The last couple of weeks have been filled with controversial news and lots of bloggers talking about it. Isn’t that what blogging is after all, about the conversations? But why is it that there seems to be a bandwagon of the same opinion and those of us that differ hold back on that….I know for me, it boils down to the shame of the weight.
As many of you know, I have struggled with my weight since my childhood. I have my own story. Just like you! But I for one, think the campaign is a good thing. The kids get a chance to speak up and be honest how they feel. A bigger problem is how the parents listen or don’t. If you watch the video above, Chloe, and many of the others, are just like many of us who struggle and blog about it. Our problems started when we were kids.
Why do some grown-ups think the kids are being shamed? Or the kids are humiliated or criticized? Because we have all been there…but that is the reality of what is happening out there. They are honest statements.
It isn’t fun being a kid when your overweight.
You do get teased as an overweight child at school.
and the shame, humiliation, and criticism comes and manifests when we can’t talk about how we feel. It’s so secret, SO BAD, no one talks about it. Parents and adults don’t listen. THAT is more of where the shame comes from. Those kids are proud of what they did. and we as adults claim to say what is happening to them but is it perhaps are own shame of our weight?
If adults tell children enough of something, they believe it!
So as the world continues to put the words like shame, criticized, targets, etc on these kids that is what they will hear. The campaign is geared to get parents to hear the hard truths. It is to give the children that have had no choices thus far hasn’t perhaps been heard by adults.
We often talk about self-acceptance, self-respect, loving ourselves for who we are …the journey we are on. Are we giving these children that acceptance, respect, or love….
No, we try to protect them from the society slights and feelings that being overweight runs rampant. Everyone fears being FAT and how others will treat us….we won’t fit in, no one will understand, and we are left to sit in silence..afraid to talk about it….Kind of like the large elephant in the middle of the living room that is spoke about in recovery circles.
I, for one, have a LOT of respect for these kids and the campaign advocates that took a daring chance to put the truth out there. It gave a voice to kids and a way to maybe get some parents attention.
NO…it is not the kids faults of where they are at but it is adults in this society that put their own fears on those children….
It maybe gave them a chance NOT to be ashamed………..until someone labeled it that…….
What do you think?
I think the ads are bullshit and it’s not because I think we should put kids in bubble wrap and protect them from the ills of society. I think we are sending a disturbing message to both children and parents: that being fat means you’re unhealthy (that is WRONG), that they should privilege being thin over having their health, that they should lose weight at all costs & that they should accept intolerance until they meet what society has constructed as the aesthetic of health. Being “obese” is a medical term to describe where someone lands on the BS BMI scale. There are plenty of healthy people who are medically labeled “obese.” So I don’t know why we are all fixated on ending obesity — this would entail that we strive to make people meet an arbitrary measurement (which would actually MAKE many people who are currently healthy have to strive to be unhealthy) rather than focusing on actual health. And kids shouldn’t internalize that it is RIGHT that they are bullied for being fat. These ads show the kids as passive agents who stay home & play video games rather than go outside and face their bullies. This gets my blood boiling because we have seen recently how incredibly destructive bullying is and how it has lead to many suicides. We should be teaching our kids that bullies exist no matter what you look like and that we should all have enough self-respect (no matter what our size, sexual orientation, race, etc.) to stick up for ourselves. We are participating in a mass hoax: the belief that losing weight is the cure-all to society’s ills. You and I both know this is not true. Not one bit.
I can’t agree with you more. I, too, was an overweight kid. I just don’t think people truly understand what it is like unless they’ve been there. And if these kids volunteer to do an ad campaign because they believe in the cause – then good for them! I don’t think I would have had the courage.
Also, I don’t see anyone complaining about the kids in the meth and pot commercials. Are those kids being shamed?
Honestly, the truth hurts. And if this “controversy” brings attention to the fact that there are a million kids in Georgia who are in danger then the ad has done its job.
I think this is your blog, and you can be honest and courageous and say whatever you want, and I support that 100%.
I, too, have been overweight all my life, from babyhood. And I am in the OTHER camp. I disagree with your perception of the campaign. And these are perceptions, after all. How we each interpret it.
I think it could have been just as powerful coming from a positive angle, empowering the kids and not alienating the very people they were trying to reach… not giving the viewing public (which includes all the bullies they are already dealing with) more labels and ammunition to fire at them. I have no doubts that the ads intention was to help. I just don’t agree with the approach.
Yes, the kids who volunteered were brave… that’s not the point. They are children, being led by adults with good intentions.
I heard an interview with a psychologist that helps the overweight population, and she said the same thing… it was counterproductive.
Maybe lots of blogging folks are piled on that bandwagon not because it’s the safe and popular thing to say, but because they agree with the reasoning.
In the end, if the campaign wanted to get attention and go for shock value, then they succeeded. At least it got people talking, and got it out in the open. I’ll give them that.
But then… that’s just my opinion, for which you asked.
I’m really torn about this… It’s an important campaign but one of the messages is that some families don’t recognise that they have a problem… so I wonder if they’ll think this applies to them?
I think so much of the negativity comes from peoples’ reactions and our need to label and demonise others.
I loved Chloe’s self-confidence and wonder how many other kids are that resilient (I’m not as an adult!!!).
I’ve been struggling with some internet debate here in Oz about bigger people paying more for airline seats. The story itself is one thing but the numbers of those leaving comments about having to pay for the ‘fatties’ and jibes about what bigger people eat is really hurtful.
Will be an ongoing debate I suspect!
Deb
I was never heavy as a kid… not really skinny…. kinda like I am now….
one foot un both worlds! wowowowowow