Why Use the Word Fat
| November 13, 2011 | Posted by Issa under Radical Self-Acceptance |
As I start to write about fat acceptance, one big question some people might have is, “Why use the word fat?” Shouldn’t it be called size acceptance or body acceptance or something like that? And instead of calling people fat, shouldn’t we say plus-sized, curvy, big-boned, heavy, or something like that?
First, some people do use other terms for their activism. “Size acceptance” is common. I prefer to stick with fat acceptance, so that my meaning is clear. Size acceptance could refer to accepting the sizes of all people. While many fat acceptance activists are very committed to addressing judgments of thin bodies, too, I like to keep the spotlight on fat people. “Body acceptance” could be about accepting all kinds of bodies, like disabled bodies, the bodies of elderly people, or any number of other ways to value the different bodies people come in. But again, if the main topic is specifically the bodies of fat people, I like to keep that focus at the forefront.
Now how about calling people fat? There are all kinds of other words that people like to use instead of fat: plus-sized, curvy, stout, heavy, shapely, big-boned, etc. These are mostly euphemisms, some of which are not even true for many fat people. Not all fat people are big-boned. If you’re short and fat, you might not even be that heavy. George Carlin said it pretty well:
I use the word “fat.” I use that word because that’s what people are: they’re fat. They’re not bulky; they’re not large, chunky, hefty or plump. And they’re not big-boned. Dinosaurs were big-boned. These people are not overweight: this term somehow implies there is some correct weight… There is no correct weight. Heavy is also a misleading term. An aircraft carrier is heavy; it’s not fat. Only people are fat, and that’s what fat people are! They’re fat!
Plus-sized is a retail term, which is enough reason for me to want to shy away from it! And some of the other euphemisms are down-right weird. I frequent an online forum where it’s popular to call yourself “fluffy”. Um, no.
We’re talking about people who have more fat tissue than other people, which involves a norm that can be different from place to place and time to time. We’re talking about fat. That’s just the right word, and there’s no need to shy away from it.
So what about words like overweight or obese? Those are specific words, but they are medically defined and not always the same as the visual judgments we make or the cultural categories that we push people into. When I post about the medical literature, I’ll use the words underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese a lot, since that’s the defined terms they use.
But as I go forward with posting on this topic, I’m also just going to say fat a lot. Fat acceptance starts with saying, “Yes, I’m fat.” I have brown hair, green eyes, a mole on my right cheek, and I’m fat. It’s just a word, and we all know what it physically indicates.
Well, we mostly know what it indicates. There are actually a lot more people in the fat club than realize it. Do this: take your weight in pounds, multiply that by 703, then divide by your height in inches squared (or just use an online BMI calculator). If the resulting number is 25 or greater, when you hear the words “obesity epidemic” they’re talking about you.
Think about the word fat. Roll it around in your mind, try it on for size, get used to it, and don’t be afraid to say fat, to be fat, if that’s what you are.
I write a Fat Acceptance blog and I am really enjoying your posts on FA so far!
FAT, FAT, FAT, FAT!!!!
: )
Awesome! I’ve been reading Fat Lot of Good for awhile now, so it’s awesome to hear from you here! :-)
I’ve always said fat when talking about myself since putting on all this weight. The only time I use the words obese/obesity is when I’m talking medical jargon as well. However, when I might be referring to someone else that may be considered a part of that population category, I tend not to use the word fat. I find that people are sensitive to the word. There are many times that people have tried to correct me or tell me not to talk that way about myself when using the word fat. Then I have to explain to them pretty much what you just wrote. And I’ve just recently heard someone correct me with the word fluffy! WTF?! Fluffy might be a dog’s name or what my towels are like after they come out of the dryer but I’m sure not a dog or a towel!!
Yeah the term ‘fluffy’ drives me to distraction. I hate it with a passion!
As an artist and fat person, my favorite euphemism is “Rubenesque”. :-)
I didn’t used to be fat. My metabolism came to a gradual slowdown-cum-stop in my late 20′s. What I have always had is my Mom’s bone structure: that of a bloody drafthorse. I am skeptical of BMI measurements because I am never sure if they are taking my linebacker skeleton into the equation.
I love everything you’re saying about this. People often bristle when I say “fat”. Um…okay. They bristle because they see it as a mean, ugly word. That’s a shame! “Skinny” has been used as a mean, ugly teasing word, but most people I know now see it as a compliment. They’re both just descriptive. I usually say the same things you do, when people respond verbally. “Yes, I’m fat. I also have brown hair. Should I feel insulted about that, too?” I’ll have to come up with another, because my hair is rarely brown now :P
I used to feel insulted when called fat and I didn’t used to think of myself that way. For me, that was about not BEING in my body. Once I acknowledged, “Hey, this is just how I look!” I could actually have a real dialogue with myself about what I liked and didn’t.
As someone in the healthcare field, we try to stay away from BMI as it is very inacurate because it does not take into account the amount of lean body mass (which is everything we are made up of which isn’t fat)a person has. i.e. 2 women both 5’6″ 175 lbs, but one may be muscular or have more bone density yet they both with have the same BMI and be classified as obese. We also try not to use the term overweight, we try to use over-fat because that is what we are talking about- the amount of fat or adipose tissue a person has. It is best to determine the actual percentage of your body weight that is fat tissue. (your dr can help you with this) One can be technically ‘over-weight’ but have a low body fat %. It is nice to see someone being matter of fact about this issue instead of sugar-coating it with terms like “fluffy”!