Against fatphobia today and always

By Frida Mendoza

A balaclava halfway down, painted lips, a purple banner and scarf; a top at the waist, black shorts and tennis shoes; a green scarf and the word "gorda" painted on her belly. This is what Madam Petra del Bosque looks like for the camera of Mónica GonzálezThe publication talks about fatphobia, hegemonic beauty and aesthetic violence.

When we think of the march on November 25, International Day for the Eradication of Violence against Women and Girls, we think of physical violence, beatings, femicides, sexual harassment, visible aggressions that are increasingly (fortunately!) condemned. To think of contingents marching and shouting against aesthetic violence and the phobia of non-hegemonic bodies, neither thin nor "magazine" bodies, would seem a trifle.

However, there is nothing "trivial" about it because fatphobia is defined as a type of discrimination and the actions carried out from this perspective are violent for girls as well as for teenagers and adult women. 

In figures, the National Survey on Discrimination 2022 by Inegi reveals that 23.7% of the population over 18 years of age claims to have been discriminated against, among some things because of their weight or height. Compared to the previous edition of this survey in 2017, there was an increase of 3.5%, discrimination scales.

At the same time, the production of content on fatphobia is increasing and it is increasingly common to see testimonies that give account of a discrimination that is even in the soup and, honestly, it is touching and painful to know that there are so many of us who have gone through an episode in which our bodies are under the magnifying glass and if you do not believe me, read this very powerful essay by writer María Fernanda Ampuero.

Because talking about discrimination and leaving behind the preconceived idea that a fat body "is not healthy" is urgent to save lives, because just as physical violence kills, the violence exercised by those who supposedly "care" about the health of someone to lose weight at any cost, can also kill slowly, or leave damage in the future.

A couple of weeks ago I participated in an interdisciplinary meeting of women called Constelación de Flores where I moderated the table on corporeality with the participation of Alejandra Oyosa, Isabel Sesma and Diana Flores who, from their respective positions as communicators, models and nutritionists, act as activists and necessary voices so that the discussion is not only taken up again when a case goes viral, but also to reiterate that respect and non-violence should be an everyday issue.

In the event we could not leave health aside and we approached it from our own experiences in which it is common to be "diagnosed" by any person as well as by health professionals who, before making a medical analysis, every condition can be attributed to a specific disease. health professionals who, before making a medical analysis, any ailment can be attributed to fatness just because and questioning it means receiving violent comments, both in real life and in social networks.

We also talked about beauty and the differences where aesthetic violence is experienced by all of us to fit into beauty stereotypes where white, tall, feminized and thin women seem to be the only ones deserving of respect but when you add the weight factor, you are even "less of a person" if you are fat.

It was very interesting to share with them but also for other people to listen to us because it should not be normal to be congratulated for losing weight at the cost of suffering, it should not be normal to hear that there are women who started their first diet before they were 10 years old, it should not be normal to be prescribed drugs to lose weight when we go to the doctor for something completely different. It should not be normal that being fat is an offense and that for many women, for the fact of existing or wearing certain types of clothes, they are claimed to promote "unhealthiness". 

If we want girls and women to be free, let them exist and let us not violate their integrity or their physical or mental well-being at the cost of an unattainable standard. Against fatphobia this 25N, and always.

*Frida Mendoza is a reporter and editor from Mexico City. She has 6 years of experience as a digital and investigative journalist working mainly on human rights, gender, feminism, health and metropolis in different digital media such as Emeequis, Malvestida, FrojiMX, MCCI, among others. She has participated as a columnist in Opinión 51 and is co-author of the book "Las 7 mafias chilangas", published by Grijalbo in 2023.

The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.

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