The Politics of Weight

This incident got me thinking a bit...

TV anchor Jennifer Livingstone received the email below with the following header:

 “Community Responsibility”:

Hi Jennifer,

It’s unusual that I see your morning show, but I did so for a very short time today. I was surprised indeed to witness that your physical condition hasn’t improved for many years. Sure you don’t consider yourself a suitable example for this community’s young people, girls in particular. Obesity is one of the worst choices a person can make and one of the most dangerous habits to maintain. I leave you this note hoping that you’ll reconsider your responsibility as a local public personality to present and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Here is a clip of Jennifer's response.

I totally agree with her when she says that her news reporting abilities are not affected by her weight and that playing a healthy role model is not her responsibility. The same I believe would also apply for the severely underweight news presenters out there.

In an era of electronic anonymity, comments made on social and electronic media posts alike are increasingly cruel, thoughtless and personal. This letter is tame no doubt compared to many out there. One may even say it’s a negative opinion and not necessarily hateful.

But it stands criticism of one’s appearance does cut deep.

Her reactions had inspired an opening of a global dialogue on bullying and weight.

Surely her response must’ve also had a cathartic effect on those many people are out there that are seldom recognized beyond their size.

In spite of us growing into increasingly obese populations, the world is not kind to fat. A tendency lies to class the overweight as lazy, unattractive, a burden to medical care and many more. Unlike discrimination with for example skin colour, weight tends to be less empathized with perhaps given its connotations to health.

Take an example from the email where Jennifer is referred to as a ‘bad role model for young girls’. This is not with regards to her character, personality or lifestyle, but solely her size. She is overweight and it is implied that she cannot be a "suitable example" for young women in the community. Many of us might have had similar thoughts at some point about someone during some situation. Often it’s unintentional not in callous. It just happens that this hidden discrimination is something we don’t really consider.
 

 

For now I’d just say bravo to this lady for calling out and making on-air response to a letter someone in her position could easily laugh off and ignore.

As if we don’t have enough negativity to deal with in our lives. I look forward to a day when the various shapes and sizes of our bodies become an issue that stays morally neutral.

-Lil Sis