Every time I engage in some activism, however big or small, I feel better about myself regardless of the action or the outcome because I’m taking back a tiny bit of power from those who try to keep it from me through an inappropriate use of their power and privilege. For me, activism makes my world better just by participating in it, it’s a way that I push back against the tremendous amount of bullshit that I face as a fat person. It can be setting boundaries at that family holiday dinner, asking your doctor’s office to get some armless chairs, refusing to participate in a body snarking conversation, sending an e-mail to HR questioning the company’s Biggest Loser competition. A lot of the power of activism is in thousands and thousands of people being brave, taking a risk, and taking individual action in the face of stigma, shaming, bullying, and oppression. These are all fine examples of activism but they take a lot of coordination and they aren’t always happening. When we think of activism we often think of protests and petitions. My inbox has been joyfully filled with incidences of people standing up and asking for what they deserve and it makes me so happy. Another asked her favorite local Chinese place to get some armless chairs, and they did. Another reader told her doctor that he needed to stop fat shaming her, presented evidence, and he agreed. One reader finally asked her doctor for a surgery that she wanted to help with pain, and the doctor said yes. In the past week I’ve received a bunch of awesome e-mails from readers who have been brave. I’m obsessed with the Sara Bareilles song Brave (video and full lyrics both below.) I think my favorite lyrics are
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