Fat activists fight to change social, personal and medical perceptions of fat people. Much like the disabilities rights movement, fat activism works with the belief that the problem isn’t with the bodies of fat people but society’s views, lack of accommodation and prejudice against them. Fatness as well is often seen as an accessibility issue.
Currently, fat Canadians are still shamed and oppressed. Institutions have medicalized fatness, creating people’s bodies as disorders which indicate a lack of self-control. This has fostered myths and stereotypes about fat people: that they are lazy, poor workers, out of control and unintelligent.
To fight this stigma, fat activists have reclaimed the word fat (like “queer”) as a valid identity and a source of pride.
Resources
Allyson Mitchell of Pretty Porky and Pissed off
The Big Fat Blog
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