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A review by pacifickat
You Just Need to Lose Weight: And 19 Other Myths about Fat People by Aubrey Gordon
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
This was a really excellent, nuanced, and heartfelt read that challenged me to examine some common misconceptions that are often assumed to be true about fat people, and interrogate my own shifting implicit and explicit biases.
Aubrey does a good job of calling out systems of oppression, as well as individual complicities and microagressions that harm marginalized communities. She challenges who and what we center in society, and asks the reader to consider their reactions to being at times decentered.
What do we think of, or assume, when we think about fat people? What feelings does the word "fat" emotionally conjure in us? What about seeing a fat person? Ought we to interrogate those assumptions and feelings, granting dignity and respect to every human? How often do we actually listen to fat people and believe them at face value, or center their voices about their own bodies and experiences?
This will be a book I revisit again, especially Myth 16, 19, and 20.
Aubrey does a good job of calling out systems of oppression, as well as individual complicities and microagressions that harm marginalized communities. She challenges who and what we center in society, and asks the reader to consider their reactions to being at times decentered.
What do we think of, or assume, when we think about fat people? What feelings does the word "fat" emotionally conjure in us? What about seeing a fat person? Ought we to interrogate those assumptions and feelings, granting dignity and respect to every human? How often do we actually listen to fat people and believe them at face value, or center their voices about their own bodies and experiences?
This will be a book I revisit again, especially Myth 16, 19, and 20.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Medical content
Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Racism
Minor: Chronic illness, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Rape