Thin privilege is having your body type exempt from the “funny” section of birthday cards because your body is considered socially desirable.

When I went to Target yesterday to buy my boyfriend a birthday card, I saw a good amount of cards with pictures of fat people in the “funny” section. One card was a picture of a fat woman wearing a bikini – the card read, “Finally, I found a stripper for you that I can afford! Happy Birthday!”

Because obviously (sarcasm):

1) If a fat person is wearing a bikini, they must be a stripper!

2) A fat person’s body is intrinsically valued less in society, so having a fat stripper would cost less.

Another card was a photo of a fat woman wearing a short dress walking through a store – the focal point of the photograph was the cellulite on her thighs. The card read, “At least your biggest problem is getting old!” or something stupid like that.

It just made me angry and sad to see, especially after some of the comments made in my economics class earlier in the day. People should not feel like their bodies are under attack when buying cards for friends or family, or at events where people are receiving those cards.