I love Ruby Tuesdays!

Tuesday nights are teleconference nights for Golda Peretsky’s series Body Love Revolutions. This past Tuesday her guest was Marilyn Wann, author of Fat! So?,creator of the Yay Scale,

Marilyn's YAY scale

and fat activist for over two decades.   For those who already knew of  Marilyn and her work, through her Zine and book it was a delightful opportunity to hear her “voice” her voice.  Marilyn has that rare combination of being articulate even in the most extemporaneous of circumstances.  She expresses her anger at size discrimination and her belief of size diversity for people of all sizes honestly, forcefully but with humor and patient tolerance.

A caller talked about the situation that many of us know all too well.

Teleconference Caller

The one where we let people know that we are “conscientious objectors” to the relentless patter of diet talk this, and I hate my body that, and when I lose weight then….

Marilyn Wann, Golda and the caller talked about ways to hold one’s line and maintain boundaries with people that don’t take you seriously when you say, ” I refuse to discuss this.”

But the idea of non violent guerrilla warfare tactics to spread the notion of size acceptance was one that I wished we could have devoted the entire teleconference to. (And I open the subject up to my blog readers to share their strategies of how they set the limits with their families and loved ones. ) These teleconferences have been wonderful to “attend.” The recent events in Egypt illustrate the power of people uniting, non-violently but with forceful solidarity for the purpose of making change and promoting freedom and human rights.  The idea that fat people are still targets of derision, disdain and discrimination (the three D’s) seems antiquated to me.  Why are we still doing this? Few people are saying they are concerned about a fat person’s health, they are saying they are angry at the greediness and gluttony that fat people represent. They are angry at the notion that fat people cost the society more money for medical care. They are dismissive by repeatedly saying that fat people could be different if they weren’t so weak and would just eat less.  I always welcome debate on these issues, but what I don’t welcome is the judgment and vitriolic attitudes that are directed towards another human being.

Marilyn and Golda provided an opportunity for people to ask questions about some of these concerns in a safe and supportive but NOT defensive milieu.  My wish is that people that are not already a part of the “movement” will join us to listen to these teleconferences.  Perhaps they will expand their awareness that as Marilyn Wann’s says, “I hold on to HAES(sm) principles *especially* tenaciously when I imagine very thin or very fat people. I imagine that people at so-called extreme ends of the weight spectrum have certainly heard all of the usual weight-based admonishments and have certainly experienced more than enough pressure to change their bodies.  So, especially for people who are very fat — the people whose example is used…cruelly…to inspire fat-fear in everyone else — and who have doubtless gone around the mulberry bush of weight-loss goals any number of times…for such people I imagine that a weight-neutral, approach might be extra life-saving and beneficial.  In my view, the people who get used as fat bogeyman examples in arguments opposing a HAES (sm) approach should instead be examples of the profound damage of weight-based health judgments, weight-loss goals and the intense social isolation that accompanies fat hate.”

I agree completely with Marilyn’s stance and I applaud Golda for providing spokespeople like Marilyn for an opportunity to share their knowledge with us.

Golda's Phone

The next Free Teleconference is this Tuesday, sign up at: http://www.bodyloverevolution.com

I am not getting anything in return for promoting Golda’s teleconferences, they are really Just That Great!