TO THE EDITOR:
Let me be clear: We need Embody Carolina’s mission. We need to talk about body positivity and self love.https://www.facebook.com/events/1500588213532602/
However, when Embody aims to “change the conversation,” they don’t practice what they preach. The way Embody Carolina addresses body image contributes to the fat phobia that dominates our national dialogue.
All too often we use “fat” as a bad word, a synonym for lazy or even ugly. When somene says, “I’m fat,” we immediately respond with horrified cries of, “No, you’re beautiful,” as if the two cannot exist simultaneously. Embody does the same with its “Forget the other ‘F’ word” and “You have fat; you are not fat” slogans.
While I understand that these slogans intend to urge people to define themselves beyond their size, the message still encourages people to shy away from the word “fat” and feed into its stigma. “Don’t worry, you’re not fat” dominates Embody Carolina’s advertising. https://www.facebook.com/events/1500588213532602/
Embody’s target audience appears to be nonfat people who believe they are overweight. But what about people who actually are fat and feel comfortable saying so?
“You are not fat” is an unproductive conversation. If Embody tells us that all bodies are beautiful, fat bodies are no exception. So let’s stop treating “fat” as the curse word it has become and treat it instead how it is: a part of the body and an adjective no different from tall, short, skinny or brown-haired. Let’s own it: fat is fat.
Mackenzie Kwok
Sophomore
