GRSJ224/Fat Shaming and Skinny Shaming

From UBC Wiki

Introduction

Since the 2004, Dove (Beauty product producer) has questioned the definition of beauty to allow women to be comfortable in their own skin; beginning with their "Campaign for Real Beauty" [1]. Dove aimed to fight those that were responsible for photoshopping pictures of models, which alters what is socially accepted as beautiful. [2] . This campaign has started a heavy discussion of what kinds of bodies are accepted, and once again falling back into the division social binaries. Throughout the last decade the discussion of body types and acceptance has also translated into many different subcategories and genres other than self acceptance, including the discussion of health.

Fat Shaming

See: Fat Acceptance Movement

The term "Fat Shaming" is a term that can blame the victim, and offer the victim support. As defined in the popular slang dictionary Urban Dictionary [3], fat shaming is “the act of poking fun [at] someone for being overweight, or telling someone they are worthless, useless, lazy, or disgusting because they are overweight.” [4]. On the same page, another definition also exists: " term made by obese people to avoid the responsibility to actually take proper care of their body and instead victimize themselves by pretending they're discriminated like an ethnic group"[4].

The general stigma around "Fat Shaming" usually revolves around the person in question's inability to exercise or practice a proper and balanced diet which results in the appearance of extra body mass. Anyone that deviates from the ideal supermodel fit body type will be susceptible to "Fat Shaming". For example, internet fitness instructor Cassey Ho of Blogilates [5] recently experienced Cyber Bullying and "Fat Shaming" for the promotion of her new book. In which after posting pictures of the new publications, online fans were quick to judge Cassey Ho for the lack of a "6-pack" [6], "thigh gaps"[7], a larger buttox, and many other types of physical attributes. She address these problems in her YouTube video titled "What I think about Fat Shaming & Body Image Disorders". Cassey's next video project titled "The "Perfect" Body" shows the negative comments that were posted against her body, claiming that her body shape and size displays insufficient credit to be titled as a fitness instructor.

Fat Shaming and Media

There is a new fat shaming campaign called Project Harpoon which uses hagtags such as "thinner beauty" and using Photoshop and Instagram. The trend takes real photos of plus-sized women and men and digitally edits them so they look thinner. All this without the consent of the people in the photos. The images are cropped side by side and captions are added such as "beautiful" and "not beautiful" - emphasizing that a thin body is the only type of body that looks beautiful. On their Instagram biography they said: "We believe thinner bodies are the best type. Fat acceptance should never be acceptable in today's society.”[8]

In addition, recently a youtuber from Canada posted a video rant to YouTube titled "Dear Fat People." that has been a subject of fat shaming controversy. In the video she said “Fat shaming is not a thing. Fat people made that up – that’s the race card with no race,” and “If we offend you so much that you lose weight, I’m OK with that. You are killing yourself.”

Weight and Health

While many different projects are trying to promote the acceptance of self acceptance, and trying to change the way the media controls our view of a beauty. Many people are focused on the body and health dimension of this issue. Ultimately, research has shown that fat shaming does not encourage weight loss at all [9]

Supersize vs. Superskinny

A British television program [10] [11] that aims to compare the daily food intake of those that are "Supersize" and "Superskinny". "Supersize vs Superskinny, the magazine show that highlights Britain's dysfunctional relationship with food, returns for a new series. Dr Christian Jessen and Anna Richardson front the programme that tackles the dangerous effects of extreme dieting, morbid obesity and eating disorders."[10]

Negative Effect of Body Shaming

Research shows that fat shaming harms people, both psychologically and physically. People who are discriminated against due to weight are at higher risk of depression and other mental issues. In one study of 6,157 people, non-obese participants who experienced weight discrimination were 2.5 times more likely to become obese over the next few years. Additionally, obese people who experienced weight discrimination were 3.2 times as likely to remain obese over the next few years. [12]One study found that those who had experienced weight discrimination were 2.7 times as likely to become depressed. [13]As a consequence, in a study of 2,436 people, extreme obesity was associated with 21 times greater risk of suicidal behavior and 12 times greater risk of suicide attempts.[14] In addition, fat shaming is linked to an increased risk of eating disorders, such as binge eating disorder. Moreover, fat shaming is linked to reduced self-esteem and by causing stress, weight gain, increased cortisol levels and mental problems, weight discrimination may raise the risk of all sorts of chronic diseases. [15]

Skinny Shaming in Songs

In the song “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor, the lyrics demonstrate skinny shaming. The first verse of the song starts with “Yeah it’s pretty clear/I ain’t no size two…But I can shake it, shake it/Like I’m supposed to do…I got that boom boom that all the boys chase/All the right junk/In all the right places.” which is similar to the skinny shaming ads “Real Women Have Curves,” that said skinny women without curves are unwomanly, undesirable and unattractive. Adding to this: "I'm bringing booty back / Go ahead and tell them skinny bitches that / No I'm just playing. I know you think you're fat." or “You know I won’t be no stick figure silicone figure Barbie Doll.” The music video also shows thin models being ostracized by men, who call them “skinny bitches” and push them aside, showing complete disgrace to girls who are thin. The song repeatedly shames skinny girls with derogatory names and insults.

