Where is the love, y’all?
I figured there would be backlash regarding the article that appeared about me in The Age (26/9) and I was right. Yesterday a letter was published in response to my interview (you can read it here, scroll down to the bottom of the page, it is the last letter) which did nothing but trot out the same tired rhetoric we hear ALL THE TIME.
You WILL end up in hospital, fat ass
Oh, the poor nurses who will be required to tend to your fat ass
Yay me, I am in the ‘healthy weight range’ of the BMI so why the hell aren’t you, fat ass
I have to eyeball super fatties all the time (including their fat asses)
Oh, the expense to the tax payer of all that super size equipment hospitals have to have to cater for your fat ass
Oh, all the extra staff hospitals have to have to cater for your fat ass
Oh, all the extra work required to cater for your fat ass
What the hell planet are you from, you deluded fat ass?
You ARE definitely unhealthy because of your fat ass
You won’t be able to have elective surgery because of your fat ass
You are doing to DIE, fat ass.
I would like to take this opportunity to point out to G. Sheahan from Wantirna, that personally I don’t weigh over 150kg (not that it is relevant or even matters) so s/he isn’t likely to be seeing me in his/her nursing unit. I HAVE had elective surgery 3 times in the last 18 months (none of which were fat related) and there were NO issues whatsoever about my weight, including the administration of anaesthesia. You have no idea why I am fat, or why anyone else is fat and if you are automatically assuming it is because of overeating and lack of exercise then you have no right to be a nurse. Compassion, heard of that? Do you realise, G. Sheahan, that if all that ‘extra care’ wasn’t seen as being needed that a lot of nurses like you wouldn’t have jobs? You aren’t my doctor so you have NO authority whatsoever to pass judgement on whether I am healthy or not. Thanks for calling me a liar. And yeah, I am going to die. But so are you.
Based on the letter from this charmingly compassionate health professional, I am working on a post about shame and stigma. Basically, shame and stigma are ineffective motivational tools, despite previous and persisting views insisting the very opposite. Back to working on that (and my last Masters paper) now…
I’m not even going to read it there. I can imagine all too well basing on your description. It’s even more terrible, that it’s coming from a NURSE, for God’s sake… And about the shame and stigma? I’m having medical issues right now (including some serious weight gain – not a problem in itself, but I suspect it has something to do with my other problems – periods suddenly becoming increasingly irregular, hair growing on my chin, depression…). However, I am deeply reluctant to go to a doctor, because of the shaming. As if a person with a history of ED cannot count calories or perhaps I’m really eating Big Macs instead of the fruits and veggies I think I’m eating? either way, they’ll probably call me deluded, a liar, how is it good for the overall health of the nation if people are afraid to visit the doctors? If they’re terrified of hospitals not because of associations with illness and death, but out of fear of judgmental nurses? It just makes me want to scream.
I’m pleased to see that it seems joe proietto has dissolved some of his own prejudice… perhaps he’s finally “getting it” too….
My mother had a deeply demoralising experience in Gosford Hospital last year by so called care givers. She was in for heart irregularities (in the end no cause found) and later developed some sort of blood infection because of a transfusion (I think). Anyway, my point which I’m getting to, is that the whole experience and the way she was treated vis a vis her weight required her to need counselling months down the track due to what they had done to her. She already had years of shame due to a nasty mother who still (Mum 59 and Nan 83) continues. For a while Mum was too ashamed and scared to leave the house. Unfortunately people who are supposed to provide care often cause the most pain.
Ugh, I just read the letter in the Age.
Why is that I feel like she expects us all to line up and shake her hand because she weighs 58 kilos?
I feel a wry smile of recognition coming on.
Many years ago when I was deeply mired in fat shame and trying desperately to lose weight. I read a letter by a nurse which was about how nurses backs where being damaged by fatties.
