Lately I’m trying this extremely annoying new thing where I attempt to believe in myself and my ideas. This writing is foundational to a larger project I’m working on, and my fat hell ambitions come up in conversation as result. The response is mostly positive, but it’s also been a great reminder of what happens when you use the word “fat” in a sentence in mixed company, with people who don’t think about fatness or use the word fat on a regular basis. Just last week I told a colleague about my work, and who this writing is for. She wondered if the audience for this kind of writing goes beyond people on social media who are well-versed in the language of body positivity — could it also be for people who aren’t? She used the example of “friends in her hometown who can’t even bring themselves to use the word fat.” Truthfully, for a split second, the comment made me feel embarrassed — her entire friend group would be
I think what really resonates with me is the idea of our radical self-acceptance (because fat people loving ourselves is radical) is always in progress and is really fucking hard. I own the word fat, write about fatphobia, and have become very vocal about it. But the internalized fatphobia is never completely vanquished. It’s like you said, you just keep trying to chip away at it.
Please continue to write for yourself and your experience and trust that there are thousands of us out here who will relate to and cheer for and tear up at hearing your truth, because it rings so true for us too.
I think what really resonates with me is the idea of our radical self-acceptance (because fat people loving ourselves is radical) is always in progress and is really fucking hard. I own the word fat, write about fatphobia, and have become very vocal about it. But the internalized fatphobia is never completely vanquished. It’s like you said, you just keep trying to chip away at it.
oh fuck -that- woman...
man, i think this newsletter may become one of my favs! <3
Please continue to write for yourself and your experience and trust that there are thousands of us out here who will relate to and cheer for and tear up at hearing your truth, because it rings so true for us too.
It's official: Christie is the new Karen.