The Internet's Double Standard on Weight Discussion
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The Double Standard of Body-Shaming Online
The internet’s reaction to Samyra’s TikTok post accusing The Cheesecake Factory’s “Skinnylicious” menu of being fatphobic was a perfect storm of sanctimony and vitriol. This phenomenon is particularly telling, as it highlights the double standard that exists around discussing weight online.
On one hand, we’re encouraged to celebrate body positivity and self-acceptance. However, when someone dares to criticize an industry’s perpetuation of unrealistic beauty standards, they’re met with a barrage of insults and accusations of being “skinnyphobic.” This suggests that discussing weight is off-limits unless it’s to praise someone for their supposed “beauty.”
The cultural narrative around weight has become increasingly muddled. For decades, black women have been subject to a unique brand of body shaming – being told they’re too fat, too loud, and too unattractive by virtue of their skin color alone. Yet, today’s internet is eerily silent on this issue, instead opting for performative outrage when someone dares to challenge the status quo.
Sesali Bowen, author of Bad Fat Black Girl: Notes From a Trap Feminist, notes that this phenomenon speaks to a broader cultural crisis. “We’ve created a culture where people feel comfortable expressing outrage and judgment towards others,” she says, “but when it comes to discussing the real-life implications of these attitudes, suddenly everyone becomes an expert on what constitutes ‘fatphobia’.” This performative outrage is not limited to online spaces; rather, it’s often a symptom of a deeper cultural malaise.
In this culture, individuals are more willing to call out others for being “problematic” than actually engaging in meaningful conversation about the issues at hand. The result is a society where we’re less likely to engage with difficult topics and more likely to resort to labeling and shaming. This phenomenon suggests that we’re still struggling to create a culture of true inclusivity – one in which individuals feel comfortable discussing their own bodies without fear of judgment or reprisal.
The internet’s reaction to Samyra’s post is a symptom of a broader cultural disease – one in which we’re more concerned with performing outrage than actually engaging with the world around us. As we move forward, it’s essential that we prioritize meaningful conversations about body image and weight – rather than resorting to labeling and shaming those who dare to speak out.
The real question is: will we have the courage to confront our own complicity in this culture of outrage, or will we continue to perpetuate a system that rewards performative virtue-signaling over actual progress?
Reader Views
- EKEditor K. Wells · editor
The article gets at the heart of our online culture's penchant for performative outrage, but what's striking is how this double standard also applies to discussions around class and privilege. The same people who lambast "fatphobia" are often unwilling to tackle issues like the affordability of trendy health food options or the exploitation of underpaid gig workers in the wellness industry. Until we start holding online discourse accountable for its contradictions, we'll continue to see empty gestures masquerading as social commentary.
- CSCorrespondent S. Tan · field correspondent
The internet's fixation on policing language surrounding weight is puzzling. While body positivity has rightfully become a rallying cry for inclusivity, we risk losing sight of what matters most: creating spaces where diverse experiences and perspectives are valued equally. The article highlights the elephant in the room – that when fatness is used as a pejorative, it disproportionately affects black women. We need to hold space for nuanced discussions about weight, one that doesn't dismiss legitimate criticisms of industries profiting off unrealistic beauty standards.
- RJReporter J. Avery · staff reporter
The double standard on weight discussion online is a symptom of a broader problem: our society's addiction to outrage rather than actual progress. While body positivity is championed in theory, the moment someone challenges industry beauty standards, they're dismissed as "skinnyphobic" or worse. This performative outrage distracts from the real issue - the perpetuation of unrealistic expectations and the marginalization of marginalized bodies. To truly tackle weight stigma, we need to have nuanced conversations about power dynamics, systemic oppression, and the ways in which societal beauty standards harm people of color, particularly black women, disproportionately.