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Big News
By William
J. Fabrey
From Radiance
Fall 1998
 These
days, organizations, events, and other resources for fat people and
their admirers are multiplying like jackrabbits. This is amazing. In
1969, the year we formed the NAAFA organization (National Association to
Advance Fat Acceptance), common reactions included, "What are you,
nuts? You will just be giving fatties an excuse to go off their diets.
If they don’t like being discriminated against, why don’t they just
lose weight? Who in their right mind would want to get together with
other fat people?"
Today, what with local and national
organizations, publications, social clubs, and support groups, news
groups, web sites, and chat rooms, you could occupy much of your free
time with size-related human rights, educational, and support
activities.
It isn’t possible to report on all
of the size-acceptance events or resources in this column, but I like to
cite a few as examples. The second annual Big as Texas event was held
March 13 to 15, 1998, in Houston. About seventy people from sixteen
different states attended. Perhaps 35 percent of attendees were men, and
many couples showed up. The event was organized by former NAAFA board
member Terry Lawler Early, who put a lot of energy (a lot of hard work!)
into a conference that addressed diverse interests.
The keynote speaker was size activist
Lynn McAfee, a director of the Council on Size & Weight
Discrimination (CSWD). She spoke about her work on health issues and her
testimony before the National Institutes of Health and the Federal Trade
Commission about regulatory matters affecting fat people. A magazine for
young women in the United Kingdom called Nineteen did a
respectful story about the conference in its May 1998 issue, timed to
coincide with International No Diet Day on May 6.
I know how much work such conferences
are to plan and execute, and I’m proud of Ms. Early and others like
her for making them possible. Those who would like to be on the mailing
list for next year’s event can write to her at P.O. Box 363, Sour
Lake, TX 77659.
Increasingly, such events have
activities for the children of attendees, some of whom are fat kids. I
have seen such children grow up and become active in the size-acceptance
movement as large adults. Now what we need to do is encourage more such
activities for fat kids and their parents (of any size), with the focus
on self-acceptance and on family support. And when these events happen,
I hope someone lets me know, so that I can report it here!
THE
NEWS
Children are an important focus of Radiance
these days—and none too soon. We were all kids once, and too many
of us who had a fat childhood recall it with pain. It shouldn’t be
that way, and I’m glad we’re talking about it.
My nomination for the public figure
who currently does the most for kids, including fat kids, is Rosie
O’Donnell. O’Donnell’s example of a well-adjusted fat adult is
great inspiration for kids and their parents. Helping children is high
on her agenda. Her appearance this past March in the film Wide Awake,
which had to do with a kid’s coming of age, was called "the best
Rosie O’Donnell performance I’ve seen in a movie" by film
critic Roger Ebert. Love that Rosie!
I’m happy to report on a wonderful
new novel for teenage girls and their families called Life in the
Fat Lane (Delacorte Press) by teen advice columnist and playwright
Cherie Bennett. Ms. Bennett, a large woman who underwent a precipitous
weight gain while on medication, understands and communicates well with
teenagers. I love her column, "Hey Cherie!," which is
syndicated nationally by the Copley News Service: her advice is both
intelligent and intuitive.
In Bennett’s book, a slender and
popular high school junior suddenly starts gaining weight and ends up at
200-plus pounds. The story examines how the weight gain affects the girl’s
friendships, her popularity, and her own self-esteem. The book is called
"pure entertainment" by the powerful Kirkus Reviews (December
15, 1997), which is read by thousands of librarians who decide which
books to order for their libraries. Kirkus said, "While the hazard
of setting unrealistic standards of beauty is a familiar theme in teen
novels, the author lays out the issues with unusual clarity, sharp
insight, and cutting irony." In a BBW (May 1998) review, Cheri K.
Erdman said the book makes a "significant contribution in
addressing the body image problems of American girls."
Author Bennett hopes that fat teens
and their mothers will read her book together. If the truths of
self-acceptance are to penetrate the minds of teens (and their parents),
we will need more writers like Cherie Bennett!
