I recently took a job in another country where I live and eat meals on the premises (it’s almost like a college campus). I’m not happy with the job and I’m very homesick and depressed. I was talking to my father and stepmother and they asked me how the food was and I told them it was awful and that I’m hungry all of the time. Then I told them that after only a month living here, my pants are already really loose because either the food is too bad and I don’t eat, or it upsets my stomach and I get diarrhea. My dad enthusiastically said, “Well that’s a big benefit to the job!” My stepmother then chimed in and said, “We’ll hardly recognize you when you come home for the holidays!”

Thin privilege is telling your family that you’re barely eating because you’re homesick and unhappy and being told it’s something good that’s coming out of the situation.

Thin privilege is not being told “We’ll hardly recognize you,” like it is a good thing.