Well, we've had women's studies and black studies and lesbian studies and disability studies and ethnic studies, none aimed at a real education, all just full of "victims" railing againts the larger oppressive society. So this should come as no great surprise:
In December 2004, she helped found the organization Size Matters, whose goal was to promote size acceptance and positive body image. In April, the group sponsored a conference called Fat and the Academy, a three-day event at Smith of panel discussions and performances by academics, researchers, activists and artists. Nearly 150 people attended.
Even as science, medicine and government have defined obesity as a threat to the nation's health and treasury, fat studies is emerging as a new interdisciplinary area of study on campuses across the country and is gaining interest in Australia and Britain. Nestled within the humanities and social sciences fields, fat studies explores the social and political consequences of being fat.
What kind of joke can possibly be made here? How do you make fun of something this far beyond parody?
Comments
Well, I guess if one wants to be truly informed, educated and understanding of the "svelt-challenged" one must first study the subject at the college and post graduate level.
By offering such courses, students will learn of the heinous and discriminatory practices the "svelt-challenged" have endured.
I'm sure the course structure will draw the close parallels of civil rights, gay rights, transgender rights, disabled rights and the like.
We have suffered in silence too long! Stand up (if possible) and be heard (if you're not out of breath)! It's time to come out (of the kitchen)!
I'm not going to get into the understandably touchy mix of weight and humor, but I will say what I've figured out for myself alone:
As long as the B.M.I. chart says that at 30 lbs. over my ideal weight, I will be "morbidly obese," I'm going to disavow that 30 lbs. by, as Malcolm used to say, any means necessary -- well, almost.
"Morbidly obese" is not a phrase I want to attend seminars to learn to love, embrace and accept. I aspire to continue to dislike and reject it in my own life, in fact.
Here are some definitions I found in the last 2 minutes on Dictionary.com pertaining to the words "morbid" and "morbidity."
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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1) - Cite This Source
mor?bid?i?ty? /m?r?b?d?ti/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[mawr-bid-i-tee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
You know, I can sympathize with some of the weight stuff -- not to the extent of college courses, really. But I can go so far as to recognize that body types vary and there are weight ranges and appearances that are good despite some fairly strong marketing efforts to the contrary.
But, unlike being black or gay or a woman, too much weight is: a) something you can control to one extent or another; and b) objectively bad for you.
"some fairly strong marketing efforts to the contrary."
I typed that, then stopped to admire the advertisement with Jessica Simpson's legs on the sidebar.
Unless you're a SUMO wrestler, Doug....!!
Good points made by all.
;)
B.G.