The Oppression of Fat People in AmericaFat does not equal laziness; fat is not synonymous with bad; fat does not equate to overeating; fat is not synonymous with ugly. Fat oppression is something that is very prevalent in our society, and yet Americans refuse to recognize it as a problem, or even a problem. After hearing an amazing woman named Nomy Lamm speak this weekend, I could no longer let this issue be ignored. (Lamm is a big anti-oppression activist and has been published in Ms. magazine). Fat oppression exists in this society and we all need to recognize the damage it causes to everyone, especially fat people. Fat is not a bad word. I use the word big like I would use the words short, tall or blonde. The only problem with the word fat is the way it is used by the majority of people in this society. My friends involved in fat oppression use the word fat as a means of recovery (a la “queer”) and I choose to do the same. The central problem with fat oppression comes from how we, as Americans, are taught to look at people. Everywhere we look – on television, in the cinema, in magazines, etc. – thin people are described as glamorous and cool. The encouragement of dieting is shockingly widespread, and the dieting market brings in billions of dollars each year. Our society is obsessed with fat and losing it. The irony is that the majority of Americans are fat by national standards. More than 90 percent of women do not conform to dietary standards developed by insurance companies in the 1960s. The media creates a need to lose weight because it realizes that most Americans are not statistically thin . By creating a standard of what is "normal", then creating a need to achieve that normality, an addiction industry is born - dependence on food products...... middle of paper .. .... does that leave it up to us to sort out the problem? First, be aware that discrimination exists and try to address it when it occurs. Do not buy into the beauty myth that is so prevalent in this society and do not associate with organizations that continue to perpetuate this myth (Calvin Klein, the new ASUW safe sex posters, etc.). Demand that clothing stores stock more plus-size clothing and criticize them for price increases aimed at fat people. But the bottom line is to treat fat people like any other person. Recognize that fat people have to work incredibly hard, mentally and physically, to do the same things that a thin person takes for granted (e.g., go to the beach, fly on a plane). Excuses will no longer be enough. People should be judged by the actions they take and the opinions they hold, not the body they were born into..