Thin privilege is not feeling like you have to spend over two hours every morning on your hair and makeup because a fatphobic culture has made you believe you compensate for your fat body.

All throughout high school, I would set my alarm for 6:00 A.M. (first period didn’t start until 8:45) in order to have time to shower, shampoo, condition, blow dry (hot air first, then cold to lock in volume and moisture), and meticulously style and straighten every inch of my hair until it was what I deemed “perfect”. Then, I’d spend a similar amount of time on my face: liquid foundation, powder, bronzer/highlighter for contouring, eyeshadow, eyeliner (top and bottom), mascara (top and bottom), and lip gloss. A fifteen year old should be sleeping at 6:00 in the morning, not going through elaborate beauty routines.

I had always been told I had “such a pretty face”. Eventually I begin to believe the rest of me wasn’t pretty, so I had to play up what WAS pretty just to compete with the other girls. Thin privilege is being able to roll out of bed and show up to school completely bare-faced, but still getting more attention and respect than the fat girl who spent two hours on her hair and makeup that morning.

Mod note: There is a lot of intersection with male privilege here, given that the patriarchy has taught women that their primary value lies in how beautiful they are perceived compared to other women. -ATL