It’s “Say Something Sunday,” a day dedicated, at least on this blog, to personal Size Diversity activism. I’ve got some suggestions below and/or of course you can do your own thing and feel free to leave a comment about it. If you have ideas of things to do for Say Something Sunday I’d also love for you to share those.
I did the math and if everyone who views the blog each week did one piece of Size Diversity Activism a week, it would add up to over 1.5 million body positive messages put out into the world this year. Multiply that times the number of people who might see each of those messages and things start to increase exponentially. To be very clear, nobody is obligated to do activism so if this doesn’t appeal to you that’s totally cool, I’ll be back tomorrow with your regularly scheduled blog post!
The theme this week is politics. As various politicians are announcing their bid for the Presidency here in the US, Facebook memes are being created and discussions are being had. Unfortunately, a number of these memes and discussions attack candidates for the way they look rather than for their politics. So this week I suggest that if you see a politician being attacked for their appearance (for example, if that politician is fat and people are suggesting that based on that you can tell something other than – as the brilliant Marilyn Wann says- 1. what size their body is and 2. your personal prejudices and preconceived notions about their body size, or if people are suggesting that the candidate is not attractive enough to be President) you speak up. You can say how disappointed you are that people are focusing on appearances rather than the person’s actual qualifications. You can say that you hate the person’s politics but that doesn’t excuse fat bashing or appearance-based bullying. You can say something on Facebook, on Twitter, in conversations with family and friends. You can say something.
If you want to do more of this kind of thing, consider joining the Rolls Not Trolls group on Facebook, it’s a group created for the specific purpose of putting body positive things in body negative spaces on the internet and supporting each other while we do that. It’s a secret group so if you want to join just message me on facebook (I’m Ragen Chastain on FB – I know, super creative!)
Have a great Say Something Sunday!
Like this blog? Here’s more cool stuff:
Like my work? Want to help me keep doing it? Become a Member! For ten bucks a month you can support size diversity activism, help keep the blog ad free, and get deals from size positive businesses as a thank you. Click here for details
Buy the book: Fat: The Owner’s Manual The E-Book is Name Your Own Price! Click here for details
Book Me! I’d love to speak to your organization. You can get more information on topics, previous engagements and reviews here or just e-mail me at ragen at danceswithfat dot org!
Dance Classes: Buy the Dance Class DVDs or download individual classes – Every Body Dance Now! Click here for details
I’m training for an IRONMAN! You can follow my journey at www.IronFat.com
A movie about my time as a dancer is in active development (casting, finding investors etc.). Follow the progress on Facebook!
If you are uncomfortable with my offering things for sale on this site, you are invited to check out this post.
Dances With Fat 
Yeah, I’ve gone on several fora over the past couple years and told people that hating on Chris Christie for his weight just makes people look petty. Hate on him for his politics all you like. Hell, I’ll be happy to join in on that! But that has nothing to do with his weight. Fat or thin, I’m going to disagree with him.
And now that Hillary Clinton has officially joined the presidential race we’ve known all along she would run, I’ll be delighted to jump all over the butt of anyone who makes cracks about ‘cankles’ and dowdy pant suits rather than attempting to discuss what flaws they find in her political stances and record.
I don’t care where on the political spectrum a candidate lies, nor whether I personally support or wet my pants in terror at their candidacy: if it isn’t about their record, if it isn’t about their philosophy of leadership, if it isn’t about their personal integrity, then I don’t need to hear about it as political commentary.
Exactly!
TW: internalized size stigma
The other day I was at the diner with some classmates and they all started talking about how they’re “cheating” on their diets. I just kind of stayed silent because I was the fattest person there (by a long shot) and I didn’t want them to associate my size with not dieting.
I wanted to Say Something about practicing Health At Every Size and that diets don’t work long-term, but so far my attempts to do that kind of thing have not gone well. Any suggestions?
I also speak up when people make gender-policing remarks about a public figure instead of stating what the person *did* that was so terrible.