You
may recall from my summer column that the American Heart Association
(AHA) had created an extremely negative ad about a kid snacking after
school and morphing into a fat kid, complete with oink noises. Some of
us wrote letters and sent e-mail messages, to no avail. Then Lynn McAfee
of the CSWD decided to pay a call on the Washington, D.C., office of the
AHA and ask them to explain themselves. To her astonishment, they
initially denied that it was their ad! Then they realized that their
corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas, had created the ad.
The AHA, which thinks it is working to
combat obesity in children, did not comprehend why its ad was
counterproductive. So Ms. McAfee mailed out video copies of the ad to
ten leading authorities on childhood obesity and eating disorders. I
have seen only one response so far, but it is powerful: Kelly D.
Brownell, Ph.D., professor of psychology, epidemiology, and public
health at Yale University, wrote a brilliant letter to the AHA. Dr.
Brownell, who is also director of the Yale Center for Eating and Weight
Disorders, said that when he showed the ad to a research and policy
group at Yale, the sentiment was "unanimous, forceful, and quite
negative." He went on to tell the AHA specifically why he and the
group found the ad to be so offensive and counterproductive and urged
them to withdraw it immediately. Dr. Brownell is well known for his
great concern about the increasing incidence of obesity in the United
States (sometimes raising the hackles of size-acceptance activists), so
his eloquent criticism of the AHA ad is likely to be taken seriously by
those who need their consciousness raised.
A major legal case caught the
attention of many within and outside of the size-acceptance movement. On
February 27, 1998, in Martinez, California, Marlene Corrigan was
convicted of a misdemeanor in the death of her daughter Christina, who
weighed 680 pounds at the age of thirteen. Ms. Corrigan was sentenced to
probation and 240 hours of community service. Prosecutors had asked that
she serve jail time or, failing that, 1000 hours of community service.
Despite the judge’s apparent
leniency in the sentencing, some size-acceptance activists close to the
case were angry that it was brought to trial at all. Apparently, the
judge’s effort to temper justice with mercy displeased all sides in
the battle, which dragged on for a year and a half. The original charge,
felony child abuse, could have resulted in a six-year jail sentence.
I find this case a very troubling one:
troubling because the media sensationalized the facts, troubling because
many details of the case made it anything but a clear-cut child abuse
situation, troubling because so many agencies and people failed to help
the child, Christina, when she needed it, and troubling because so many
people became polarized in their reactions—including activists who
opposed the case against Corrigan and also those who believed that she
was negligent (including some of our own friends and supporters). Most
troubling is the suffering and death of the child herself, who, by all
accounts, was bright and had great potential.
I don’t automatically agree with
some activists that this is a clear case of size discrimination, and I
don’t necessarily disagree with those (including the prosecutors) who
stated that Christina’s size had nothing to do with their bringing the
case to trial.
After reviewing a huge stack of press
clippings about the case, I believe that the best discussion of whether
the case was related to size discrimination was in the NAAFA Newsletter;
(January/February;1998). That issue presented its own editorial opinion,
as well as articles by Judy Freespirit, Marily Wann, and Debby Burgard,
all of whom attended some or most of the trial. The newsletter also
examined the reasons for NAAFA’s concerns about the case and the media
coverage, as well as the qualms of some members who felt that Christina’s
mother had indeed abused her daughter.
According
to editorial coverage from the NAAFA Newsletter, "Marlene Corrigan,
a single working mother who cared for her two elderly, severely ill
parents in addition to Christina, exhausted the available resources in
trying to get help for Christina. She took her daughter to the doctor
ninety times, yet was never referred to an available specialist; she was
told by Child Protective Services ‘We don’t do fat’; and she was
told by the school that they could not accommodate her daughter, that
Christina wasn’t eligible for in-home teaching, and that Mrs. Corrigan
wasn’t qualified to teach Christina at home."
