Fat and Happy All at the Same Time - Essay Example

Fat and Happy All at the Same Time This essay will evaluate two articles ly: Fat and Happy: In Defense of Fat Acceptance written by Mary Ray Worley and Fat and Happy created by Hillel Schwartz, on the topic addressing being fat and at the same time being happy. In the first article, Worley discusses from her point of view her personal experiences on being fat and the discrimination she had encountered because of her weight. She cleverly relates how she manages to overcome being discriminated and all the social and psychological anxiety that goes along with it.

In the same way, Worley shares her meaningful and worthwhile experiences when she attended the annual convention of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance or NAFFA in San Diego in August of 2000. She vividly discussed the convention activities and provided a touching and moving realization on what she referred to as overcoming her old assumptions. The second article Fat and Happy was written by Hillel Schwartz, presented two selections entitled Vindication of Fat and The Fat Society: A Utopia.

Schwartz openly discussed in the first selection the prejudice and biases experienced by fat people which can range from childhood to adulthood. On the second selection regarding the Fat Society, Schwartz wittingly discussed the utopian spectacle of a Fat society, where size of your waists or hips does not matter in attaining social freedom or personal happiness. In Mary Ray Worley's Fat and Happy, the author's main argument was there are a "growing number of people who believe that it is possible to be happy with your body even if it happens to be fat.

" Worley successfully argued the aforementioned premises by sharing her own experiences and the realization of being fat and happy all at the same time. According to her, she was able to realize her full potential when she joined the NAFAA Convention.1 She was able to fully utilize and interpret the information she has gathered. Worley mentions the health implication of diet and exercise, as well as the risks that go along with it in relation to fat people. Similarly, she briefly discussed that "none of the studies take into account the physical implication of the social ostracism and body hate" experienced by fat people.

Worley's article logically argued her main premise by citing reference to the professional speaker in the convention and in that relation; she paralleled her own experience, stating that "My only stipulation is that I have to be strong enough to have fun doing it. 2 I don't want it to be a torture session." On the other hand, Schwartz article presented two selections that assess critically what he referred to as "despotism of slenderness." Schwartz' first selection addresses the issue of the discrimination experienced by fat people in society.

The author was able to completely discuss the aforementioned issue by illustrating cases of discrimination experienced by fat people since childhood, 3 adulthood, 4 up to the workplace. 5 Akin to this, the author also pointed out that some Medical practitioners are unsympathetic. He demonstrated it by saying that nearly half of those who undergo diet programs, consulted their doctors who in turn have no specific training in nutrition, and as such, it tolls so much on the fat patients. 6 The second selection pertains to the Utopia of a Fat Society, wherein the author pointed out that "a fat society would be a comforting society, less harried and more caring.

" He likewise showed this by providing vivid and colorful images which ranges from fashion7 to sensuality and sexuality and tape measures and weighing scales have nothing to do with a person's personality. Both articles provided meaningful insights on being fat and at the same time being happy about it. Both authors clearly present their arguments with its matching basis. In this light the articles presented various perspectives on discrimination, making their readers aware of such circumstances.

Both pointed out the importance of suitable and efficient medical as well as psychological help and treatment. However, both failed to discuss how contemporary society will be able to minimize, if not, eradicate the biases towards fat people, as well as the means or steps necessary to integrate the fat people in society without discrimination. Reading the articles made me realize the importance of contentment and security in what ever it is that you have in your life, as well as being secured in your personality irrespective of body mass.

In view of the foregoing, it is safe to presuppose that discrimination and the psychological effect of being biased to fat people can only be eliminated by boosting the moral of the fat person himself, which can be done by addressing their needs properly and by educating and correcting the "myths" about being fat. And to conclude this essay, Worley said to the fat people out there, and I think it also goes out to everybody "You're entitled to the space you take up. You can be proud of yourself and never dread unwanted attention; you can be a brave pioneer and a friend to those who have suffered."