WHAT WE'RE ABOUT
We are constantly redefining our own perspectives, and therefore tend to write a lot about our personal experiences. Many followers and contributors are living with anorexia, bulimia, body dysmorphic disorder, depression, and a variety of other body image disorders or mental illnesses, so please be respectful and remember that health applies differently to everyone. Any and all potentially triggering content will be prefaced with a trigger warning.
RBI supports all races, genders, classes, and sizes. We try our best to make this a safe space for everyone. If we are not doing our job or checking our privilege, we invite you to please inform us.
Some of the artwork you see here has been created by our founder or moderators, some sourced when applicable. Please be kind enough to source this blog whenever you share it's content.
We are not health professionals. Any and all advice provided on this blog is supported only by our own research, studies, and personal experiences; nothing more.
This blog is part of the Safe Space Network.
“Fat” is an adjective - not an insult.
So. I designed and impulsively posted this message last night within a 2 hour span, then promptly fell into a fabulous fatty slumber.
I had no idea upon waking this morning that it would have spawned nearly 1,000 notes overnight, but I anticipated a clear divide between those who see the truth in the message and those who reblog it simply to refute it - or to give me what they probably felt was a welcome lesson on the finer points of grammar.
As with my past viral messaging experiments, I made a bold statement and left the message up to the viewer to project their own perspective and experiences onto.
But at the same time, the design is evocative of what I believe. It is my personal perspective. It is my experience.
The image I used is a photo of my own body. My fat belly. My stretch marks. Me.
Yes, I am aware is is not SIMPLY an adjective.
Yes, I am aware that the word “fat” is multidimensional.
Let’s take a closer look at the dictionary definition of the word, to reiterate the fact that I am not fucking illiterate.
Bottom line - Fat is many things.
I choose to use it as a word to define and describe my body in a positive way.
I aim to strip the negative connotations that continually weigh the word down as a descriptor.
That was my purpose behind this message.
If you don’t understand this purpose, then consider it.
If you don’t agree with this purpose, then this message is clearly not for you.
If you agree with this purpose, then please spread it - and explain why you agree.
——
I’d like to address some initial responses I’ve found in the notes that I find either intriguing or amusing. Reading into the feedback that stems from putting my messages out there like this is always such a learning experience.
THIS IS THE MOST STUPID THING I’VE EVER READ.
“Adjecive” and “insult” are not mutually exclusive, god damn it.
In fact, insults are usually adjectives. Occasionally a noun. But mostly adjectives.
Learn grammar. It helps.
Thank you for the grammar lesson and for missing the point entirely.
What? NO!
Fat is a noun. It is a substance. It is something you HAVE, not something you ARE.
It does not define you.
It is something that defines you if you choose to use it that way - and I do. Not as an insult, but as a positive descriptor. I have an abundance of fat on my body. I am fat. This word empowers me. When it is used as an insult against me, it no longer has any effect on me. That is the power we have over owning words, our bodies, and ourselves.
SERIOUSLY!!!! THIS!!! SO MUCH!!!
I hate it when I call myself fat and people are like “don’t be so hard on yourself”. I’M SERIOUSLY NOT! I’M FAT! I DON’T GIVE A FUCK! Guess why? BECAUSE I KNOW I’M FUCKING BEAUTIFUL!!! I JUST WEIGH MORE THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON OF MY HEIGHT, AND I’D RATHER SAY THE WORD ‘FAT’ THAN THAT WHOLE SENTENCE. SO FUCK YOU.
Thank you for sharing an experience that aligns with my intent.
the why do i feel akward and search for another word everytime i think about it?
Because the word carries with it a lot of negative baggage. It makes people feel uncomfortable. It’s time to consider the fact that the negative baggage can be removed, the more we use the word within a positive context.
I would even go so far as to say it is a noun, not an adjective :)
You HAVE fat, YOU are not fat.
Yes, a body contains fat. When a body contains a certain amount of fat, a person may consider defining themselves as fat. We have the power to describe and define ourselves.
This word lose its “power” when we realize that our weight can’t define us…
In my experience, the moment I stopped letting my weight define me in a NEGATIVE way was the moment I decided to use the word “fat” to define my weight and my body in a POSITIVE way. My weight does not define me, my health, or my worth - but it is a part of my identity, an external aspect of my character, and I find nothing wrong with using it in that way.
——
Sometimes I think perhaps I should include a description of my intent along with these things - but then, where is the fun in that? :3
Thank you, all.
Haley
I’ve generally tried to keep nudity on this blog to a minimum. If there is any, it usually has some artistic intent behind it.
But I have always enjoyed posts from real, unfiltered people. Just naked body parts and shapes and curves and lines and stretch marks and hair and underwear…
Photos like these are what have always helped me feel most centered with who I am and how I feel about my body.
