A simple Facebook status conversation has inspired me to write this post because my brain is now buzzing with thoughts on how the media talks about fat people.
It was innocent enough. An article in the Toronto Star – known obviously as being the mortal media enemy of Toronto mayor Rob Ford – talking about his recent performance in the National Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” While there were a few vague political points mixed into the article, the general tone was light hearted, easy and jovial. No matter your thoughts on his politics, how can you not feel at least slightly amused when you see this amazing photo?
- Keith Beaty/Toronto Star
What made me pause while reading the article was the below phrase; discussing Ford’s appearance with Ward 35 Councillor/Executive Committee member Michelle Berardinetti;
The pair, costumed in colourful Russian Petrouchka doll outfits — the National Ballet stocks a variety of sizes — escorted the cannon that initiates the battle scene.
Now sure, you can say that I’m being sensitive – and maybe I am, but I think this was unnecessary writing on the part of the Star’s reporter, Michael Crabb. We can SEE in the photo that the Ballet had a costume for Mayor Ford. We all KNOW he’s fat and maybe were even wondering to ourselves if there would be an appropriately sized costume for him to fit into, but was it necessary to actually tell us that they stock them in a variety of sizes?
What this tiny, seemingly innocent string of words does is simply perpetuate fat-shaming. And it’s something that happens to Rob Ford all the time.
Before I continue, I must stress that I cannot stand Rob Ford. As a person, his morals and ethics do not match up with what I see as likeable qualities. His politics make me sick. I personally consider him to be a liar and a disgrace to this city. He’s done more harm than I think any of us who actually expected a lot of harm from him can even imagine. I want him to go far, far away and I think he’s an buffoon. I don’t agree with some of the commenters in the original article saying that the author should have let it remain simply a “Spirit of the Season” piece and left the politics out of it. He’s a politician. Politics will never get left out of it and I don’t think that they should, really.
However, he’s also obviously a fat guy and it’s easy for us to poke fun at that. Especially when we also think the person in question is an idiot. Fat and idiot go hand in hand it seems and Rob Ford’s jack-ass behaviour makes that easier for us to jump on. Mr. Crabb decided to point out that the ballet had a costume to fit him because obviously we the people must have been wondering how they would deal with the fat bastard once he got backstage. I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm by those few words; but their existence point to a symptom of something that is very wrong with our culture.
Not only is the constant pointing out of Rob Ford’s weight lazy and unnecessary, but it’s harmful for two other reasons. The first is that it’s diluting the messages. It’s easier for us to poke fun at someone’s weight quickly vs. writing out a thought-provoking letter to local government protesting policies or changes we disagree with as citizens. We can put all our anger into pointing out how his head is sweaty because it’s a quick dig that makes us feel better – because underneath, we think he’s an idiot. Second, it’s sending a tragic message to society when we allow the media to constantly poke fun of his, or any other person’s weight.
We’re allowing it to be ok to make fun of Rob Ford for being a fatty because we hate him for his stupid political moves. Therefore, we’re perpetuating the stereotype that fat (often) = idiot. And what does that then do? Well it teaches people, including children, that as long as someone is – or you think they are – not very smart, then it’s ok to make fun of them for their appearance. Their intellectual “wrongdoings” obviously give you a free pass to mock how they look.
Do I want to make fun of Rob Ford for being a fat bastard? I can’t deny that I do because it’s just SO easy. Did I enjoy the meme of him kicking a football being turned into other things that made the rounds lately? I can’t deny that I did. The meme, however, is a hilarious picture being turned into more hilarity. To me, it’s just as ridiculous as Tom Selleck Waterfall Sandwich; not funny because he’s fat; just funny because of his pose, fat or not.
Ridiculousness can be funny. Just like this is funny. (Click the picture for more.)
If it’s ok to make fun of Rob Ford’s weight because he’s an idiot, then it must be ok to make fun of some dumb fraternity bimbo for being promiscuous. Her ditzy nature and short skirt and tiny top must make it ok to laugh at her / shame her for being slutty, right? Too harsh? Well maybe as a person that has struggled with weight my entire life and has seen countless other people get judged strictly on their appearance before they’re even given a change to show off their intelligence, I see fat-shaming as equally harmful.
We all need to be responsible for this and we need to stand up to the media if we see fat shaming being perpetuated. I don’t care if it’s idiot jack-ass Rob Ford being mocked for being a fat slob or Random Overweight Person of Interest B. By not making a clear distinction between disagreeing with someone because of their policies and hating them because they’re fat (and also disagreeing with their policies) we’re teaching our children that it’s ok to mock someone you dislike using their appearance as the target, rather than challenging the real issues underneath the XXL suit.
