Hiatus

It probably seems silly to go on a hiatus from a fake blog that only has five entries, but the reason for the hiatus is actually quite relevant to the content.


In many ways, having a blog is perfect for my needs: research that never keeps me far from my beloved academia, a way to hone my writing skills, an opportunity to examine myself and my world honestly and thoroughly, and a chance to be the center of attention.

I am quitting this blog --at least for now-- because while I've always devoted more thought than I wish I would to my body, it is now becoming an unhealthy obsession. This blog was meant to be cathartic, but it completely backfired. I mention in my FAQ that I hate "fat talk", but no matter how I frame the content of this blog, that's all these posts amount to. As much as I'd like to think otherwise, I am not a sociologist. I find the research for this topic very interesting, but I'm can't be sure whether my interest is purely academic interest or glutinous, hungry body-obsessed reading. Of course it's both.

I know now that I can't be a fat ally until I stop stigmatizing my OWN fat.

I believe I've been honest about my self-interested reasons for writing this blog (and I mean, why else does any one write a blog unless it is self-interested?) but this is a unique topic; I can't either proudly identify with fat or stand apart from it and observe it unemotionally. And if I can't discuss fat unemotionally, then of course that both justifies the reason for this blog's existence and the reason that it is unsustainable.

And I so hate that this is such an emotional topic that discussing it does absolutely no good (once again, see the FAQ section on fat talk)-how can I learn more about how to cope with the pressure to be thin without even being able to talk about fat or dieting?

I'm working on it.

-The phat ally

What is the fatosphere???

It's the Internet haven where fat people can write about their daily difficulties and victories, shame and empowerment, politics, girl crushes. It is peopled by statisticians, nutritionists, fashion designers, queers, and otherwise unremarkable progressive, often politically-minded, wonderful writers on fat issues and advocating fat/body pride. The fatosphere also includes a large number of tumblrs normalizing pictures of fat women.

The most important similarity linking these blogs together is their progressive tone. Fat acceptance is a feminist, and therefore progressive issue. Below, I've included some links from great fatosphere blogs, and a comprehensive list of blogs/tumblrs. I will be sure to create a separate tab for easy access sometime in the near future.

From Corpulent:
Women I Love: Crystal Renn


From Shapely Prose:
The Fantasy of Being Thin


From Living @ 400 lbs:

But...But...But...!

From Shakesville:

Fat Ladies, UK Edition
Weighty Matters

And I must include links to:

Hey, Fat Chick
The Fat Nutritionist
The Manfattan Project
Young, Fat, and Fabulous

yeesh

I told my Mom that I started a blog calling attention to the stigmatization of fat, and she asked, "oh man, does that mean you're fat now?" Fail.


Coming soon: what it means to be a fat ally, and fatosphere 101.