Just Poppin’ Off: Is Fatphobia a Thing in Tuscaloosa, Alabama?

Is fatphobia a thing in Alabama?

In a one-word answer, YES, it’s all across the world.

What is Fatphobia?

According to Good Housekeeping, it “is the fear and hatred of fat bodies.” I never understood this because how can you hate someone for their body size. Well, trust me, it happens all the time if not daily.

I’ve experienced it myself first-hand for all of my life. It’s all good because most of the bullies (even adult ones too) were just one Twinkie away from being fat too.

Good Housekeeping even got the Author and host of the podcast The Rebel Eaters Club, Virgie Tovar, to give them an even more in-depth look at Fatphobia. She said that it is a “form of bigotry and a form of discrimination that says that people of higher weight are inferior physically, intellectually, morally and health-wise.”

But why is it okay to make fun of fat people?

It's society. Fatphobia and body shaming go hand in hand. To me, it’s the last acceptable bias. Society is not ok with you making fun of all these different divisions of people, but when it comes to fat people, it’s all good. Let the jokes roll in.

You have no idea why someone may be fluffy. And you know what; it’s none of your business. Body shaming is disgusting in any form. In addition, any form of discrimination is absurd.

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Look how they raked Lizzo over the coals for being confident in her body shape in her new song collaboration “Rumors” with Cardi B. It’s Goddess-like.

The best part of the video is that Lizzo had big girls on her dance squad. Finally, someone is giving fluffy girls a platform to perform. Just because you are big doesn't mean you can’t dance.Take for example, the dance team at Alabama State University, the Honey Beez. These women get down. Check out the crowd, the fans go wild!

But Lizzo was body-shamed in a real way, so much so that Facebook was taking down all the mean and hurtful and discriminatory comments. Facebook just went up in value to me.

Our society had Lizzo crying on her social media platforms because people were tearing her down so badly. My God, just let the woman live. If she wants to be big and she wants to flaunt it. LET HER LIVE.

“I’m not Fat, I’m Fluffy” – Gabriel Iglesias

That’s my motto. Let’s examine the fluffy side of being fat. In Alabama, the Alabama Department of Public Health says that “Alabama has the 7^th highest obesity rate in the nation for adults.”

Looking at it from a larger scale, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention notes that "73.6% of adults aged 20 and over are overweight and this includes obesity."

As a self-proclaimed fluffy girl, I know I need to do better about my health. I’m already 35 pounds down in 2021. I think people cheer on fluffy people but secretly have fatphobia. You should hear the slick comments people make to me.

I even had an ex once make a rude comment on a photo about my weight on Facebook, and the listeners of my radio show, Gave! Him! The! Business! I secretly enjoyed that. Wrong, yes but very enjoyable.