thisisthinprivilege:

If you haven’t keep track of the changes in the federal Women and Children (WIC) program- you should take the time to look into them.

My mother had me and my brother at a young age- now 18 years later and almost 40 she’s going to have another child. Being displaced (homeless) and very poor- she turned to the same program that helped her in her youth- WIC. Some of their changes have disturbed her, like:

Instead of whole milk, they are strictly only giving 1% milk to expecting mothers. Unless you are perceived to be thin or underweight (I say perceived because none of what WIC does, advises or provides is under that counsel of doctors or professionals in the field. They do let you know if your doctor has advise contrary to their recommendations- they will keep it in consideration- EXCEPT IN ARIZONA)- then you are allowed more flexibility in what you would like to have.

They are restricting what types, within the types they’ve already set, of food you are allowed (No white bread- only wheat, only brown rice, as of july 1st only the cheapest/store brands are allowed).

They are also keeping all pregnant persons on a weigh chart, Yes- a weight chart that indicated that you’re only suppose to gain x amount of pounds and if you gain more that x or are already OVER those x pounds to start with- well you’re unhealthy and fat and they have taken the liberty of drawing you’re attention to how “unhealthy” your weight is becoming (as if a generation that has over 8 million people with EDs need to be reminded of their weight during pregnancy).

Why? Because “Fat children become fat adults,” meaning they intend to keep both mothers and their children thin from birth as to “reduce their chances of adult obesity” (yes- these are the words the WIC woman used when my mother inquired about these changes as this was not how WIC operated in the 90s and they make her highly uncomfortable).

This is literally what happens when sizism is institutionalized.