Each morning I wake up and read various online news sources. This allows me to stay abreast of current events and find information relevant to the plus size community. Whenever I read a plus size fashion or lifestyle article on a traditionally international news source, I walk away in awe of the the comments directed towards plus size individuals. I know I have my opinions on various topics but to call people names because of their size or assume that they do nothing but sit around watching television while eating twinkies is probably the most absurd assumption that I’ve ever heard. While there is nothing wrong with eating twinkies, I don’t know one plus size woman or man who spends their days and nights sitting on their behind. These individuals who are intelligent enough to refresh their minds with news from CNN, LA Times and so many other reputable sources daily, aren’t intelligent enough to come up with anything else clever to say about plus size individuals.
Each day I look in the mirror and I see a beautiful, vibrant, fun and care free plus size woman. So calling me a fattie (in an effort to be hurtful) will never work on me, nor will it work on the women and men in the plus size community. We see more of our bodies than anyone else so we know exactly what we are working with. We see every single lump, twist, turn and curve and we love it.
My wish is for the people who make these cruel comments to open their minds and realize that everyone is not going to be the same, look the same or act the same but that does not make them less of a person. It would be a shame if their child grew up to be pleasantly plumped. Would they insult their own kid? I hope not.
Editor-In-Chief, Stephanie Penn-Danforth -- Daily Venus Diva.
Thank you for these beautiful, powerful words! You have strengthened my resolution to continue loving myself and being kind to myself instead of giving into the wave of discrimination and hatred toward fat people. Continue to preach the truth of our beauty to the rest of the world!
~ Layla
Yes they probably would be hurtful to their child chiding them to lose weight, eat right, stop being so lazy and then be embarrassed by their looks. Of course this would be in the child’s best interest because heaven forbid anyone should grow up looking different. I pity any child who is pleasantly plump with thin parents. These parents will never understand the hurtful comments and teasing their child goes through in school. Now not all thin parents are like this. I know several who love their plump children and are very supportive when they get picked on. Calling someone names is a show of ignorance and there certainly seems to be a lot of that going around.
Thank you, this is so very true! You never know how another person feels until you put yourself in their shoes and stop all the judging and hating. I know the power that name calling and bad words has had on my life and I refuse to allow this kind of ignorance and hate to continue without at least speaking up on it and backing up those who also take a stand. It is really such a shame that people spend their time saying such hurtful things about others without even knowing them. Some have developed “thick” skin to this and others are still healing, but no matter what I have realized that anyone or group that thinks they are so much better than anyone else that they have to put them down or call them names, needs to have their head examined! I choose to love myself and all those around me because I know we are fearfully and wonderfully made BUT those that don’t are just insecure and have not learned to love themselves first. It is true what they say, if you don’t love yourself, you can’t love anyone else.
Thank you for saying what I have felt for most of my life. I am a full figured girl, and I am proud of how I look. We are so driven by what others think and how we are treated, and it is just not fair.
Thank you for taking the time to speak for all of us!
Sherry