It is a radical act to be fat and happy

Working for the Michigan Nutrition Network, I find myself surrounded by the social attitude regarding obesity. Not that my co-workers treat me badly, but there's this focus on "curing obesity" that is like a high-pitched whine in the background. Not debilitating, but irritating.

I spoke up today, asking that they all consider "fit at any size" rather than "don't be fat" as a message. I thought that they were receptive, so maybe I've done a little good. To be fair, most of the material is focused on proper nutrition and adequate exercise, which is important and useful no matter what your weight or body type.

I need to quote from Shakespeare's Sister, a feminist blog that I read daily. This really nails it...

It remains a radical act to be fat and happy in America, especially if you’re a woman (for whom “jolly” fatness isn’t an option). If you’re fat, you’re not only meant to be unhappy, but deeply ashamed of yourself, projecting at all times an apologetic nature, indicative of your everlasting remorse for having wrought your monstrous self upon the world. You are certainly not meant to be bold, or assertive, or confident—and should you manage to overcome the constant drumbeat of messages that you are ugly and unsexy and have earned equally society’s disdain and your own self-hatred, should you forget your place and walk into the world one day with your head held high, you are to be reminded by the cow-calls and contemptuous looks of perfect strangers that you are not supposed to have self-esteem; you don’t deserve it. Being publicly fat and happy is hard; being publicly, shamelessly, unshakably fat and happy is an act of both will and bravery.

I certainly feel the societally required self-loathing. If someone is ever attracted to me, I'll probably miss the signals, because no one could be attracted to someone as old and fat as I am. Everything I see and hear reminds me.

Noise To Signal: 2006 Hugo Award Winners

Noise To Signal: 2006 Hugo Award Winners

Lots of good news in the Hugo Award Winners. Serenity took best dramatic presentation, long form, and Dr. Who took best for short form. Peter Beagle (long a favorite of mine) won his first Hugo. All are excellent and deserving, and in Peter Beagle's case, overdue.

And Connie Willis won her ninth Hugo. No one has ever won 9 Hugos, not even Harlan Ellison, frequently brilliant writer but always appalling egoist. Science Fiction has long had the reputation of being a boy's club, where writers like Andre Norton and James Tiptree Jr. had to pretend to be men to get a hearing. And yet Connie Willis has won 9 Hugo awards... it gives me hope that things are changing.

Which is probably why Harlan felt he had to cut her down to size by groping her. sigh No matter how accomplished a woman you are, a man can reduce you to a body part in an instant.

It does not reduce the value of her accomplishment, though. Go Connie! And Harlan, grow up, for cryin' out loud.

Andre Norton is gone

Andre Norton - 1912-2005. I know she's been ill for very many years, and this is probably a blessing for her... but I grieve nonetheless. The first SF book I ever read was "The Time Traders", and it began a lifelong passion for me. I regret I never had the honor of meeting her.