E017 | Straight Sized Allyship: 3 Ways To Start Advocating For Larger Bodies

Weight stigma has become a socially acceptable form of discrimination. People who seem to be horrified by other discriminatory stereotypes, behaviours and jokes, will still find humour in a fat joke, or openly pass judgement on someone's change in body size without considering for a moment that their fat friends and family can hear or see their comments.And I understand that many people, myself included, have spent a majority of their lives trying to control their body size so they don’t look like me. So the idea that someone in a larger body might not choose to pursue weight loss continues to baffle people.My body confuses them. It’s something they cannot empathise with, and choose not to understand. It’s a ‘work in progress’, a before photo, something to be feared. My body is paradoxical, they see me as ‘too much’ and ‘not enough’ at the same time. They simply see my body as a choice I’ve made, a choice they cannot understand, because, why would anyone choose to be fat?Folks in larger bodies are repeatedly told that when the world isn’t accommodating or kind, we are the problem and we should change. Just imagine a world the chose to listen, empathise and accept that we are all different, even our body sizes.Welcome to episode 17! I want to address our straight sized friends, folks who want to support the fat community and be better equipped to advocate for us and speak up in spaces where we are ignored. This episode is an important one for all of us, because many of these topics are things I had just accepted as ‘normal’, and believed it was the way I deserved to be treated.Pals, you can ask for, and expect more.In this episode:* Exploring the ways society discriminates against folks in larger bodies* Examples of every day weight stigma and anti fat narratives* Defining thin privilege and how to use it for advocacy* Practical ways to start supporting the fat community todayLinks Mentioned:* Daring Fat Instagram Account* Fat & Fucked* The Body Grievers Club* Maintenance Phase* The Satisfaction Factor* Fats On FilmChapters:00:00 Understanding Anti Fatness & Stigma03:36 1. Unpack Your Own Internalised Anti Fatness05:06 Examples of Discrimination in Public Spaces10:04 2. Diversify Your Feed And The Media You Consume12:30 3. Using Thin Privilege for Advocacy16:37 Practical Steps for Advocacy18:22 Exciting Plans for 2025🗓️ Next week…Bonus Minisode: Doing Business in a Bigger Body This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cultureofitallpod.substack.com/subscribe