My younger brother is autistic, and a young teen. He’s also naturally tall and thin. He’s got the build of a typical runway model, thigh gap included.

Anyhow, he said some very fatphobic things the other day, in public but no one heard but me. So instead of letting it slide and chalking it up to his socializing problems, I stopped him and questioned him.

Me: Hey, do you think it’s okay if your friends call you gross and laugh at you?

Him: No.

Me: What if they started talking about how gross your skinny arms and your ribs are?

Him: I wouldn’t like that, it’s mean because I’m skinny just because.

Me: Did you know fat people are fat just because?

Him: No they aren’t…are they?

Me: Same as you being skinny because your parents were. Why is fatness gross?

Him: (long, long pause. I thought he was ignoring me.) It isn’t gross. (another long pause) Do you think that lady heard me? Did I hurt her feelings? That was pretty bogus…

Me: It’s okay. Just understand it was wrong and think about what you say next time.

Mod note:



We have been informed that many autistic people dislike labels referring to how “functional” someone is, and have removed that reference.



-MG

