“You’re Not Fat”: But What If I Am?
I’m sure we’ve all heard and said it before: “She’s not that fat.” I know I’ve said it in an attempt to deconstruct the strict body standards that women disproportionately face. However, in examining the role language plays in dismantling injustice, I feel certain sense of unease when I hear these statements. Related Posts: In Case You Missed It: My …
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Sorry Groucho
One of the sayings that Groucho Marx was famous for was, “I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept people like me as a member.” Related Posts: In Case You Missed It: My Top Six Takeaways From the Body… Why I Don’t Care If My Daughter Gets Fat Book Review: The Girl Who Couldn’t Say No Love It/Hate …
Read MoreEditorial Masterbitch Theater: Is It Possible to Speak Rationally About Fat?
*Shakes magic eight ball.* “All signs point to no.” Related Posts: Etiquette: At the Doctor’s Office Why IS This Night Different from all Other Nights? (Or Is… Middlemarch Madness III: Author Run-off Results Etiquette: Get Fit Edition
Read MoreDr. Deah’s Guilt-Free Diet (Not THAT Kind of Diet)
Yes, you read that correctly. I am promoting a restrictive diet and I am inviting you to join me in my Guilt Loss Program. One of the comments I hear frequently in my work is some version of: Related Posts: Etiquette: The Art of Refusal New Show Recap: The Walking Dead, S3.E12 —… Five Card Draw The Steubenville Verdict: Rape Culture? …
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Best of P-Mag: What I Gained When I Lost Weight, And What I Lost
One of my favorite things about Persephone is our dedication to body acceptance and Health at Every Size. I personally have benefited a great deal from these discussions, and I know I’m not the only one. There are a number of wonderful articles I could have chosen, but this one seemed to sum them all up nicely. -Hillary Related Posts: …
Read MoreWhat I Gained When I Lost Weight, And What I Lost
I saw the ad, coincidentally, when I was on the elliptical machine at the gym. “What will you gain when you lose weight?” the commercial wanted to know. Jubilant women of all shapes and sizes were proclaiming that with just a little bit of movement on the scale, they would earn “confidence!” “pizzazz!” “self-belief!” Conviction, certainty, pep, zeal. Lose weight, …
Read MoreFat Pride Is For Everyone, Even You (Yes, You!)
If you haven’t been privy to the awesome images coming from Marilyn Wann and the Stand4Kids campaign, you need to check it out now. It’s okay, go ahead. I’ll wait! Glad you’re back! Related Posts: In Case You Missed It: My Top Six Takeaways From the Body… Why I Don’t Care If My Daughter Gets Fat Discussion Links: Body-Shaming in …
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Takedown: Paula Deen-abetes
This week’s crapdate: “Paula Deen has no one to blame for diabetes butter self.” The short answer: “Hahahahahah! I love it when people reveal that they are suffering! HILARIOUS!” The Paula Deen/diabetes cracks have been fast and furious. She loves butter! She apparently has a recipe for a hamburger between two donuts! She is an indication of everything that is …
Read MoreIs There Hope For Fat Kids?
Every once in a while, I meet someone in their 20s who’s been part of the fat positive community since his/her young teens. Often, they found fat pride as a result of a late-night Google search that led them to a blog or two. They often tell me they never(!) dieted and focused on approving of their body from a …
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I’m Not a Fan of the Word “Flattering” and Here’s Why
To me, the word “flattering” should mean “what I personally feel looks best on me, based on my own personal standards for my appearance.” Unfortunately, in our thin-obsessed fashion world, it has become universal code for “smaller.” I’m not a fan of the word. It gets thrown around like a beach ball at a Phish concert, but it feels like …
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Occupy Fat Street: We Are The 68%
This post really could be an indictment of the way that fat always equals bad in the symbolism of progressive movements, including Occupy, but it isn’t. And as much as I wish that fellow Lefties would take up the call of fat acceptance rather than fatphobia, for now it’s a dream deferred. Related Posts: In Case You Missed It: My …
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Persephone Pioneers: Fat Pride Activist, Marilyn Wann
I’ll never forget meeting Marilyn Wann at the NAAFA Convention a few years ago. Actually, I’ve completely forgotten what we talked about, but I remember what it felt like to talk to her. It was kind of like meeting an indie rockstar whose small but devoted following you’re a part of, and that rockstar turns out to be just as …
Read MorePersephone Pioneers: Nancy Upton
Persephone Magazine: You were the winner of American Apparel’s “Next Big Thing” contest, where plus-size women could upload their photos at a chance to model with the company. Of course, your photos (while awesomely hot) were a jab at the intentions of the company, which has never really been fat-friendly, nor woman-, race- or really, anything-friendly. Can you talk about …
Read MoreIt’s About To Get Real In Here
Oh yeah, it’s about to get real in here. As most of you know, my job is working with people who want to end their struggles with food and body image so that they can have fuller, richer, happier lives. This is a journey that I’ve been on myself. I dieted for 24 years. I obsessed about food and weight. And I …
Read MoreFigure Flaws?!
The idea that there are such things as “figure flaws” drives me batty. In many ways, I have the body shape that “obesity experts” wring their hands over. I have a thick waist and narrow hips, such that my waist to hip ratio is nearly at 1. I tend to gain weight around my midsection. I know, the horror! Apparently, …
Read MoreBody Love And The Inner Peace Movement
A few days ago, I recorded an interview with Sharon Crawford for The Spiritual Path To Food And Body Freedom Summit (feel free to check out it out here). I was asked to speak about Health At Every Size(SM), and bring that different perspective to the summit. I talked about all of the benefits of HAES(SM) of course, but I …
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