Fat Chicks Rule

We aren’t lazy, mean, super-shy, or crazy.

A new study from Michigan State University has said fat people aren't the stereotypes we are portrayed as. We aren’t lazy, mean, super-shy, or crazy. The study also concludes that something must be done about weight based discrimination. This is why we need laws like the ones in Michigan, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Washington DC and hopefully Massachusetts.

When you go to an interview you shouldn't judged on untrue stereotype. This should also be the same when applying for health insurance, when you visit the doctor, or buy clothes. Fat people are either denied or charged high premiums solely due to their weight regardless of their health.

People either believe that size discrimination doesn’t exist or that fat people could avoid discrimination if they just lost weight except for the fact that there was never a problem in the first place. It’s a Catch-22. You aren’t the stereotype you are made out to be but in order not to be discriminated against you must avoid being the stereotype. I really am sick of having to be doubly better than a thin person to prove I’m on the same par as them.

Fit to be square Part Deux

First off, I’m going to be selling and signing my book at Philly Bash If you want to buy a copy, it’s $10 and that includes a personalized autograph and a kiss. If you already bought the book, bring it so I can sign it.  I will be there on Saturday July 26th from 9ish to 1.  This may well be there last time I sell books directly. 

Nearly two months ago I bashed the new Wii Fit  as “...they don't care if you lose weight, gain weight, end up with an eating disorder or it ends up sitting in your closet, as long as they have your money,” and expects were saying how wonderful it will be to “combat the great childhood obesity epidemic”.  Well some of the experts now are saying the Wii Fit is telling children they are fat when they aren’t and that might lead to eating disorders.  You think?

Could this have something to do with Japan’s crazy new anti-obesity law?

Meanwhile I suggest saving your money on the Wii Fit and instead actually doing the activities that Wii Fit offers.  I would never use any program that encourages weight loss as a primary means of proving health. 

Wall-e

So I saw Wall-e. Thankfully I didn't pay for it. Originally I was going to wait until it came out on DVD and get it through Netflix, but then I read this article which criticized my fellow fat blogger Rachel from the F-word about not seeing the movie. Except her post was from November before the movie even came out.  I also blogged about it in November but mostly about the linking of obesity with overconsumption. I was hoping that Wall-e wouldn't carry an anti-fat message as I've liked Pixar's movies in the past.

So my review.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but there were still some problems I had with it.

Bad points: Fat people seem stupid, vapid, always eating, not moving and most importantly misguided by the robots which have a directive that humans can never go back to earth because it is uninhabitable.  They are seen as people who never buck the system and don't ever control their own destinies not until Wall-e arrives to shake things up.  I still find it hard to believe that nothing has ever broken down in 700 years that requires human intervention.  

Good points: I might be just reading into this, but the original crew and passengers of the ship are thin as well as the president and CEO of Earth. Indicating that thin people "destroyed" the planet (Although I think it's kind of arrogant to assume human beings have so much power, I am an environmentalist but I do agree with George Carlin that "The planet is fine. The people are fucked" the planet is older and bigger than we are) and it is the fat people who are tired of living so easy and want to return to the earth regardless of it's condition.  Also Kathy Najimy voices a fat character so  a fat actress plays a fat character for a change.

Is it the worst movie involving fat characters that I've seen? No.  Is it positive? Not really.

Another edition of cool fat chicks in the News

Unfortunately due to a technical glitch, my entire blog post about obesity stigma is gone. (Ready to kill computer and typepad).

So instead I offer you stories of cool fat chicks in the news.  I will try to reconstruct my stigma post and send it off this week.  I'm been tempted lately to update my blog more frequently so I guess this is a good enough reason.

Rachel over at the F-Word talks to the delightful romance author Pat Ballard.  For those unfamilar with Pat's works.  Her heroines are almost always fat (and not a token size 16 either!) Rachel has also added a message board to her blog.

The lovely and fabulous Beth Ditto to be face of fashion chain Evans.  It's a cool article but a terrible picture of Beth (but at least she has a head!)

While not an actual size acceptance story, this touching article is about a woman (who just happens to be plus size) who finds solace in quilting while her husband is in Iraq.