I remember once when I was thirteen years old in the middle of PE class. A teacher came along and told us that we would soon be having swimming lessons over at a nearby private school’s swimming facilities. At first, I was excited. I like swimming, I had a swimming pool at home, and my standard swimming costume of a one-piece, a rash shirt, and board shorts was something I … [Read more...]
When Healthy Isn’t An Option: How I Learned To Love My Chronically Ill Body
This article first appeared on Ravishly and is reprinted by permission. Once upon a time, I counted calories, carbs, and fat. I weighed myself every day, and I exercised for hours at the gym. I viewed my body as the enemy, and I beat it into submission through sheer force of will. I lost 100 pounds, and I kept most of it off. But I am not healthy, and I never will be. I'm … [Read more...]
Healing the Wounds of Growing Up in a Fat-Shaming Family
In the immortal words of Brianna in the classic film Bring It On: All or Nothing, "I've always had a big ass. It runs in my family. We're a big-assed family." My family never used to do “thin” well. My father hovered between “normal” and “more to love,” my mother had a substantially emphasised hourglass shape, and both of my younger brothers were noticeably chubby. As for me? … [Read more...]
4 Things Everyone Should Know About Eating Disorders in Marginalized Communities
We believe that there must be space to tell the story of EVERY body and we are grateful to those who have shared their stories with us so that we might share them with you. If you are struggling with an eating disorder, there is help. You can reach the toll-free, confidential National Eating Disorders Association Helpline in the US at 1-800-931-2237. You are not alone. I was … [Read more...]
5 Ways People with Thin Privilege Can Fight Body Terrorism
Hey, fellow folks with thin privilege (you should know who you are): We need to talk. I’ve been seeing a lot of people equating skinny shaming and fat shaming — and I want to declare, on the record, that this is wrong and harmful. There is a huge difference between skinny shaming and fat shaming, and it’s a difference of scale and systemic power dynamics. Body shaming against … [Read more...]
11 Reasons Your ‘Concern’ for Fat People’s Health Isn’t Helping Anyone
This article originally appeared in EverydayFeminism.com and is reprinted by permission. “I’m just concerned about their health.” “I’m a feminist, but I don’t think fat is a feminist issue.” “I’m body-positive, but I don’t believe in glorifying obesity.” “I think people of size deserve respect, but I think they’d find it easier if they were thin.” “Studies have … [Read more...]
Super Fat Erasure: 4 Ways Smaller Fat Bodies Crowd the Conversation
For most of my life, and especially since coming into a fat identity, I have usually been one of the fattest people if not the fattest person in any given room I enter. When I came into fat activism, I did it operating under the (false) assumption that my experience of fatness was the same—or at least similar, or perhaps comparable—as other fat people’s. The more my community … [Read more...]
Healing the Disconnect and Starting a Revolution: Eating Disorders and Disability
In honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, TBINAA will feature stories that explore eating disorders at the intersections of our identities, sharing stories about ED from the groups that are often absent from the discussion. We believe that there must be space to tell the story of EVERY body and we are grateful to those who have shared their stories with us, so that … [Read more...]
Who is the Body Positivity Movement Leaving Behind?
Over the past few weeks, Ashley Graham and Tess Holliday have been featured in many headlines. Ashley Graham is the first plus-sized model to be featured in an ad in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition. Tess Holliday, who is known for her viral #effyourbeautystandards campaign, is the first plus-sized model of her size to be signed to a major modeling agency. While both … [Read more...]
Battling Thin Privilege in Recovery
This article first appeared on Adios Barbie and is reprinted by permission. Editor’s note: This post discusses recovery from restrictive eating disorders in which weight gain is a necessary part of the recovery process. We recognize that not all eating disorders are restrictive and not all those with eating disorders are underweight. I hate it when people blame eating … [Read more...]
Ain’t We Femme?
This post is dedicated to all of the femmes! When I was a child, Easter was my favorite time of year. Every year, my mom always got me an Easter basket full of goodies. At church, we got to recite our Easter speeches in front of the whole congregation. And after the sermon, they would host an Easter egg hunt for the young folks. They even had a golden egg with money … [Read more...]
Unlearning How To Be Thin: Weight Is Not An Indicator of Health
I recently read a post in which a woman asked whether others had experienced the phenomenon of being healthy in a larger body, yet having people point out their weight in making negative diagnostic assumptions about their health. She explained that it’s a double edged sword of presumption: Not only do people claim she can’t be healthy at the size she is now, but that she was so … [Read more...]
What I’ve Learned About Myself And the Holidays, And Why I’m More Thankful
Like many people, I’m mid-journey. Not only am I working my way past hazards and potholes in my holiday season, but I'm also in the process of making my way fully to unconditional, unapologetic love for myself. Like a lot of people, I find that the holidays compound the dangers and detours that I feel I need to be watchful of. Over the last few years, I’ve become … [Read more...]
Yes, Even My FUPA Deserves Love
I have a confession: I HAVE A FUPA! You might be asking yourself, What on this earth is a FUPA? The Urban Dictionary defines a FUPA as a Fat Upper Pubic Area, but I fondly call mine Creation. I’ve had mine since before the term FUPA even came into existence — and, for a long time, I hated my Creation. I hated it because I always had a hard time buying clothes that would … [Read more...]
