Oct 21 2009

End Fat Talk Week – The Video and The Pledge

I am so completely inspired by the work that the Tri-Delts do on campuses around the country that I am just going to quote from the their website. Their own words are way better than anything I can say. Please watch the video below, and below that please read the discussion questions that they have provided.

Fat Talk Free® Week (Oct 19 – 23, 2009) is an international, 5-day body activism campaign that draws attention to body image issues and the damaging impact of the thin ideal on women in society. This annual public awareness effort was borne from Tri Delta’s award-winning body image education and eating disorders prevention program, Reflections: Body Image Program™.

End Fat Talk

  • Friends don’t let friends Fat Talk®. What can you say to those you hear ‘Fat Talking’ around you to help reduce fat talk among your friends.

    • I have a strong circle of girlfriends and we are committed to increasing the amount of nice and positive comments we make about our bodies, and decreasing the negative ones.

  • What do you think women can do to resist pursuing the thin ideal?

    • We are surrounded by images of young thin women that are held as the paragon of virtue and beauty. I wake up every day, stand in front of my mirror naked and say three nice things about my body – below the neck. When I see my own beauty, in my own shape, I am not so easily threatened by the beauty of others.

  • Write an open thank you letter to parts of your body. (i.e.,: Dear Legs, thank you for letting me run; dear arms, thank you for letting me pick up and hug a baby.)
  • Consider how you react when given a compliment? Do you object or say thank you? Why do you react the way you do? What do you need to do to start to accept compliments.

    • I am practicing this with increasing levels of success. Saying “thank you” when receiving a compliment is certainly a more hedonistic approach to living. It is nice to be polite and feels good to the receiver and the giver of the compliment.

  • Women are often complimented on appearance. How can you compliment girls and women on factors other than appearance.
  • What are your thoughts about advertising? In France they are considering requiring a warning on all Photoshopped images. What are the repercussions, both positive and negative, of that type of warning? Do you think it would help promote positive body image or hinder it?
  • Today I promise to eliminate Fat Talk from conversations with my friends, my family and myself.

    • Starting now, I will strive for a healthy ideal, which I know looks different for every woman, and focuses on health, not weight or size.

    I will celebrate the things about myself and the women in my life that have nothing to do with how we look.

    I decide to end Fat Talk NOW!

    Sign the promise form here: Promise

    If you feel so inspired, I would love to hear your thoughts on the video and discussion questions. What do you think of the message that girls should focus on health instead of appearance? Does this encourage girls to love the skin they are in, or does it create just another expectation for right and wrong eating and exercising behaviors?

    I love what the Tri-Delts are doing and I love the public action that they take to combat the judgmental ways that girls are unkind to themselves and each other. I would like to see this campaign built around encouraging girls to pursue their goals, live out their dreams, and build friendships by being kind and supportive in their communities, rather than focus on their bodies at all.

    What do you think? Did you sign the pledge?


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    One Response to “End Fat Talk Week – The Video and The Pledge”

    1. By Plus Size Coats on Nov 6, 2009 | Reply

      I caught this a little late, but I am very inspired by the video and the whole idea behind this campaign. Size acceptance has come mainstream, and I’m very grateful for this. Whether it be the plus size models in glossy mags, campaigns like this or even the start of great clothing lines like Gayla Bentley…plus sizes are starting to get the respect we deserve. We’re still not there yet, but we are moving in the right direction.

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