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A big fat shame: the problems with criticising someone’s weight
https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2016/mar/11/big-fat-shame-obesity-media-biology-shaming
Figured I'd share this old article of mine, given the govt's new #obesity 'crackdown'
Then I re-read it, and you know what? I don't agree with it all. 2016 Dean sounds like an arsehole
/1
https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2016/mar/11/big-fat-shame-obesity-media-biology-shaming
Figured I'd share this old article of mine, given the govt's new #obesity 'crackdown'
Then I re-read it, and you know what? I don't agree with it all. 2016 Dean sounds like an arsehole
/1
For instance, there's this, early on
Reads like a reasonable statement on the surface, but completely ignores the incredibly complex relationship between weight and health, and the murky (and sometimes unscientific) way in which *over* weight is often defined
/2
Reads like a reasonable statement on the surface, but completely ignores the incredibly complex relationship between weight and health, and the murky (and sometimes unscientific) way in which *over* weight is often defined
/2
I could have explained or elaborated on this, but brevity was chosen over thoroughness.
But even if I did explain it, I put a credible-sounding paragraph about why being overweight is bad and unhealthy right at the start OF AN ARTICLE ON WHY FAT SHAMING IS BAD! Dick move
/3
But even if I did explain it, I put a credible-sounding paragraph about why being overweight is bad and unhealthy right at the start OF AN ARTICLE ON WHY FAT SHAMING IS BAD! Dick move
/3
Then there's this soon after
It's an attempt to explain why fat shaming happens, is so common, and feels 'allowed'
Problem is, I think I labour the point way too much, and could be said to actually 'justify' fat shaming, if you want to read it that way. And many would.
/4
It's an attempt to explain why fat shaming happens, is so common, and feels 'allowed'
Problem is, I think I labour the point way too much, and could be said to actually 'justify' fat shaming, if you want to read it that way. And many would.
/4
Yes, I undercut myself in the next line, but is that enough? Obviously I thought so at the time. Now? Not so much. Now it seems more like when someone says 'Only joking' after pushing something too far. More of a cop-out than a justification.
/5
/5
Then there's this line, which I really regret now. Yes, it's arguably inevitable that it's 'true'. That was no doubt my thinking. But... why include it? To what purpose? In an article condemning fat shaming, why essentially say "Although sometimes it's valid"?
/6
/6
After this, I feel it get's to the useful stuff, about how someone's weight is not a simple 'choice' or down to 'willpower', but is instead determined by a frighteningly complex array of factors, from genetic to socioeconomic. I still stand by that, at least
/7
/7
But then we get to one of my signature snark-ish endings, and there's this again
I'm basically mocking people who fat shame, but with the caveat "Being overweight is bad, though". In hindsight, I'm seriously hampering my own efforts. Why? So frustrating
/8
I'm basically mocking people who fat shame, but with the caveat "Being overweight is bad, though". In hindsight, I'm seriously hampering my own efforts. Why? So frustrating
/8
Looking back, I know what I was *trying* to do. I was trying to cover all bases, provide a balanced argument, and undercut any potential criticisms, before anyone could make them
But this time, I'd say I went too far, shot myself in the foot and did the critics' job for them
/9
But this time, I'd say I went too far, shot myself in the foot and did the critics' job for them
/9
For other, more neutral, issues, this would have been fine, or at least forgivable. But the whole point of this piece was to combat people being criticised and attacked for no reason. And yet I technically *included* justifications for such criticism. Self defeating, much?
/10
/10
Basically, what I did here was try to be 'balanced', or 'play devil's advocate', but ignored the fact that it's a subject that causes serious distress and harm. I've called people out for such behaviour many times, only right I call my past self out for it too, I'd say
/11
/11
Yes, there's plenty more anti-fat-shaming content in the piece than stuff which criticises being overweight. But much of the latter is right at the start of the article, and I definitely knew, even back then, that many people only read the first parts.
/12
/12
I always scoffed at this fact, arguing that if people wanted to criticise something I wrote without actually reading it all, then they were dumb and could be ignored
Only, it wasn't just me who would experience the consequences. Not this time, at least. That was wrong of me
/13
Only, it wasn't just me who would experience the consequences. Not this time, at least. That was wrong of me
/13
Also, I now can't help think of someone who'd been on the receiving end of fat shaming, who'd seen my article, been keen to read it, and and the first thing they're told by someone ostensibly defending them is "Being overweight is definitely bad, but..."
Who did I hurt?
/14
Who did I hurt?
/14
Sure, writing is a craft you hone over time, you improve with experience, and I've come on a great deal since then. But I wasn't some unknown blogger in a random corner of the web in 2016; I was a popular science writer for a major mainstream news site. That matters.
/15
/15
As it happens, I remember the stats for this article, and it did 'OK', nothing special. I can't got back and change it now, but by tweeting about it I'll probably reach as many people, if not more, given my current follower count
/16
/16
But it's important to me that I own this. I screwed up here, however unintentionally. I pride myself on never making the vulnerable feel worse via my writing (given how popular that is among so many in the media nowadays), but really dropped the ball there this time, I think
/17
/17
And also, I'm hardly the most svelte human myself, not even close. What gave me the right to wax lyrical in my personal media platform about who does and doesn't have an excuse to be overweight?
/18
/18
But that's just it, isn't it. I'm a married straight white male scientist with a media profile, who communes with the world largely via written words. My size isn't an issue, because nobody gives a damn what I weigh. I've never been fat shamed, not to my face at least.
/19
/19
But because of that, I felt fine about talking about fat-shaming as some abstract issue, an intellectual exercise to be tackled with logic and science. It's not. It's a real problem that makes many people's lives worse. By not appreciating that, I may have contributed to it
/20
/20
Can't really do much about that now, except flag it up and own my mistakes as best I can, while promising to work hard to never do that again. Because it's important for people like me to be mindful of such things
Do let me know immediately if I ever slip again
/end
Do let me know immediately if I ever slip again
/end