Perhaps there was some avenue Corrigan
failed to try for her daughter, but I believe that the
"experts" from whom she might have obtained referrals in a
better social services system or a better school system would have
probably done no more to help a 680-pound thirteen-year-old than they
can do, currently, to help a 680-pound adult. Most likely, they would
have advocated stapling her stomach.
Legally, the prosecutors may have had
a case for proceeding, even if fat had not been involved. Legally, the
judge had to base his ruling on the law. But morally, the entire system
failed both mother and daughter. Ask yourself this: Where would you have
turned, had you been in Marlene Corrigan’s shoes? And, finally, I’d
like to suggest that unless you were at the trial yourself or examined
all the evidence, it might be a mistake to pass judgment on the mother,
the judge, or even the prosecutor.
I do believe that at its root, the
Corrigan case was very much based on society’s size discrimination.
Christina might be alive today had not the entire social order
discriminated against its larger members—failing to provide everything
from an adequate size of school desk to appropriate medical facilities
to improve the fitness and health of fat children and adults.
Now,
on to fat adults: I’ve been impressed by comments I’ve heard about
the book Delta Style (St. Martin’s Press), written by TV actress Delta
Burke. An excerpt appeared in People magazine (March 23, 1998) as a
cover story. Perhaps you recall her outstanding role as Suzanne
Sugarbaker in the TV series Designing Women, from 1986 to 1991. In a
1990 show, her character dealt directly and forcefully with size
discrimination at a high school class reunion. Ms. Burke says that that
TV episode was the "beginning of the person I am now." Burke
writes of her hope that "young women, in particular, learn to
accept their bodies" and realize that "there are many
definitions of beauty." She also has a line of clothing that she
sells on QVC (a cable shopping channel) and other places (see Radiance,
Fall 1997). Internet discussions of the book and Delta Burke’s
many public appearances (TV talk shows, bookstores, and so on) have been
complimentary. For example, after her appearances on NBC-TV’s Dateline
on March 15, 1998, and the Today Show on March 16, 1998, many thought
her to be an outstanding spokesperson for large women.
The most impressive kudos I’ve seen
for Delta Burke were in Liz Smith’s syndicated celebrity column of
March 24, 1998, in the New York Post. Below a dynamite photo of the
actress, Smith said, "Wow! Delta Burke sure is looking good these
days, out promoting her new book....Sexily plump, Delta is proof
positive that a woman doesn’t have to be slender to be a knockout.
Delta is a real role model for women who carry a few extra pounds. Here’s
to the former Suzanne Sugarbaker, and here’s to real women with real
hips the world over!"
The past three months have been busy
for weight-loss scam artists, despite the increasing glare of adverse
publicity. The "herbal fen-phen" scam was exposed by Laura
Fraser in Good Housekeeping in February 1998. Ingredients such as
ephedra (also known as ma huang), commonly found in herbal weight-loss
supplements, are said to be harmful to many people. The article listed
other herbs used in diet supplements and their effects (or lack thereof)
on dieters. The article’s conclusion: "There is no herb that’s
been proven to induce weight loss," says Varro Tyler, Ph.D., an
expert on medicinal herbs. Yet the FTC doesn’t have the funds to
monitor most of the claims of weight-loss promoters. Thank goodness
people like Laura Fraser keep track of these scoundrels! The possibility
of an exposé by an investigative reporter is sometimes all that keeps
an exploitative food and drug supplier from doing more damage.
On the magazine scene, this one is
totally different from any others: COLORS. This periodical is
published in Italy, receives worldwide distribution, is multilingual
(including English), and is dedicated to a "different" view of
reporting the world news. The COLORS April/May 1998 issue was dedicated
entirely to fat: fat in food, in animals, and in people; more than you
ever wanted to know about fat, really. People I know were among those
quoted or photographed in the issue. Some activists are annoyed by some
of the negatives about fat that were published—but the magazine
balanced that with lots of positive news. Overall, I found it to be
even-handed, and I learned a thing or two myself. Did you know that a
woman in Alaska is compiling data on fat people who have been injured by
toilets that shattered, in the hope of getting manufacturers to beef up
the standard load ratings? Everyone can find something to be shocked by
in the issue. The COLORS publisher is affiliated with the Italian
fashion promoter and manufacturer United Colors of Benetton, which has a
liberal, activist corporate policy, so I was not surprised by the
magazine’s tone.