I was mortified, this had never occured to me. Not only was I a selfish fattie, I actually didn’t even bother to consider who I was damaging in the process. From that moment on, I resolved to redouble my efforts to shed weight (for about the millionth time).
Suffice to say, it made no difference whatsoever. About 5 years later I decided that reluctantly, I would have to let go of the nurses, (along with other things) because I wasn’t getting any thinner, and I was imploding under the pressure.
I’m not sure why I’m telling you this. I know those who feel the way of the letter don’t care, I certainly don’t want any sympathy, I feel a bit sheepish about it all, truth be told. Maybe that’s why.
Why would they even publish something like that?
Replace the word fat with “Jew” or the n-word and it’s equally horrible, or worse. 
I don’t know what its like in Australia, but in the United States I’ve visited a few hospitals for several reasons (the birth of our daughters, sick friends and family) and I am somewhat confused by the number of fat nurses on staff.
First of all, if we’re such horrible human beings for not considering the nursing staff before we began gorging ourselves endlessly (I’m being sarcastic here), then why aren’t the nursing staffs full of 58k nurses.
And if all it took was an awareness of the supposed health issues associated with obesity to motivate people to lose weight then, again, why so many fat nurses?
What an ignorant letter. I hope it didn’t get under your skin Bri.
Peace,
Shannon
Bri, I’m so glad to see the article about you in The Age. As for the response…yeah. I’m sorry about that. It appears to be the price we pay for daring to publicly exist. Solidarity.
You and your daughter are both lovely. Stay strong.
Unfortunately, a lot of people who work in the medical profession have forgotten about ethics and compassion. And a lot of them are prejudice and undereducated too.
What I find striking is that these “professionals” think that treating others with cruelty and disrespect is the way to make people better. They think it’s too inconvenient to provide facilities better equipped to handle larger patients. They think it’s too much trouble to bother with concepts like “kindness” and “compassion.” It’s easier to be judgmental and rude, because anything else would take effort. And fat people are lazy? OK then!
Yes, fat people get ill. But to directly assume that weight is the SOLE CAUSE of illness is false. Unless you know the patient’s entire medical history, G. Sheahan is just making a guess that this patient cited in the letter passed away from “obesity.” Nobody passes away from “obesity.” What nonsense.
I don’t know how medical education works in Australia, but I know in the US only nurse practitioners can diagnose and directly treat patients. There was no indication that G. Sheahan has this type of education.
Ah but FAT is the “new” black/gay/jew/chinese/woman/irish/aboriginal/indian/etc ad infinatum…
Fat people are yet another maligned group, judged on their physical appearance at first glance,and “profiled” courtesy of accepted social beliefs.
Apparently we’re all Fat Evil Lazy Unhealthy Sick Stupid Ignorant Uneducated Sub-humans who can’t be trusted around children (in case we eat them!), shouldn’t be employed, and have no right to enjoy happy, healthy relationships, ride on trains with the Skinnies, and MUST be laughed and pointed at in case we happen to be out in public walking (yelling and name calling optional, and encouraged)…
We are too fat to adopt children:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jan/13/adoption-rejected-couple
are too fat to commit suicide: http://www.theonion.com/content/news/study_many_americans_too_fat_to
are too fat to work: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article2896819.ece
too fat to be a model:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/02/lizzie-miller-model-fat
too fat to be surgeon general:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-bergthold/too-fat-to-be-a-surgeon-g_b_242465.html
too fat to play cricket:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/too-fat-to-play-row-over-cosgroves-suspension/2005/09/30/1127804649522.html
too fat to f*ck:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30563986/ns/today-today_relationships/
and too fat to give birth:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/life-style/dieting/2009/07/02/i-was-too-fat-to-give-birth-115875-21490123/
I’ve no doubt you’ve covered these or similar articles in the past, but there is a consistent message blindly reflected and repeated in the media, aimed at every aspect, area and demographic of society, across the entire western world. Everywhere we look, we are told we are not good enough because we are fat.
