An article floated around a few weeks ago about fat rep vs. fat acceptance. I didn't have the spoons at the time to talk about at least two things that *really* stuck in my craw.

Weeks later, there they are, still in my damn craw.

So first of all...

Were it an article about the lack of fat rep in regards to heroes, I would sit here and consider shutting the fuck up is free.

I AGREE.

There are not enough fat heroes in romance. I want them husky. I want that girth. I want that soft. Or fuck, firm.

If you've known me longer than five minutes you know I've dated nothing but athletes. So there isn't a thin man, much less a lean man in my dating past.

A bitch got a type.

But the thing that stuck in my craw is the article focused on fat heroines.

The article made a point to say why don't fat heroines date fat heroes?

For me, a fat woman--a fat Black woman, this is a different argument. Or rather, becomes one.

It becomes an onus. One that isn't being demanded when the heroine is thin or willowy or even just curvy.

Fat heroines only ever get hot, so many muscles he stretches henley shirts.

Somehow, this is the moment, reality breaks.

Not when since the inception of romance thin heroines have banged heroes who have so many muscles they can barely contain them in their waistcoats.

Nope. Fat heroines.

Somehow the very existence of a fat woman means we must then question why not fat heroes too?

It's got me feeling some kind of way.

It's got me feeling that same kind of onus that I must write about social issues bc my heroine is Black.

Not on the same level but it's the same familiar ONUS of I can't have a reality like other people or a fantasy like others bc of my marginalization.

The moment I do, there are questions.

Maybe that wasn't the intent. Maybe it simply was since we're talking about fat rep, where are the men?

But that's not how it came across to me. That's definitely not how I saw a few folks take it either.

NOPE. Some folks def were well, yeah!!!

Fatphobia comes in many forms. Being fat does not somehow shield you from being fatphobic. Or offering takes that are not fully unpacked.

And hot guy danger... I have a small eye twitch. Give me a moment.

Somehow the heroine will be safe from ridicule for being fat if the guy she dates is not hot.

Lizzo was just fucking existing, standing nowhere near a man...

*deep breathe*

A fat heroine dating a fat hero won't somehow shield her from jealously or ridicule. Her very existence is all anyone fucking needs.

Her HAPPY, un-fucking-bothered existence is a got damn bat signal to shit--not rain--on her parade.

But...

Anyway...

Got that off my chest and out my craw.

Unpack your fatphobia, please.

If you found this thread interesting, you can buy me a ko-fi: http://ko-fi.com/melissab