Obesity – The Last Discrimination Stronghold
I feel discriminated against. Why? Because I’m fat or was fat. Yes, I’ve already had weight loss surgery and lost more than 145 lbs, but I still see myself as being fat. I still think of myself as one of my brothers and sisters of the new “In” discrimination crowd known as “Fat People” and frankly, I’m pissed!
For some time now society has viewed people who discriminate against others of different gender, colour, ethnic groups or religion as the lowest of low, slimy and red neck like, but it’s perfectly ok if a person is fat. In fact it appears that we’re one of the last minority groups that still faces intolerable bigotry. I’d even go so far as to say we’ve replaced most of the other minority groups that are no longer “fashionable” for bigots to show their discrimination and prejudice against. At least in the past, we were one of many groups. Now we’ve risen to the top of the list. The last Discrimination Stronghold!
“Fatty, fatty 2×4!, couldn’t get through the bathroom door!” wasn’t so bad when we were just one of many. We could get lost with the others. When we heard the bigots yelling the “N” word or jeering about “cheap (add in the nationality of your choice here)” or Lazy “whoever’s”, we were just another of a vast number of groups that bigots targeted. Now it seems we’re the only politically correct group left for bigots to bully. What’s with that?
If you’re fat, you’re a member of one of the last and largest unrecognized minorities who face constant everyday discrimination. They don’t call rats – fat for nothing. If you’re fat, many people consider you a self inflicted glutton or slob, lazy, worthless, weak willed, pathetic, slothful, indulgent and those are just the nice terms they use.
Bigotry is defined as a stubborn irrational animosity towards others, like “That person is lust a fat slob! Why don’t they control their eating?” Discrimination behaviours take many forms, but they all involve some form of exclusion or rejection; like reducing or eliminating health options because a person is fat or rejecting a person’s needs because they are fat.
Looking back 50 years ago, the Civil Rights Movement generated traction on so may discrimination fronts. Who knew that one bigotry would defy all the positive inroads made in such diverse qualities as race, colour, gender, creed or religion?
Today most of us celebrate the wide diversities of culture, race and freedom of choice. Thoughtful people everywhere accept and embrace anything that enhances equality for all minority groups – except for us fatties!
Well, I for one, am darn sick and tired of being discriminated against because of my weight. I’m tired of hanging my head down in taking another beating from the bullying bigots. I’m tired of feeling self loathing and having feelings of low self-esteem .
Here’s a description of prohibit grounds of discrimination for disabilities from McGill University:
Disability: An actual or presumed personal condition arising from a physical or mental impairment of some kind, including loss, malformation, or abnormality of an anatomical organ or of a mental, psychological or physiological structure or function. This ground also refers to the means used to palliate a disability such as a wheelchair, guide dog, or prosthesis.
In plain and simple terms, I believe obesity to be a disability. Do you agree with me? If so, it’s time to stand up and be counted. Time to stop being bullied. Time to take action.
Call to Action:
This journey has been taken before. The map has been drawn for us be others who have met the challenge and overcome discrimination. Like all good human rights activists before us, here’s what we can do -
- When we hear or see people discrimination against our disability of Obesity, don’t make excuses for your disability. Tell the person responsible that they are behaving like a bigot and call them on their discrimination.
- Don`t fall into the trap of describing all the things you`ve tried to eliminate your disability.
- Always refer to Obesity as a “disability” – in your discussions with others, but most importantly in any talks, or letters to Government or Health Authorities.
- Human rights activists are NOT quiet, but they also are NOT physically aggressive. That means you need to start writing, talking and advocating for “Obesity Equal Rights Now” everywhere. NOW!
Here are some key words and phrases for your own personal advocacy program:
Obesity = Disability
Human Rights = No Discrimination for disabled
Discrimination = exclusion and rejection
Bigotry = irrational animosity or loathing
OERN = Obesity Equal Rights Now
Cacomorphobia – Fear of Fat people (also the word for Obesity bigots)
Where is YOUR voice? Lets her from you! Post your comments and experiences here.
Author
Ron Merk
The print function of this article is sponsored by Blaze Website Designs
Oh my God, don’t get me started. I have been waiting to read a post like yours for a long long time.
