"Mirror mirror on the wall..."

Summer has officially begun in Finland: it is hot! I wanted to take advantage of the lazy day by reading a girly magazine while sitting down by the sunny riverside. But boy oh boy, what did I see...again.

The superiority of skinny – everywhere.

Let me explain: Some weeks ago we had to write a self-reflective essay for a course I took. At the time I experienced some sort of a revelation, and since we all need to look in the mirror from time to time, I want to share my thoughts.

Think about skinny. It is so present in our daily lives that we don't even realize it. At home we learn the “correct” way to eat. In schools the healthy lifestyle is repeated over and over. At job interviews the skinny overcomes the fat, even if the fat would be more compatible. It is because, when you are “normal” (=skinny), you live longer and feel better.

The underlying message, however, is: you get more job opportunities, have more friends and increase your odds for finding a companion, because fat people do not find love. Except with other fat people.

TV, magazines and movies repeat the same old story: behind every success is a slim waist. God mercy if you are a fat woman! Not only are you an unfeminine pile of grease but most likely you are also stupid.

Everyday images and messages scream: FIGHT THE FAT! If you don't fit into the narrow category of the “normal” weight range (between 18 and 24 BMI) you are labelled as abnormal. And how does this relate to me, skinny, athletic girl? 

Body and health have always been a major part of my life through my sportive hobbies. Lately, however, I've become painfully aware of my privileged “normal” body. It is embarrassing to admit, but I am relieved to be skinny. I am relieved because my immediate appearance does not define me as a person. 

But I am not this superficial, am I? Would I be like this if I would have not been in sports school since I was nine, or learned that hamburgers are bad for me?

In our societies, fat people are not allowed to enjoy sports, partying, fashionable clothes, feeling sexual, falling in love, having great jobs or indulging themselves. It is not acceptable, because they are considered as lazy, greedy, stupid, ugly and not in control of themselves. They are outside the norm.

I mean, I have never had to explain to someone why I eat chocolate. Nor have I ever had to pay extra on a plane for taking more than one seat to fit in. No doctor has advised me to loose weight because I do not fit into the recommended category.

What about all the anti-fat campaigns, you may ask? 

They are all created by skinny people. All these “(Woman) embrace your curves!” –magazines are just another form of superiority. “Curves” are not liberated they are squeezed into the accepted hourglass shape or hidden with vertical stripes and dark fabrics.

Fat is not flourishing out there because it makes us unease. And no matter how much I want to change that I cannot. Not before there is a thorough reconstruction of our societies. 

Fat needs to be forgotten and at the same time it needs to be acknowledged.