I honestly didn’t think I really had much to say about using the word fat because I use it and it just seems fine. But I realized it’s such a different experience for me as an autistic person. I have really only shied away from using it because I learned at a young age that it made other people uncomfortable. My whole life until the past couple years has been learning what makes neurotypical people comfortable and trying to do that. So I used euphemisms for their comfort. It was confusing for me because I knew that I was fat, I knew they knew and this dance felt really weird but that’s neurotypical people for you! Anyway, I generally used plus size for years but it felt so feminine aligned that I just hated it. Then I used fluffy because it felt like other fat people didn’t mind being part of a community that way. Finally once I had the language of fat liberation I felt empowered to say fat. It’s great to feel like I don’t have to use euphemisms especially as a fat autistic person who does equity work!
Also, Apple News just recommended an article about Ozempic from the New Yorker written by a size 4 journalist. It’s awful. Why? I’m just screaming why? So warning for anyone who sees that.
Oh that's so interesting/make so much sense about your experience with the euphemisms vs real word as an autistic person. Thanks for sharing. And yes - Jia's article was a big let down. She's done amazing work in the past and this... is not that.
I look so much like Little Witch Hazel I think I might try to find green overalls to wear this summer and just take her whole look.
Honestly though, I’ve read *hundreds* of picture books in the last few years, this is one of the first times I’ve seen someone who looks like me. I’m not a Bad Example, illustrators!
I had the same feeling reading that book for the first time. I love her so so much! Desperately wanted to do a LWH halloween costume one year but couldn't convince my kid to be a toadstool. Goals!
I appreciate the leggings science, at least based on the sizing info I am hopeful girlfriend collective will work for me, I bought leggings a month ago that are fine to wear around the house/errands but they fall down a ton if I work out so I’m on my quest again! I had read most of these comments on the post a few weeks ago and I enjoyed hearing the voices of the community! The dr office story was particularly relatable for me, I started going to my PCP when I had been recently married and had lost 2 lbs and was “normal” BMI for the first time in my life for about 2 years. as my weight crept up again it was hard to see obese on the summary record even though I had been coded as overweight my whole life! Being coded as obese on the forms during my pregnancies was also hard to wrap my head around. in the last 4 years since I had my second child I became so much more conscious of diet culture and telling friends and family I’m not trying to be smaller anymore, my thin SIL tried to tell me a few weeks ago I wasn’t fat and I said yeah I am, and I’m ok with it, I’m not offended by the word fat anymore.
This turned out great! It was fun to hear myself on the podcast! FWIW, I did not have great luck with the Girlfriend Collective. I'm at the tip top of their size range, and they technically fit, but were tighter than I prefer. I do love Universal Standard's leggings, though, and everything I've bought from them has been a huge hit.
Ooh good to know about GC and the 6X. (But also MEH.) Universal Standard continues to be the gold standard! And thank you so much -- loved having you on the pod!
Thanks to your writing and the commenting community and everybody you interview, a while back I started a practice when I went to the doctor's office of just saying "I'm not interested in knowing" and turning my back when they have me stand on the scale. I feel so fortunate that not once have I had anyone question that or try to talk to me about weight when I'm there for very different reasons, like a broken wrist. I need to thank them for that.
I honestly didn’t think I really had much to say about using the word fat because I use it and it just seems fine. But I realized it’s such a different experience for me as an autistic person. I have really only shied away from using it because I learned at a young age that it made other people uncomfortable. My whole life until the past couple years has been learning what makes neurotypical people comfortable and trying to do that. So I used euphemisms for their comfort. It was confusing for me because I knew that I was fat, I knew they knew and this dance felt really weird but that’s neurotypical people for you! Anyway, I generally used plus size for years but it felt so feminine aligned that I just hated it. Then I used fluffy because it felt like other fat people didn’t mind being part of a community that way. Finally once I had the language of fat liberation I felt empowered to say fat. It’s great to feel like I don’t have to use euphemisms especially as a fat autistic person who does equity work!
Also, Apple News just recommended an article about Ozempic from the New Yorker written by a size 4 journalist. It’s awful. Why? I’m just screaming why? So warning for anyone who sees that.
Oh that's so interesting/make so much sense about your experience with the euphemisms vs real word as an autistic person. Thanks for sharing. And yes - Jia's article was a big let down. She's done amazing work in the past and this... is not that.
I look so much like Little Witch Hazel I think I might try to find green overalls to wear this summer and just take her whole look.
Honestly though, I’ve read *hundreds* of picture books in the last few years, this is one of the first times I’ve seen someone who looks like me. I’m not a Bad Example, illustrators!
I had the same feeling reading that book for the first time. I love her so so much! Desperately wanted to do a LWH halloween costume one year but couldn't convince my kid to be a toadstool. Goals!
Just looked up this book and the leg hairs are giving me life.
THE LEG HAIR. It's truly magic.
I appreciate the leggings science, at least based on the sizing info I am hopeful girlfriend collective will work for me, I bought leggings a month ago that are fine to wear around the house/errands but they fall down a ton if I work out so I’m on my quest again! I had read most of these comments on the post a few weeks ago and I enjoyed hearing the voices of the community! The dr office story was particularly relatable for me, I started going to my PCP when I had been recently married and had lost 2 lbs and was “normal” BMI for the first time in my life for about 2 years. as my weight crept up again it was hard to see obese on the summary record even though I had been coded as overweight my whole life! Being coded as obese on the forms during my pregnancies was also hard to wrap my head around. in the last 4 years since I had my second child I became so much more conscious of diet culture and telling friends and family I’m not trying to be smaller anymore, my thin SIL tried to tell me a few weeks ago I wasn’t fat and I said yeah I am, and I’m ok with it, I’m not offended by the word fat anymore.
Such huge progress! (And hope the leggings work for you!)
This turned out great! It was fun to hear myself on the podcast! FWIW, I did not have great luck with the Girlfriend Collective. I'm at the tip top of their size range, and they technically fit, but were tighter than I prefer. I do love Universal Standard's leggings, though, and everything I've bought from them has been a huge hit.
Ooh good to know about GC and the 6X. (But also MEH.) Universal Standard continues to be the gold standard! And thank you so much -- loved having you on the pod!
Thanks to your writing and the commenting community and everybody you interview, a while back I started a practice when I went to the doctor's office of just saying "I'm not interested in knowing" and turning my back when they have me stand on the scale. I feel so fortunate that not once have I had anyone question that or try to talk to me about weight when I'm there for very different reasons, like a broken wrist. I need to thank them for that.