If you don’t want to be political… then don’t!
As I’ve read about the whole XOXO Skorch controversy, there’s been this little thought nagging at the back of my brain.
If the XOXO Skorch Blog is not intended as a political forum… or as a representative of Fat Acceptance… if it’s ONLY meant to be a fashion blog for plus size women… then it shouldn’t include posts about topics that are politically sensitive.
More specifically, it shouldn’t be attempting to show BOTH SIDES of a politically sensitive topic.
In the March 2010 Issue of Skorch Magazine a piece was included about Health at Every Size (HAES) that was written by Shannon (aka Atchka). But only last month on the XOXO Skorch Blog there was the post “A curvy Stylistas Biggest Fashion Accessory : Health” which is in direct contradiction of the HAES perspective. (As was demonstrated by Shannon’s recent post, funny enough.)
From the comments by Jessica Kane, I’m assuming this foray into controversy was not intentional. This was probably just a case of the right hand not talking to the left.
But Dufmanno made a really great point about that in comments:
Publications looking for good content and to shake things up a little sometimes stray from the original path upsetting some readers. Loyal readers sometimes feel duped by these detours and changes.
Obviously readers of Skorch were upset by content they didn’t expect, otherwise we wouldn’t all be talking about this. I think there was a perception that Skorch was trying to stay in line with some Fat Acceptance ideals.
Personally, I’d like it if that was true. I’d like to see Skorch adopt a Fat Acceptance stance. But I’m willing to settle for them just not being my enemy. For them not to propagate the things I’m trying to fight against.
If the intent is NOT to be political, then take a hint from the fact that XOXO Skorch is on our radar. Because, here on FFF, we ARE political. Tabayag’s post demonstrated that we’re fighting for a body positive perspective. Atchka’s post demonstrated that we’re fighting against the perception that fat is said to cause ill health.
So… my advice for Jessica Kane… just don’t go there! Don’t include posts about health or dieting. Stick to clothes and style. If the goal is to hit the broadest possible market and to piss off the least amount of people, then stay away from the political side of Fatshion.
If Skorch wants to discuss health, it’s simple: encourage people to eat right and exercise. Forget about weight, as most experts on the subject admit that permanent weight loss is virtually impossible.
I think it’s the difference between a positivist approach to health and a negativist approach. A negativist says “You won’t be healthy until you do X, Y, and Z,” while a positivist says, “Every little step you take to sustainably improve your health is worth effort.”
Health is not all or nothing. If you reach your ideal weight, you aren’t suddenly healthy. Health is a spectrum along which you travel, either upward toward a healthier lifestyle, downward toward an unhealthier lifestyle, or essentially flat. Encourage people to move up, but don’t act as though there is a specific destination we should all be heading toward.
Peace,
Shannon
atchka -
That would be my preference. It would be kinda cool to have “Lifestyle” magazine that was willing to support a HAES perspective.
To paraphrase Aerosmith - Health is a journey, not a destination (I love the line from one of their songs - “Life is a journey, not a destination”, and thought a rephrasing of it was very apropos here).
Supporting health for all sizes is better than pushing dieting/weight loss = health, and that I could see reading in a fashion publication (the support, not the pushing).
Just like in my podcast interview with Dr. Linda Bacon… it wouldn’t take much to positively redirect society’s current obesity panic from focusing on obesity to focusing on health. Just stop emphasizing weight loss, and leave the messages about diet and exercise.
So simple!
Peace,
Shannon
By reading this post I became aware of the XOXO Skorch Mag/Blog controversy. I agree that “if you don’t want to be political…then don’t”. Health is not linear and the body is complex. You cannot put people in a box .
If that is true, Hidi, then could you please ask my captors to release me from this box, please?
Peace,
Shannon
LOL. Ok, I will start negotiating with your captors. Honestly, I cannot stand the idea of putting someone or a group of people into a box. We are all different. If society wants to find blame, then blame GENETICS.
But genetics is just an excuse! Genetics doesn’t really do anything. It’s just a mythical concept thought up by some pablum-puking liberals to excuse the homosexuals and the fatties. Everything is your fault, don’t you know?
Peace,
Shannon
Shannon, you need to clarify for the readers that it’s more of a luxurious cage than a box. You have plenty to do in there with your salt lick and swinging perch.
Now get back to your laptop and keep turning out content will you? If you want to be let out on occasion to see your friends and family you need to abide by the rules.
But I already sang you all the Police songs I know. I just want to stretch my legs and maybe empty the pickle jar. I don’t know what else you want from me, I’ve already written three novels about the Crimean War. How many more do you need?
Peace,
Shannon
Hi
For years I have often disagreed with the party-line of Fat Acceptance and have found few online communities that match Fat Acceptance brand ire toward Fat People who disagree with the “Agreed” FA Consensus.
Example is that last year I had a Blogger announce that she would simply delete my replies because I disagreed with her, not that I had behaved badly or anything!!
William (Fat Acceptance at times is a messy business)
William -
This is true. And you make a good point.
I would like to believe that I’m willing to be a little more moderate in my Fat Acceptance…but, then again, I am going off on Skorch and suggesting something pretty extreme becasue I’m frustrated with their choices.
And, dude, while I have never actually had my comments deleted, I have felt run out of town many a time within FA online communities. I just don’t get why people can be so nice in person but such jerks online. Although, once again, I’m reminded that I just went off in my post!
It is hard balancing the fierce passion that makes some of us driven to activism and the moderation it takes to make more allies than enemies.