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Tinaj
Joined: Sep 24, 2008
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Just what is "fat" and what is "thin"?
February 5, 2009 - 04:14 AM
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Just look around at the people in the same room with you! What is it that you notice about their sizes?
For me, I am noticing the sizes of this people. I am judging whether someone is fat, medium or thin.
I have been reading the book, "Wake up, I'm fat!" by Camryn Manheim and I realize how much we stigmatize the "plump" people. Does "fat" mean that wearing bikini or the mega-hot lingerie on sale, fitting in clothes that are only more than size 2, being a model, eating that pizza, burger or ice cream without feeling guilty are absolute no-no? If your answers are “yes” for all or at least two of the four, then ask yourself this, “Don’t slender people worry about the same things fat people worry about?”
First we should try understanding what the word "fat" means. In different cultures, the word "fat" is defined differently.
If you compare the context of Caucasian definition of "fat" and the African definition of "fat", the two are totally different.
In the African and Mexican context, a woman is supposed to be "hippy". This is the essence of the epitome of African beauty. I am African (incase you are not aware) and I am a size eight(8). When I visit my parents, this is the first question they ask me, "Are you sick? You have grown thin!" Everyone is obsessed with being thin but not my folks! Actually I think I am slender! But one of my friends, a Caucasian (sorry to say) thinks I am medium!
In the Caucasian and Asian context, being thin is termed as "sexy".
So what is "thin and sexy" and what is "fat"?
This post was edited on: 2009-02-05 at 04:15 AM by: TinaJ
Just what is "fat" and what is "thin"?
Ha! I am more than a size eight(8)!
(1 votes for 33.33%)
Loose some weight girl, you are fat!
(0 votes for 0%)
I did not see that part!
(0 votes for 0%)
Whatever!
(1 votes for 33.33%)
Girl, you are not fat enough!
(1 votes for 33.33%)
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Anu maheshwari
Joined: Jun 14, 2005
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Re: Just what is "fat" and what is "thin"?
February 5, 2009 - 12:44 PM
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This post is moved to the Culture and Identity Forum
Regards,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anu Maheshwari
Community Engagement Moderator
(Virtual Volunteer)
Taking It Global
www.takingitglobal.org
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sara mantovani
Joined: Feb 2, 2009
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Re: Just what is "fat" and what is "thin"?
February 6, 2009 - 04:32 AM
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well, there are 2 ways to consider a person fat: one is a medical way ( i think you can calculate the proportion between the weight and the high of a person and than there is a scale that tell you if it is tecnically fat or not); the other way is cultural and it's quite different.
i've read that generally in poor countries a fat-plump woman is seen as beautiful (having a fat wife is a status-symbol as it shows that those person are wealthy), instead in rich countries a really thin woman is preferred (most of all because she reminds of models and advertisement and she can spend money on things to make her look better).
for example here in italy, until i think years 50s and 60s plump women were seen as beautiful, but now there is quite an obsession for being thin.
the funny thing is that eating too much and getting fat is quite normal and really difficult to avoid.
(someway being beautiful is being the opposite of how most of the society looks like).
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j-bird_eastview
Joined: Jan 12, 2009
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Re: Just what is "fat" and what is "thin"?
February 9, 2009 - 07:15 PM
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Hello, I'm am only 9 years old and I want to say that I agree with you. People have different body sizes and it shouldn't matter what their size is and what they're wearing.
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