What is thin privilege?

 

Written by CCTC Staff Writer

Recovering from an eating disorder, disordered eating and body image concerns not only takes tremendous action and change, but in order to make these changes, it is important to take a look at our society and culture and how it contributes to your own personal struggles and people of all sizes and backgrounds. 

Whether it is working with a therapist, dietitian or recovery coach on an outpatient basis or within a treatment program, exploring diet culture, weight bias and thin privilege are topics that should be addressed during the recovery process. These topics can be difficult topics to explore with feelings of shame, anger and grief that may arise in response. In this article, we will discuss what thin privilege is, who it impacts, and how to address emotions you may feel in learning about this topic. 

In this article we will address: 

  • What privilege is

  • What thin privilege is 

  • What fatphobia and weight bias are

  • Why having thin privilege does not mean you cannot struggle with body image

  • How having thin privilege impacts day to day life

  • Finding inclusive eating disorder treatment care 

  • Coping with difficult feelings around thin privilege 

What is privilege? 

Before we get into what thin privilege is, let's review the definition of the word privilege itself. You may have heard this before in different contexts such as white privilege or male privilege.  

Cambridge Dictionary defines privilege as “an advantage that only one person or group of people has.” In the past, privilege was primary focused on race and gender, but social justice activits say it is important to understand privlege is more compex and is compromised of interrelated hierarchies and power dynamics that touch all facets of social life: race, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, education, gender identity, age, physical ability, passing, etc. 


Now, it's important to remember that privilege does not mean you live a life 100% free of hardship, pain or difficulty. It simply means that you may have traits or characteristics that provide some advantages in our society. 


So, what is thin privilege? 

There is no one exact definition of thin privilege. In an article by Good Housekeeping, they explain thin privilege as the culmination of the social, financial, and practical benefits a person gets because they are thin or in a relatively smaller body. 

To truly understand what it means to live in a thin body and what privilege exists, we must first understand what fatphobia and weight bias are. 


What is fatphobia and weight bias? 

Weight bias, sometimes also referred to as fatphobia or weight stigma, describes the negative attitudes and stereotypes surrounding and attached to larger bodies. 

Boston Medical Center defines fatphobia as:

“Also known as anti-fat, is the implicit and explicit bias of overweight individuals that is rooted in a sense of blame and presumed moral failing. Being overweight and/or fat is highly stigmatized in Western Culture. Anti-fatness is intrinsically linked to anti-blackness, racism, classism, misogyny, and many other systems of oppression.”


Does acknowledging your own thin privilege mean you cannot struggle with your body image? 

If this is your first time learning about thin privilege and you are living in a smaller body, you may have had an initial reaction to this. You may think to yourself, “well, I have experienced body image issues” or “I’m not that thin, so I struggle.” While that may be true, it is important to understand the reality that living in a smaller body comes with many privileges in our weight obsessed society. Acknowledging thin privilege does not mean you cannot struggle with body image or disordered eating. It just means that you are not facing the additional hardships and struggles that come with living in a larger body while also dealing with those struggles.  

As popular non-diet registered dietitian Christy Harrison, MPH, RD, CDN says “you can have thin privilege and also hate your body.” 


Ways thin privilege affects your day to day life 

Unfortunately, living in such a weight-obsessed society means the size of our bodies can greatly impact our daily lives. Here are some situations that show how thin privilege drastically changes the way we exist: 

  • Being able to shop for clothing both in person at stores or online and being able to find your size easily. Those who need a larger clothing size may find little to no options, or are faced with costly alternatives that are not trendy or stylish choices. 

  • Fitting into a booth at a restaurant, fitting easily into a medical gown at the doctors office, being able to sit comfortably in an airplane seat. 

  • Being able to access treatment and medical care where a doctor does not blame your condition or treat your condition with a focus on your weight being an issue. 

  • Not facing discrimination when applying for a job. A 2009 survey found that “93% of employees would choose an applicant of “normal weight” over an equally qualified applicant who was [of a higher weight]”


How thin privilege impacts those with eating disorders

People of all sizes can, and will, struggle with eating disorders. Unfortunately, due to dangerous misconceptions, people often assume those with an eating disorder are thin or underweight. Meaning you’d be able to make the assumption of whether or not someone is struggling based on how they look or what they weigh. 

Unfortunately, medical professionals and mental health professionals are not exempt from falling victim to these dangerous misconceptions. Those in larger bodies may not get adequate care that someone presenting the same symptoms of disordered eating in a smaller body may receive. For example, they may be encouraged for their weight loss, or told to watch their diet more closely rather than getting a medical evaluation and proper referrals to outpatient or higher level of care. 


Why thin privilege is unhelpful for everyone 

Thin privilege is reinforced by diet culture. This culture has helped form a society that celebrates thinness and dieting, and perpetuates an obsession and fear of weight. No matter what size body you live in, you may feel pressure to maintain or try to reach a certain socially-acceptable size, often engaging in disordered eating habits. 


Finding inclusive eating disorder treatment care 

If you are seeking eating disorder treatment and are hoping to find a program and providers that are understanding of thin privilege, weight bias and diet culture, here are some questions you may want to ask: 

  1. Do you have experience treating eating disorders in clients with larger bodies?

  2. Do you have a staff with diverse body types? 

  3. In what ways does your office/facility offer inclusive care ie: gowns and medical equipment for all bodies, armless seating, nutrition advice that is the same for all clients 

  4. Do you cover topics such as diet culture, thin privilege, fatphobia etc. in your programming? 

  5. Are you/your providers understanding of their own thin privilege?  


These types of questions can help you get the knowledge you need to get care that is inclusive and supportive whether or not you live in a larger body. 


Coping with difficult feelings around thin privilege 

Understanding the harsh realities of living in a larger body can be overwhelming, especially when recovering from eating disorder behaviors. Feelings of shame, sadness, grief and anger are not only normal, but expected. Let yourself feel these emotions and know it is okay to feel the way you do.. Trust that there are therapists, dietitians and other treatment supports that are able to provide a safe space for healing from the trauma and hardship that you may have experienced. You are not alone in this process. 


If you are or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, take the first step today and talk to someone about recovery or simply learn more about the holistic and body inclusive eating disorder recovery programs we offer here at Central Coast Treatment Center. 


 
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