Well, I’m sorry but I do not agree: I REJECT the labels and boundaries the Skinnies are trying to impose on me. I am a healthy, educated, vibrant woman who has been happily married (and well loved) for almost 18 years, and as a vegetarian, non-cannibal, I promise I’ve never eaten any children!
What a shame Not Quite Nancy Drew is already married – otherwise I’d be proposing
*blush*
that’s so sweet of you Melissa!
xox
Ugh.. Could this lady BE any more stupid? Inappropriately sarcastic? Annoying?! God! She really needs to be fired.
I live in California and yes, there are quite a few fat nurses and it actually makes me feel more comfortable in my local doctor’s office. Of course the fact that her coworkers were fat didn’t stop my counselor from pushing weight loss on me. Then again, the fact that I’m a Fat Acceptance activist (and told her this time and again, at least once a meeting) didn’t stop her either. But I guess she was so inspired by her own weight loss “success” that she wanted to help the poor fat girl see the error of her ways.
::applauds Bri::
Pauli: I read about 5 comments and stopped. I knew what the rest would be like. There have been studies done (multiple studies actually) showing that health professionals have the worst attitudes towards overweight people which is ironic. They ostracise us because we don’t ‘take care of ourselves’ but if we want their assistance in any way not about losing weight, they don’t want to know about us! Your problems sounds a lot like PCOS… I hope you can find someone with an open enough mind to help you *hugs*
Melissa: I am so sorry to hear what your mum went through, that is appalling. And to think her own mother is still shaming her even at their ages… breaks my heart.
Wriggles: I am sorry you went through that. I don’t know what the answer is for nurses and their back problems other than lifting equipment for everyone. They can’t tell me that lifting (even thin) people all the time is good for anyone’s back.
JeninCanada: Because it is ok to be mean to the fatties. It might be incorrect to publish negative sentiments about Jews etc in mainstream publications these days but I know a lot of people still think those things. And it is wrong – it is all wrong.
Shannon: Yes there are fat nurses here too. I hate to think the attitude they cop from their colleagues. The letter didn’t get under my skin, I expected backlash and unfortunately it isn’t anything I haven’t heard before!
FatNutritionist: Thanks honey : ) I think it was worth it. I can deal with one nasty letter! lol
Sarah: You are so right. Their excuse is that they are doing it for our health. Just like the concern trolls. Well I don’t care why they are doing it, they don’t have to be rude and disrespectful. Their attitude about being cruel to be kind is intriguing isn’t it? I don’t understand how they can think that sort of approach works! Obviously it doesn’t! I totally agree with everything you have said here! We don’t actually have nurse practitioners here in Australia, only a doctor can authorise treatment.
Not Quite Nancy Drew: While I get where you are coming from, we need to be particularly aware that there is still a ridiculous amount of prejudice against all those groups you mentioned and that it is all wrong. People often say fat hatred is the last ‘acceptable’ prejudice, they forget that other prejudice still exists and is rampant, something I know you are well aware of : ) As for eating children, hasn’t anyone told you about baby flavoured donuts?? I love all your links, you made your point loud and clear! Go girl!
Lexie Di: Yeah she doesn’t get any marks for compassion does she? Ugh re your counsellor. As a counsellor myself that sort of thing makes me really angry.
Mer: *Bri bows*
shame and stigma are ineffective motivational tools
EXACTLY! God I’ve been saying that forever! Shaming does not fucking work. If it did, there wouldn’t be a single fat person on the face of the planet. And yes, it’s also so screwed up how much hostility fat people face from health professionals (I have my own experience to back this up)…gee, then they wonder a lot of fat people don’t bother making doctor’s appointments. What really angers me is that too many of these so-called “professionals” just INSTANTLY blame problems on weight, when there could be other factors at work…doesn’t every human being have the right to be treated and made well without feeling like shit? What about the Hippocratic Oath?