Once again I’m thinking about the many, many similarities and crossovers between fatphobia, transphobia and ableism (and yes, I know many experience two or all three, which is all the more reason to talk about this).
- The basic stance that “you have a body the wrong way”
- Acceptance is frequently conditional. You have to prove that you’ve been suffering over this and you have to at least TRY to conform. Don’t you dare ask for any accomodations, and also don’t you dare just be happy. Tell us your sob story!
- If children see you they’ll think it’s ok to be that way and that’s bad.
- Getting desexualised publicly and deeply fetishised in private or online. And “how do you even have sex? How does it work?”
- The systemic exclusion from public life because they’d rather you just didn’t exist
- Difficulty finding clothes that fit both your body and your expression
- Healthcare providers frequently don’t believe what you tell them, and don’t know enough about your needs
- People around you want to find a cure
- People act like equal rights for you is actually special treatment. If you wanted human rights you should have been more normal
- People suck at just listening to you when you tell them what words to use about you
- People get super uncomfortable with the idea of you being seen as beautiful
- Media representation is scarce and often problematic. Very often, people like you are portrayed by cis/thin/abled actors in costume and they’re called “brave” and “inspirational” for it
- accusations of being a drain on the healthcare system
Really love the idea of a citizen’s group just putting out benches and such.
The removal of benches and trash cans in public places has always struck me as one of those obvious “we are moving in the wrong direction” things, especially for anyone with mobility issues. Not everyone can just stand for 15 minutes waiting on the bus, neh?
& homeless people need those benches. Sleeping on a cold wet floor is potentially life threatening. This is about more than pestering homeless people (which is cruel enough as it is), it is about taking away the necessities of life.