In the song called "Anaconda" by Nicki Minaj the lyric demonstrate skinny shaming - "Where my fat ass big bitches in the club? / Fuck the skinny bitches / Fuck the skinny bitches in the club / I wanna see all the big fat ass bitches in the mother fucking club, fuck you if you skinny bitches." This song have been criticized for promoting skinny bashing and using the word "bitches" when referring to skinny women and skinny girls who have small breast will having trouble finding men who find them sexually appealing.

Other Related Projects

There are also many different projects and movements that aim to promote positive body image and the acceptance of all body shapes and sizes.

Fat Acceptance Movement

The fat acceptance movement was pioneered by fat activists from the 20th and 21st centuries seeking to challenge the dominant model, or the bio-medical model of obesity. The movement has several goals, including the abolishment of fat shaming, sizeism, medicalization of obesity, and all of the stigma surrounding it. As one of the fastest growing demographics in the world, the movement has gained considerable traction in recent years and new research on topics such as Health At Every Size (HAES) have become more popular. The movement has received a lot of criticism in recent years, stating that it is reckless to encourage or enable these types of behaviours. [16]

A Beautiful Body Project

The A Beautiful Body Project was created by Jade Beall (mother & photographer) to celebrate the different changes that occur post-pregnancy. Jade's website is a platform for all women to share their stories and allow others to gain self-esteem about the wrinkles and bumps.

"The project will be a collaboration of my photographs and the women's written stories, narrative or poems about their personal struggle and finding freedom from feeling too fat, too skinny, too dark skinned, too pale, too old, too saggy breasted, too wrinkly, too pimpley, too short, or whatever whatever other story inhibits us from completely loving ourselves - just as we are." - Jade Beall [17]

References

  1. ↑ The Dove® Campaign for Real Beauty. (2014, September 20). Retrieved February 22nd, 2015, from http://www.dove.us/Social-Mission/campaign-for-real-beauty.aspx
  2. ↑ Dove: Thought Before Action. (2013, March 3). Retrieved February 22nd, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0JF4QxPpvM
  3. ↑ Urban Dictionary. Retrieved February 22nd, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Dictionary
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Urban Dictionary: Fat Shaming. Retrieved February 22nd, 2015, from http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Fat+shaming&utm_source=search-action
  5. ↑ Blogilates. Retrieved April 11th, 2015, From http://www.blogilates.com/
  6. ↑ Rectus abdominis muscle Retrieved April 11th, 2015, From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectus_abdominis_muscle
  7. ↑ Thigh gaps. Retrieved March 3rd, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thigh_gap
  8. ↑ Revay, V. (2015, August 21). Fat-shaming campaign '#ThinnerBeauty' Photoshops women to look thinner. Retrieved November 18, 2015, from http://www.torontosun.com/2015/08/21/fat-shaming-campaign-thinnerbeauty-photoshops-women-to-look-thinner
  9. ↑ "'Fat shaming' doesn't encourage weight loss." Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week 27 Sept. 2014: 226. Health Reference Center Academic. Web. Retrieved Dec. 1st 2015.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Supersize vs. Superskinny. Retrieved February 22nd, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/user/SupersizeTVi/featured
  11. ↑ Supersize vs. Super Skinny. Retrieved February 22nd, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersize_vs_Superskinny
  12. ↑ Sutin, A. R., & Terracciano, A. (2013). Perceived weight discrimination and obesity. PloS One, 8(7), e70048. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070048
  13. ↑ Hatzenbuehler, M. L., Keyes, K. M., & Hasin, D. S. (2009). Associations between perceived weight discrimination and the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the general population. Obesity, 17(11), 2033-2039. doi:10.1038/oby.2009.131
  14. ↑ Wagner, B., Klinitzke, G., Brähler, E., & Kersting, A. (2013). extreme obesity is associated with suicidal behavior and suicide attempts in adults: Results of a population‐based representative sample. Depression and Anxiety, 30(10), 975-981. doi:10.1002/da.22105
  15. ↑ Puhl, R. M., & Heuer, C. A. (2010). Obesity stigma: Important considerations for public health. American Journal of Public Health, 100(6), 1019-1028. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2009.159491
  16. ↑ Cooper, C. (2008). What's Fat Activism? University of Limerick Department of Sociology Working Paper Series. Retrieved December 2, 2015, from http://www3.ul.ie/sociology/docstore/workingpapers/wp2008-02.pdf
  17. ↑ A Beautiful Body Book Project 2013. (2013, July 3rd). Retrieved February 22nd, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJbmRN_YFi0
Retrieved from "https://wiki.ubc.ca/index.php?title=GRSJ224/Fat_Shaming_and_Skinny_Shaming&oldid=386462"