I’ve always saved and collected photos of bodies for reference and inspiration, but I’ve just realized that I never pass them along. If they help me, they must help others.
So what do you think? Should I start featuring more NSFW content?
“Weight does not dictate your health or your worth.”
By Haley Querro
Well this thing actually broke through over 7,000 notes and there are at least 5 replies I could find within the last couple hundred reblogs that try to refute the “health” aspect of this message. I wish I had time to connect with these people and have a discussion that might change their minds, but there are not enough hours in a day.
I find comfort in the fact that for the most part, this thing is spreading like wildfire because it resonates with people. They can see the truth in it. I’m so glad for that.
Let’s hear some words on your bods. Just click that link and start writing, take a photo, make it poetry or prose or a list or a crazy rant.
I want to know what you’re feeling and thinking and pondering and overthinking. Uncensor yourself and see what happens.
Spill it!
My poster made it to the number 4 spot out of the top 100 posters for the Say Something Poster Project, which means it goes onto the next round.
Voting already took place, but the top 25 winners won’t be revealed until January 25.
I’ll be honest and say it’s definitely not my best work and there were a lot of really amazing, well-designed entries so I’m quite sure I won’t make it through the next cut, but who knows?
Thanks to all that signal-boosted and voted, I’m so happy to know that something I created meant something to anyone! </end nonsensical gibberish>
UPDATE!
So, while I was correct in assuming my poster wouldn’t survive the judging panel to move onto the top 25, my design WAS one of 5 selected to be a “Staff Pick”! It will showcased as a part of the following exhibitions:
Boston Poster Show
Saturday February 25, 2012
Fourthwall Project Gallery
LA Poster Show
Thursday March 8, 2012
Think Tank Gallery
Thanks again loves <3
have a long ways to go, but finally starting to design a new identity system and website.
The shame and guilt of holiday vegging can give way to an intense negative self image as well as an overwhelming impulse to change.
Before you know it, a new year is here and DIET TALK IS FUCKING EVERYWHERE.
Most of the time I skim right over it all, but as I take in these words and these bullshit ideals it seems that my mind subconsciously collects them until I crack.
Sometimes little things, like this “2 Day Cleanse” diet I stumbled across on Pinterest, become the icing on the cake (and I intend to eat all of it, thankyouverymuch).
This year, resolve to love yourself. Resolve to NOT diet. Resolve to do things that make your body feel magnificent - the kind of things that strengthen your heart and your mind - rather than resolve to change who you are.
Revolt against harmful New Year’s Resolutions…
I hear it’s virtually impossible to keep the weight off, anyway.
Lately I’ve been reevaluating my wardrobe and wearing things I wouldn’t normally wear. The more I realize I shouldn’t be afraid to allow my fat to be visible, the more I am proud of my body and the more I want to dress and pamper it.
Maybe for once I’ll wear that pencil skirt that forms quite snug against my belly without feeling I need to flatter it by smoothing it out. Maybe I’ll enhance it. Maybe cinch a belt and let little rolls of fat peep out overtop. Maybe I won’t wear that cardigan that I use as a security blanket to mask my pale, thick arms.
Why the fuck not?
I have always looked at pretty things and “wished” I could wear them. I’m not doing that anymore. I’ve got a lot of people inspiring me lately. This is happening.
Fatty got style, confidence and sass. Let it flow.
Thanks to invasionofcoffeemonster for the background visual, slammin’ bod and badass style. And thanks also to Kyla for starting Fat From the Side, which has really started helping me in a lot of ways. Also Gisela Ramirez and her fantastic “fuck flattering” crop top that I have been lusting over for months. I have always wanted to wear a crop top. I never have before. It will happen.
You all inspire me so much.
Stay tuned…
Going over things, plans for this blog…Like maybe a discussion forum? Or a design contest? Some guerilla marketing, flyers all over the world, words, statements and experiences exposed and open to interpretation.
I’d love to hear from you all. What is missing? What can we do? What would you like to see more of from this blog?
Let’s create a buzz and get people thinking, let me be your sounding board! I’m antsy!
“Weight does not dictate your health or your worth.”
It doesn’t dictate your health? So someone who weighs over 1000 lbs. and is unable to move on their own has no health concerns?
Yeap, obesity is SO healthy for you.
… not.
To be fair, some heavier people are healthier than thin people, most glaringly people who suffer from addictions and eating disorders. But the fat positive movement seems to me to be coming from the direction of a particularly first-world privilege.
Perhaps a more honest first part of that slogan should be ‘weight does not necessarily* dictate your health,’ but I do think the centralmost issue is whether weight dictates your worth, because it most certainly does not.
YES to the bolded bit.
I love all these conclusions and interpretations of the phrase. Well, most of them anyway.
“Weight does not dictate your health or your worth.”
By Haley Cue