In the April 1998 issue of Vogue
magazine, an article called "The Fat of the Land" spouted the
usual glib nonsense about why women get fat and what to do about it. The
article was accompanied by a photograph of a plus-size nude, which
aroused much comment among size activists. Was this progress on the part
of Vogue, or was it a subtle put-down? I know I am normally a
glass-is-half-full-not-half-empty kind of guy, but I believe Vogue did
it so they could say, "You see, we used a fat model, and everyone
said how disgusting that was, and to keep them out of the
magazine." Vogue’s plus-size model had the appearance—in
her pose and her tentative expression—of being uncomfortable with her
size and her nudity.
Knowing
how bad Vogue can be, I wish my larger friends would give Mode
magazine a little more credit. Women larger than size 16 are not in Mode’s
target audience. Period. This is unfortunate, but Mode still serves an
important group of women.
More intelligent was the May 1998 issue of Glamour,
which seems to be more perceptive on women’s issues (for a mainstream
magazine, that is). An insightful article written anonymously by a man
about his average-size wife’s obsession with losing weight must have
made some female readers uncomfortable about their own obsession. Let’s
hope this piece helps some women to get beyond that.
One piece of bad news: antifat bigot
Michael Fumento, author of hate literature disguised as a book (The Fat
of the Land: The Obesity Epidemic and How Overweight Americans Can Help
Themselves) sold the Brooklyn Bridge (figuratively speaking) to the
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). He wrote an article,
"Weight After 50: Is there too much on our plate?," for the
May–June 1998 issue of Modern Maturity. The magazine even let Fumento,
as an "expert," rebut the January 1, 1998, New England Journal
of Medicine editorial that blew the whistle on the medical campaign
against obesity (see Radiance, Spring 1998). Naturally, Fumento foams at
the mouth at the mention of the NEJM editorial and cannot conceal
his disdain for editors Jerome P. Kassirer, M.D., and Marcia Angell,
M.D. Why am I not surprised? I am sorry to see the AARP get suckered in
by Fumento. I don’t question Fumento’s sincerity—merely his facts
and his conclusion (that’s all!). And hate is hate, regardless of
whatever facts you think you can muster to support it.
In
great contrast with the preceding, is my favorite magazine article of
this past spring: "Living Large" by Jeanie Wilson, in Woman’s
Day (April 21, 1998). It was subtitled, "Not a size 12, 14, or even
20? So what!" A number of large women were beautifully
photographed, including some supersize women. The article quoted dozens
of people who had size-positive things to say, including artists,
models, authors, size-acceptance activists, and actress Darlene Cates,
and it was a charming, heartwarming piece that is worth looking up in
the library if you haven’t already seen it!
On an emotional episode of the Drew
Carey show on March 11, 1998, Drew’s fiancée leaves him because she
has gained weight. (She sees herself in a bedroom video they made of
themselves.) When Drew tells her she looks fine to him, she responds
that he is part of the problem. She is clearly not comfortable being
with a man who likes her at any size. The issues raised by this show
took it out of the comedy category for many viewers. Unfortunately, the
situation is not uncommon in real life. Some activists disliked the
show, but I thought it was a realistic portrayal that didn’t get
milked for laughs as you might expect of a sitcom.
A record number of viewers tuned in to
the final episode of Seinfeld on May 13 and found the foursome—Jerry,
Elaine, Kramer, and George—on trial for failing to help a fat man
whose wallet and car were stolen as they stood by and watched. Not only
did they watch: they mocked the victim. ("There goes the money for
lipo." "He [the thief] is really doing him a favor: now he’ll
have less money to buy food." "The great thing about stealing
from a fat guy is it’s an easy getaway: he can’t run after
you.") It is this "callous indifference and utter disregard
for all that is human" that lands them a one-year jail sentence.
