I know what you’re thinking: “Bold title choice, Em.”
But here’s the thing. Why is “fat” a bold word?
As humans, we casually stray away from using words like “fat” to describe what someone actually is. Being afraid of the word only deepens the stigma that surrounds it– that fat is bad.
When one of your girlfriends is getting ready in your bathroom and you hear her say, “This skirt makes me look fat” and you respond with, “No it doesn’t! You’re not fat,” you are only contributing to the notion that fat is bad and we should be afraid of it.
Why are we afraid of being fat?
Women grow up in this world surrounded by media that idolizes thin bodies over fat ones. It’s the institutional shaming of anyone with fat on their body. It’s a learned fear.
In a world where more than half of the population is considered overweight, where is the “real body” representation?
It’s important that we take steps to unlearn the fear of living in a fat body. For some of us, it’s as simple as changing the dynamic of the bodies you choose to see everyday, especially on social media. Creating body diversity on your timeline will help you realize that there are far more people that look and feel like you than you could have every imagined.
I’m gonna get real with you here– fat is inevitable. Just like peanut butter is meant to be with jelly, bodies are meant to have fat on them. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s our reality, and the sooner we learn to deal with being fat, the more free we will feel long term.
In all aspects of my life, I approach my fatness as it is. It’s fat. It exists on my body. There isn’t anything wrong with it. It’s not good or bad or ugly or right or wrong. It’s like being a size eight shoe. It just is.
One of the most empowering things I have been able to do in this fat body is be the role model for young women that I wish someone would have been for me. Saving a young girl from the years of never-good-enoughs is all I need to feel okay with being fat.
Be that role model for that young woman who needs to see what a real body looks like. Be that fat body that you needed to see to feel more at home in yours. I promise, it’s worth it.
Author: Em Underation
Email: [email protected]
Author Bio: Em Underation is a Cleveland transplant living in Columbus, Ohio. She is a dog mom, coffee drinker and taco enthusiast. She runs a body positivity blog and podcast called “Sincerely, Em” in which she talks about issues like being fat in our society and mental health as a woman. She is also working on her health coaching certificate and is excited about accepting clients in the future!
Link to social media or website: Instagram @emunderation | Twitter @emunderation
