overweight children through articles such as " What to do if my daughter thinks she's 'fat and ugly'? " or " Do children suffer from having an overweight mother? ". Indeed, it's important to help children build a positive self-image . Otherwise, as adults, they could develop serious self-confidence issues.
Of course, this is just a summary. We encourage you to browse our "Fatphobia" section to find the topic(s) that interest you. Don't forget that the forum is also available and has its own dedicated "Fatphobia" section. News
If you follow the news even a little, you've probably noticed that the word "fatphobia" appears frequently in article headlines. And for good reason: more and more acts of fatphobia are being denounced . And that's a good thing!
We think, for example, of that horrific case where a doctor and his wife held their daughter captive and beat her if she gained weight . Or of the outpouring of hatred following the death of an obese activist, of the influencer who fell victim to a sickening bet, or even of the blatant fatphobia displayed on the show "La robe de ma vie" on M6.
Here, the goal is to inform, but also to denounce . Anonymous individuals aren't the only ones who practice fatphobia. Television and the fashion industry are also major players! This is evidenced by the remarks of Ed Razek, former creative director of Victoria's Secret, who stated, among other things, that no plus-size models would walk the runway for the brand, "because the show had to sell a dream." Needless to say, since then, the brand of the Angels has suffered a long, drawn-out media backlash.
Even though our society is now moving towards greater tolerance and inclusivity, it is essential to continue talking about fatphobia, explaining it, and denouncing it . Help us advance the fight and don't hesitate to talk about it with those around you. 