The media blatantly and unapologetically presents a very skewed image of health and beauty. The average model is almost 6 feet tall and has a BMI of 17% or less. According to health and wellness guidelines a person of that body composition is underweight to severely underweight, and yet in our society we are bombarded with messages that tell us this anorexic “ideal” is what happy and successful people look like. The media certainly influences body image and how it shapes us as individuals; peer influence, family expectations and ethnocultural norms also have significant impact on how we see ourselves.
I am a formerly obese person. I have been on a journey to improved health for sometime now. Losing over 100 pounds has transformed my life in many ways, I’m healthier, I have more stamina and I more actively engaged in my life. All of these things are wonderful! I have noticed something else though, something that is really pissing me off! As my weight loss progressed, somewhere along the line my cloaking device disengaged. Imagine my surprise as I approach the entrance to Starbucks recently, and the door was opened for me. I should be thrilled right? I’m not thrilled. I’m totally pissed! Why is it, that now I am deserving of positive regard and common courtesy, when before my weight loss… for the most part, I was not?
Many people of size go through life unnoticed. Imagine the pain of being on a bus, or in line at the grocery store and having people either avert their eyes, look at you with disdain, or worse take no notice of you whatsoever. Being treated with disrespect is inappropriate and painful, but disregard is worse. Disrespect is a form of acknowledgement, albeit negative. Disregard however is more damaging as it communicates that a person is not worthy of notice or acknowledgement of any kind. There is this perception that people of size are lazy, self-indulgent, and completely lacking in motivation. What is worse is that people of size are routinely blamed for their weight-related challenges, regardless of their struggles to overcome them.
It’s not just a case of doors being opened; I no longer have experiences like this one: Several years ago a friend and I were shopping for a bridal shower gift for a mutual friend. As we entered the lingerie store and had just begun to browse the merchandise a sales girl approached us. Instead of the usual “may I help you” she greeted us with “oh, we don’t have anything in YOUR size here, you might want to go shop at the big girl store!” The sales girl stood with her arms folded and looked at us with clear disgust. It was also clear that she wanted us to leave. We were making her uncomfortable. We let her know how we felt about her customer service skills in no uncertain terms, and left the store. People of size have experiences like this on a daily basis. Airline seats, turnstiles, and restaurant seating present real challenges for people whose body conformation exceeds the allotted space. Dealing with the accumulated pain of such encounters can cause a person to gradually disengage from the world.
Although I have been on this journey toward improved health, I want to be quite clear that I do not feel that all people of size must transform themselves as I have. My choice was just that… mine. I made my choice for my own specific reasons, not so I could suddenly be regarded as worthy in the eyes of my fellow human beings.
As a society we need to challenge our perceptions of people of size. It starts by examining our own biases. Ask yourself “do I make weight based assumptions regarding a person’s character, intelligence, professional success, or health?” We need to identify and confront our own biases, develop empathy, and work to address the needs and concerns of people of size.
Small changes can have such a great impact. Look for changes that you can make. Do you own a business? Create an open and welcoming environment with large, armless chairs in waiting rooms and common areas, which accommodate a variety of body sizes. These friendly furnishings are also very handy for a person with an infant in a carrier or a person with mobility limitations. Make a point, to interact with all kinds of people, push your current boundaries.
I am a formerly obese person. I have been on a journey to improved health for sometime now. Losing over 100 pounds has transformed my life in many ways, I’m healthier, I have more stamina and I more actively engaged in my life. All of these things are wonderful! I have noticed something else though, something that is really pissing me off! As my weight loss progressed, somewhere along the line my cloaking device disengaged. Imagine my surprise as I approach the entrance to Starbucks recently, and the door was opened for me. I should be thrilled right? I’m not thrilled. I’m totally pissed! Why is it, that now I am deserving of positive regard and common courtesy, when before my weight loss… for the most part, I was not?
Many people of size go through life unnoticed. Imagine the pain of being on a bus, or in line at the grocery store and having people either avert their eyes, look at you with disdain, or worse take no notice of you whatsoever. Being treated with disrespect is inappropriate and painful, but disregard is worse. Disrespect is a form of acknowledgement, albeit negative. Disregard however is more damaging as it communicates that a person is not worthy of notice or acknowledgement of any kind. There is this perception that people of size are lazy, self-indulgent, and completely lacking in motivation. What is worse is that people of size are routinely blamed for their weight-related challenges, regardless of their struggles to overcome them.
It’s not just a case of doors being opened; I no longer have experiences like this one: Several years ago a friend and I were shopping for a bridal shower gift for a mutual friend. As we entered the lingerie store and had just begun to browse the merchandise a sales girl approached us. Instead of the usual “may I help you” she greeted us with “oh, we don’t have anything in YOUR size here, you might want to go shop at the big girl store!” The sales girl stood with her arms folded and looked at us with clear disgust. It was also clear that she wanted us to leave. We were making her uncomfortable. We let her know how we felt about her customer service skills in no uncertain terms, and left the store. People of size have experiences like this on a daily basis. Airline seats, turnstiles, and restaurant seating present real challenges for people whose body conformation exceeds the allotted space. Dealing with the accumulated pain of such encounters can cause a person to gradually disengage from the world.
Although I have been on this journey toward improved health, I want to be quite clear that I do not feel that all people of size must transform themselves as I have. My choice was just that… mine. I made my choice for my own specific reasons, not so I could suddenly be regarded as worthy in the eyes of my fellow human beings.
As a society we need to challenge our perceptions of people of size. It starts by examining our own biases. Ask yourself “do I make weight based assumptions regarding a person’s character, intelligence, professional success, or health?” We need to identify and confront our own biases, develop empathy, and work to address the needs and concerns of people of size.
Small changes can have such a great impact. Look for changes that you can make. Do you own a business? Create an open and welcoming environment with large, armless chairs in waiting rooms and common areas, which accommodate a variety of body sizes. These friendly furnishings are also very handy for a person with an infant in a carrier or a person with mobility limitations. Make a point, to interact with all kinds of people, push your current boundaries.
I want the world to treat me as a person first. I am a person with gifts to share and contributions to make, a person with hopes and dreams, a person of worth. As a person of size, I wanted that too… just to be perceived as a human being, who contributes to our collective earthly experience and who is deserving of positive regard and common courtesy. Doesn’t seem too much to ask.
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