TW: mention of eating disorders

Thin privilege is being able to claim you’ve been discriminated against, and have evidence to back up that you are healthy. It is having a arsenal of scientific studies at your back, while fat people may be able to find only one or two articles that support fat acceptance. Thin privilege is not being told that the article you have found that supports your claims must be biased. It is not being told you are just making up things to support your position, when you state that the majority of thin scientific research is sponsored by companies motivated to keep thin privilege standing, such as diet companies.

Thin privilege is being able to have pride in your body, without people acting as if you are being vulgar for doing so. Thin privilege is the majority of animation based on your body type, and when it is suggested a fat character is added to a kids’ show, people don’t scream and holler about how it will make children ill. Despite the fact that the obsession with thinness has made children develop starvation eating disorders at record levels. It is on the edge of morality, to suggest that more cartoons aimed at teens telling them they can only be healthy if they are extremely thin, would be of benefit to anyone. It is astounding that parents fear their child being healthy but fat, more than their child dying of starvation in trying to remain thin.

Thin privilege is not being told by the moderator of a image board to stop being oversensitive, after a person let go with a slew of fat prejudiced and discriminatory language so awful I cannot mention it here. Thin privilege is not being silenced, while those who barely hide their agenda of fat hatred under the guise of health go unpunished.

Thin privilege is having discrimination towards your body being sympathized with, and understood. It is not having people talk about how the acceptance of fat people means that thin people will suffer, as if thin people have suffered anywhere near the level of size discrimination fat people currently do. Thin privilege is having the discrimination towards your body seen as a horrible thing, whereas fat people apparently deserve to be discriminated against.

I’m tired of constantly having to reassure myself that I am not making things up, when I discuss fat acceptance. Thin privilege is being able to live in a world where you aren’t constantly gaslighted in regards of your health and acceptability. Being fat means living constantly having to justify why your body shouldn’t be seen as shameful and repulsive. It’s living in a world where the false victimization of thin women claiming they are ostracized for having bones is accepted more easily than the reality of the unending and ubiquitous discrimination that fat people face. Thin privilege is being believed. Thin privilege is knowing that when you cry, people will comfort you, rather than tell you it’s your own fault you are miserable. Thin privilege is being able to exist without constantly having to defend your right to be.

(mod note: I think there’s a lot of similarity between the discrimination described by the poster in the last couple sentences and what it’s like to be a part of other marginalized groups. -ATL)