Let’s discuss thin privilege: a thread

First off, I want to make this point. Having a thin and/or “socially acceptable” body, does not mean your insecurities and perceptions of your body are invalid. That’s not what thin privilege is.

Thin privilege is where you are not oppressed or discriminated against for simply existing in the body you exist in.

Thin privilege is also where your body is deemed to be “socially acceptable” and again, this doesn’t erase thin people’s insecurities and perceptions of their own body

Discussing thin privilege should not just be put onto fat people to do so. I’m doing this tonight to try and generate conversation, to educate and to encourage thin people to actually acknowledge this.

Thin shaming happens, it is vile and not acceptable but it is not oppression. People often scream at me when I say that. There is a difference between oppression and insecurity. Let me break that down.

Fat people can and, frequently do, face medical oppressions, institutional oppressions and societal oppressions. Fat people are seen by society as “funny”, “lazy”, “disgusting”, “everything we should strive to NOT be”

As a fat person, I constantly fear when I’m out eating, someone is going to make a comment. I constantly fear that someone will shout abuse at myself and my partner because I’m larger than him.

As a fat person, I often don’t know where to begin to shop and I have privilege with that myself. There are people larger than me who will have a MUCH tougher time

As a fat person, I’ve been told to lose weight before any diagnosis occurred. It later turned out that weight gain and extreme difficulty with weight loss were two significant factors in my two separate, genetic, medical conditions

As a fat person, I am constantly told to lose weight. I’m often told I’m unloveable and I’m always told that my body is a reflection of my own failures. My body is none of your business, regardless of size.

Thin privilege is being able to walk down the street without having fatphobic abuse hurled at you

Thin privilege is not being told you’re an “obesity advocate” because you’ve done a self-love/body positive/body acceptance post

Thin privilege is being able to fit into public transport seats with no hassle whatsoever

Thin privilege is being able to walk into ANY clothing store and find your size and/or a range of your sizes, with no hassle at all.

Thin privilege is not having to justify why you look the way you do and why your body has “ended up” this way

TW: ED // body dysmoprhia //

When discussing thin privilege it is imperative to acknowledge body dysmorphia and ED’s. It is also imperative to acknowledge that thin privilege still exists with these conditions.

Thin privilege does not mean you haven’t experienced shaming for your body or that people haven’t made direct comments about your weight/appearance. It means your body doesn’t immediately have a prejudice against it

Thin privilege is not about your own perceptions, standards and views. Thin privilege is about societies perceptions, standards and views.

Society is where thin privilege stems from. Being thin is seen as the “norm” and any other body type outside of that “norm” is deemed as not acceptable.

Of course, we’re changing and becoming more open as a society but my goodness we’re not even halfway there yet. Fatphobia is still deep rooted into all of us, you’ve got to take action and unlearn it!

Remember it’s ok to accept and acknowledge that you have privilege. Yeah I’m fat and I face oppression from that but I’m also a middle class, white woman.

The biggest fuck you that you can give to society and the patriarchy is loving yourself, regardless of your size.

If anyone wants to add to this or share any thoughts please do! This is a safe space and if anyone has any questions, I’ll try my best to answer them!

Thank you for reading my thread

Also sidenote, I’ve explained this as best I can! There’s always more to be said and I’ve tried to put it all in simple, explainable terms !!!!

Another final note, this thread was written from my own perspective as a fat woman and from educating myself on fatphobia, thin privilege and societal views on body types over the years! There are people who have and will put it better than I do but I hope it does make sense

And something I haven’t considered before which I need to is - Many straight sized people are trans and/or disabled, when using certain phrasing surrounding thin privilege, I now know it’s imperative to rephrase “you’re not oppressed for existing in that body” to something else!