Myths About Thin Privilege

I said in another post that I am well aware of thin privilege. Being aware of thin privilege means being aware that the problems faced by larger women are more pervasive and abundant that the problems faced by thin women in a society which is predisposed towards fatphobia. However, that doesn’t mean our problems aren’t also real and hurtful. Here are some common myths regarding thinness.

1. Myth #1: A thin size is value neutral and most people don’t assume anything about a skinny person’s values, morals, etc. because of their size. This is patently false. Skinny women are often thought to be vapid, unintelligent, ditzy, anorexic, obsessed with their weight or health or diet, reluctant to go near food, etc.
2. Myth #2:  Thin people can eat in public without people judging my food choices. If I feel like just eating a yummy salad, or if I am just not hungry, people automatically assume I’m diet crazy or anorexic or obsessed with being thin.
3. Myth #3: Skinny girls can be assured of seeing people their size in popular media. To an extent yes, but two words: big boobs! We need more role models like Keira Knightley who take a stand against Hollywood’s obsession with womens’ boob size. And what about all the celebrity gossips calling out skinny women for being anorexic or otherwise unhealthy?
4. Myth #4: Thin women do not have to deal with people who fetishize them because of their size. Whoever thinks this has either not heard of Rule 34, or not heard of SkinnyFap (a porn site featuring well, skinny women), or both. This myth is also demeaning to people who have fetishes. People who have fetishes often can’t help it. Can you help who you’re attracted to?
5. Myth #5: Medical professionals generally treat thin women with respect and believe them when they say that they eat healthy and exercise. After a thorough confirmation that they’re not anorexic or bulimic or have thyroid problems or something like that, of course.
6. Myth #6: People won’t ask thin women why they don’t do anything about their bodies. Tell that to the “Eat a cheeseburger!” crowd.
7. Myth #7: Thin womens’ femininity won’t be challenged because of the size of their bodies. And tell this to the women who are told they have the body of a prepubescent boy because they have virtually no hips and flat chests.
8. Myth #8: Skinny women are not identified or grouped by the size of their bodies. If you are on either extreme of the weight spectrum, this will happen to you.
9. Myth #9: Skinny women can go for months without thinking about or being spoken to about the size of their bodies. First off, what women doesn’t think negatively about her body at least once a week, and secondly, people have commented on my size fairly often. It is more acceptable to call a skinny woman out on her skinniness than to say something about a fat woman’s fatness. If you do the latter, then you’re just being an asshole.
10. Myth #10: Thin women don’t have to worry about family and friends mentioning their size in a critical way and suggesting unsolicited methods to gain weight. I’m pretty sure all skinny women have experienced this. Heck, I’m pretty sure all women and plenty of men have experienced this! People always want to talk about your weight.
11. Myth #11: Thin women don’t have to worry about being accused of being emotionally troubled. All the skinny women who have fended off accusations of anorexia would disagree.