Feel free to...

I went to a sunny outdoor festival today. I ran into a couple of mutual friends, sitting down with someone I didn't know. She was an overweight white woman in her early 20s. At first, I felt myself see her size and discount her. I actually felt myself do it. I thought about her size while we spoke. I thought, "she's really outgoing and confident for a fat woman" and "she must be really sweaty." Then I cringed for viewing her weight as the most important thing about her, which shaped every thought I had during our conversation. Her body size was the lens I viewed her and judged her through.

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My mom regularly makes comments about people's weight and about mine. "You've got good genes" = You're skinny and don't have to try. She said one of my 12 year old girl cousin is happier now because she's thin and my other cousin is unhappy because of all the weight she's gained. Other family members are constantly on a new diet or talking about how much they've lost. "I know you don't notice, but I've lost fifteen pounds since we last saw each other".

My family would be horrified if I stepped out of my skinny box and gained a few pounds. I would be, too.


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US Weekly this week