The victim of the theft and derision
might be seen by some as the stereotypical "fat guy," but it
seems like progress when a popular TV show like Seinfeld chooses fat
bashing as an example of bad behavior, especially on its final episode.
What can we say about Camryn
Manheim, but wow! She’s popped up in this column for many years
and is on this issue’s cover. These
days, she is really making media news. As Ellenor on The
Practice (ABC-TV), Manheim’s role calls for her to be
"out" about her size. It is no coincidence that the show is
produced by David E. Kelley, who has a long history of dealing
realistically and sympathetically with size discrimination.
Manheim received powerful praise by
media critic Peter Marks in the "Week in Review" section of
the New York Times on Sunday, May 3, 1998. That section is read by
millions. Pictured on the front page in living color, Ms. Manheim’s
photo was captioned "Breaking the Fat Barrier—A 200-lb. starlet
who isn’t a joke." My pulse raced a bit as I turned to the piece
on page 5. A bold headline shouted, "Sometimes Fat Women Have
Lives." In the article, Marks proclaimed, "The real
breakthrough for fat people this year is Camryn Manheim." He went
on to say that in her role on The Practice, "she doesn’t wear
floral muumuus or have a chip on her shoulder or end up with story lines
that inevitably brush up against the grotesque. Plus, she’s sexually
active . . . . She’s sensible. She’s attractive. She’s
admirable."
Kathy Bates has certainly come into
her own as a large actress with her parts in Titanic and Primary
Colors. The awards and praise she has recently received have probably
assured her that she will be in demand as the fine large-size actress
she is, for many years to come.
There is something about actress Kate
Winslet, the female lead of the film Titanic that is appealing, and she
does not qualify as a reed-thin actress typical of Hollwood. In fact,
according to Movieline magazine in March, she "hates the attention
Hollywood women pay to weight." Ms. Winslet told the magazine that
she used to be obsessed with her weight, which she "struggled
with" for much of her young life, but she read The Beauty Myth (by
Naomi Wolf) and was enormously influenced by it.
In the world of advertising, the big
news is the "Reshape Your Attitude" ad campaign by Kellogg’s
Special K (photo and mention in Radiance Summer 1998). The ads,
which spoof women obsessing about their bodies, emphasize eating
nutritiously, not eating to lose weight per se. This is a reversal of
their old ads, which emphasized staying slim.
One funny scene shows various men
making comments commonly heard from women obsessing about their bodies
("Do these make my butt look big?" and "I have my mother’s
hips") with a female voice-over: "Men don’t obsess about
their weight: why should we?" Kellogg’s focus groups of women
from the aging baby boomer population found that most women were turned
off by the old ads hyping an unrealistic body image. It’s about time!
I don’t always mention mail-order
catalogs in this column, but I have to tip my hat to the Plus Woman
catalog. It has featured plus-size and supersize models from the start;
it is beginning to enjoy a large circulation with the mainstream public;
it is supportive of size acceptance, including this magazine; and it
stays in business year after year, while others fall by the wayside. It
is by no means the only mainstream catalog to include supersize models
(to name one, check out Making It Big), but deserves a pat on the back
for what it has been doing (for a catalog, call 800-628-5525 or
704-628-3562).
A refreshing view from the world of
sports: I hope you didn’t miss the Associated Press photo on February
6, 1998, showing Tara Lipinski, a figure skater who was "the
smallest U.S. Olympian at 86 pounds" greeting the 516-pound
champion sumo wrestler Akebono in Nagano, Japan. The media loves
size-contrasting stuff like this, but on this occasion treated both
champions with respect.
That’s it for this issue. My thanks
goes to all the readers who sent news items via mail and e-mail. ©
WILLIAM J. FABREY helps run
Amplestuff, a mail-order company. He founded NAAFA in 1969, and
currently is a director of the Council on Size & Weight
Discrimination. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 116, Bearsville, NY
12409, or at WJFabrey@aol.com. |