I have been a stay at home mom for 25 years, and durring that time I have raised (very successfully) 4 children to be well balanced, healthy adults. But in my endeavours to make sure that my kids got every one of their needs met, I seemed to get caught up in life and forgot about how to take time for me. 2 of my children (the girls) were sexually abused by a distant family member, and I spent a huge part of my life making sure that that person got what was coming to them, and that my girls had all the counselling and healing that they needed. And 1 of my boys was my biggest challenge ever, He was an ADHD kid constantly getting expelled from school and a whole aray of other challenges. Through all the stressIin my life, I have steadily gained about 10 lbs a year throughout my child rearing years, and now I have to pay the price. I gained so much weight over the years, that I also lost the support of my husband and whenI lost both parents 2 years ago, (about 6 weeks apart) and while that was happening, and there was no support from my husband I decided that I would rather be alone and lonely than alone all the time and stying married to a man that did not love me….. After my divorce, I am now on my own, with very outdated skills and no way to support myself, because I can not work a job that requires any walking at all, as my weight has created such terrible pain in both my knees and hips and back. I while back I tried to apply for a disability pension, it was recommended by my Aunt, and dear friend. I was totally shot down. I went to an EI office, and they put me thru school and I aced the Legal Secretary programme. But get real, I weigh over 400 lbs, and after about 250 somewhat applications and 20 or so meetings with prospective employers, I have come to the conclusion that they will not hire me BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT! If that is not discrimination, what is. I aced my school program, I am an intelligent good looking woman, who has alot to give an employer. I have tried many many different weight loss programs, and I am on Dr. Amson’s wait list, but may never see surgery in my life time. My weight has caused me to become diabetic, and have high blood pressure, and I am sure that both my knees are totally shot. I have really bad arthritis, and can bareley walk.. I am not in a wheel chair, I have been concerned that doing so will give me an excuse to not do what ever little bit I can do without being in one. But I am so frustrated, I really see that as my next step. If the governement does not want me to be a burden to the medical system, then help me to lose the weight and become the person that I used to be, only better. I hate going out into public, as people always stare, I can not tell you how many times I have turned around and blatantly asked some one “What’s the matter, haven’t you ever seen a fat person?” Going into a restarant is a joke, can they not train their waitresses to be more compasionate? I can’t tell you how many times a waitress has tried to squeeze me into a booth that was made for a skinny person. Very embarassing. I am sorry, I can go on and on, I did not mean to just ramble, but I wanted to let you know that I totally feel and understand totally what you are talking about when it comes to obesity and prejudiced people.
Thanks for giving me the oportunity to vent.
This is one of my vent on VIHA I mean who is going to support a bunch of fat people to lazy and stupid to stop eating . VIHA knew this when they shut down the surgeries for us . Just like they knew the mental health people would get little or no help when they shut down their floor. VIHA is preying on the discrimanted people that will get little or no help from the general public. With all the cut backs , who is going to support us. Paige
i have been gaining excess weight since i was 12. i am now 27. i have never had a paying job that wasnt child care or animal care . and those have been given to me by people i knew. i once did a program through triumph where i would work 6 weeks then it was supposed to be paid work. i not only know what its liked to be discriminated for being fat but for having other disabilities. in the end we had the last meeting with my job coach and my manager at petcetera. the manager said they cant afford to hire me on. i was given 2 days with someone beside me helping me learn the till. i screwed up so much i lost them money. they never asked me my disability ever. even at th last meeting. he said he didnt know my disability and and didnt want to know because he saw no evidence of one. i have major clinical depression and that slows my brain down and i take longer to learn. i have heard the manager talk behind customers backs and im sure he has talked about my weight i felt totally discrimiated against. i am obese and have a mental illness two disabilities that people look down on. i am currently looking for work even though i have been terrified since 2004. i am applying at tim hortons and im scared they wont hire me cuz im to fat and wont fit there uniforms. i am so tired of being fat and depressed and i am taking charge of my life . i hope it works out
Right on, Ron! Boy, do I ever remember my wretched youth….as a kid, I was teased all of the time. Even my brother teased me with my mother laughing along with him. I guess she thought the teasing and laughter would encourage me to lose weight. My family doctor asked me if I wanted to be a freak when I grew up. All of the negativity continued into my adolescence. No boy would have anything to do with me because I was fat. Even when I did slim down to a size 14, I was considered fat. I’m sure some of my choices of husbands were made because I didn’t feel I could do better. Thank goodness the man I am now married to (for 18 years!)is so supportive. He gets teased because he is vertically challenged…..we look like the married couple from the Herman cartoons! I am thankful that during my teaching career, I was never discriminated against, and my students never saw me as a fat person. The school setting has always been a “safe” haven for me. I’ve been incredibly lucky in that!
I couldn’t agree more. With site’s like peopleofwalmart that just target fat people now it’s become all the rage. Sites like these are becoming incredibly widespread too. It’s sick! It needs to be stopped.
I can’t stand it. It’s in the mainstream media. It’s everywhere. People just need to get off their high horses and realize that not everyone has the same genetic makeup and not every fat person eats big macs and sloppy joes all day.