Fatism

[flip_flop]

There was an item on the news this morning (OK, not the news - it was on Daybreak, but bear with me) which asked whether fatism should be considered the same as racism and sexism.

Personally I think not.

You can't help the colour of your skin or which sex you are, but (other than in the minority of cases such as genetic disorders) you can help what size you are.

So, is fatism just as bad a racism and sexism?

[ummmm]

Depends.

Each case needs to be judged individually.

[daffy654]

If they decide to make this an issue they had better make calling someone skinny a crime too.

I used to be really slim and got sick to death of people I barely knew (complete strangers sometimes) telling me how skinny I was/accusing me of being anorexic/drug addicted or ill looking.

I do agree that you should not discriminate against someone because of their weight, whether they are overweight or underweight. You should not deny someone a job or promotion because of it.

[rowanwitch]

That is the key... there has been research that shows when given a task of matching intelligence levels to images of people of various sizes the fat folk were percieved as being of lower intelligence... also negative attributes such as laziness and selfishness were associated .. so in theory (and I believe from personal experience) fat people are discriminated against in the job market and also in health care where non related problems are put down to weight alone. .

[Old_Geezer]

Yes. Any treating of folk unfairly is as bad. Bullying and taunting is wrong in any case. This idea that it is the person's own fault so you can be as nasty as you like is unreasonable, and I suspect probably mostly held by those who have never had a problem.

[Gromit]

Already done on the post below this one.

// // The 80-page report was drawn up by MPs and Central YMCA, the world's biggest young people's charity, after a three-month public inquiry during which hundreds of witnesses made submissions.

It concludes that a toxic combination of the media, advertising and celebrity culture account for almost three-quarters of the influence on body image in society, yet the "body ideal" typically presented was estimated to be not physically achievable by nearly 95% of the population. //

http://www.guardian.c...y-image?newsfeed=true

This report is not saying you cannot call someone fat. It is saying that professionals should avoid the term as it is unhelpful and instead promote a healthier lifestyle than anyone can . //

[jake-the-peg]

Abusive behaviour whether it is based on race, gender, weight or anything is already an offense.

It's just that if it's based on race of gender it's an aggravating factor making the offense much worse.

A lot of this is based not on a logic of whether or not you can change but simply on history and an abhorrance of a certain type of mob mentality that has sprung from such descrimination in the past

[woofgang]

It's also bad manners to make personal comment pts or prejudicial judgements that are not based in fact

[Ratty2E]

No, in my opinion it shouldn't. Most people have become fat due to their own bad diet and lack of excercise, which you can change with a bit of common sense. OK I know you could change your sex and your colour (allegedly) but my answer is no it's not.

[d9f1c7]

Yes it is as bad, as is thinism. You make it sound like it's an easy fix but it isn't. Do any fat people choose to be fat? In the same way that I don't know any smokers that wouldn't stop if they could. Yes fat people mostly have themselves to blame but it's not an easy fix or they'd do it.

[rowanwitch]

I have lost count of the times I have dieted and lost 3 or more stone... always putting it back plus some... tried the eat sensibly more exercise thing...hypnotherapy, inc hypnoband, personal trainer, diet pills, bulimia in my teens don't want to go there again.... but am nearly double the weight I was at 18 and I was called fat then...(I wasn't I was a healthy size 16 its just everyone wanted to be Twiggy back then)

[pdq1]

You don't need someone to tell you you'r fat.....you know it already, so why state the obvious?

[youngmafbog]

Same applies to race and sex, I'm sure most know that!

I always fail to understand where all this comes from. If the professionals need to get you real then what is wrong with the term fat? If you use another term then will that then follow as being 'banned'?

Utter nonsence (And I am a bit of a porker, so please stop taking offence on behalf of me I dont need it)

[flip_flop]

Surely the line has to be drawn somewhere?

If fatism is to be considered as bad as racism and sexism, what about smokism?

I know people consider reducing one's size is easier said than done (although I struggle to understand what is hard about eating less and exercising more), as is giving up smoking, but ultimately it is an individual's choice on whether to be fat or a smoker.

[d9f1c7]

Anyone can lose wieght, easy, but the problem is keeping it off and that can only be done by total lifestyle change and that is the diffucult part.

[cazzz1975]

regardless of all the "isms" I think we should all work on being better human beings without having to single people out and constantly criticise them for their physical differences whether they are fat, thin, tall, short,bald ect

[Le Chat]

Everyone judges everyone on their first impression. We just do and we can't help it, even if we don't like it and often we don't get time to know the person in order to change that impression.

If we see a gang of youths, we may feel intimidated and scared whilst they may be just minding their own business. Similarly, if we encounter a punk-rocker we may make certain assumptions, which may be totally incorrect but we still do it.

Unfortunately for fat people, the first impression is one of perhaps 'unattractiveness' and even slight repulsion to some folk along with other negative adjectives.

It just is what it is but it never needs to be said out loud!