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Shame And Me: Adventures in Fat Land | Rachel Vogler | TEDxRoyalCentralSchool


[Music]

[Music] there were 300 people in my year group

there were 300 people in my year group

there were 300 people in my year group at secondary school and the only place

at secondary school and the only place

at secondary school and the only place that we could fit to sit exams was in

that we could fit to sit exams was in

that we could fit to sit exams was in our vast assembly hall students would

our vast assembly hall students would

our vast assembly hall students would line up in rows all along the floor of

line up in rows all along the floor of

line up in rows all along the floor of the hall and along the raised stage area

the hall and along the raised stage area

the hall and along the raised stage area and at the front of the stage area were

and at the front of the stage area were

and at the front of the stage area were two huge forward-facing clocks they were

two huge forward-facing clocks they were

two huge forward-facing clocks they were big enough for all of the students to be

big enough for all of the students to be

big enough for all of the students to be able to see so there are approximately

able to see so there are approximately

able to see so there are approximately 295 students sat down at their desks

295 students sat down at their desks

295 students sat down at their desks anxiously awaiting the start of their

anxiously awaiting the start of their

anxiously awaiting the start of their maths exam

maths exam

maths exam my name is cord I walk up the stairs

my name is cord I walk up the stairs

my name is cord I walk up the stairs poach my seat and I realize I’m stuck

poach my seat and I realize I’m stuck

poach my seat and I realize I’m stuck there’s not enough room between the back

there’s not enough room between the back

there’s not enough room between the back of the clock and the back of my chair

of the clock and the back of my chair

of the clock and the back of my chair for me to be able to fit so at this

for me to be able to fit so at this

for me to be able to fit so at this point I have two options option number

point I have two options option number

point I have two options option number one forego a brief moment of

one forego a brief moment of

one forego a brief moment of embarrassment ask a member of staff to

embarrassment ask a member of staff to

embarrassment ask a member of staff to rearrange some furniture so that I can

rearrange some furniture so that I can

rearrange some furniture so that I can sit down or number two

sit down or number two

sit down or number two breathe in and hope for the best it

breathe in and hope for the best it

breathe in and hope for the best it transpires however that no amount of

transpires however that no amount of

transpires however that no amount of breathing in and hoping for the best is

breathing in and hoping for the best is

breathing in and hoping for the best is going to let me fit between the chair

going to let me fit between the chair

going to let me fit between the chair and the clock the clock falls to the

and the clock the clock falls to the

and the clock the clock falls to the floor narrowly avoiding a front desk of

floor narrowly avoiding a front desk of

floor narrowly avoiding a front desk of students who were probably expecting a

students who were probably expecting a

students who were probably expecting a nasty surprise that day but more in the

nasty surprise that day but more in the

nasty surprise that day but more in the form of a challenging algebra question

form of a challenging algebra question

form of a challenging algebra question than furniture hurdling towards their

than furniture hurdling towards their

than furniture hurdling towards their face my name is Rachel Vogler I’m a 21

face my name is Rachel Vogler I’m a 21

face my name is Rachel Vogler I’m a 21 year old undergraduate student here at

year old undergraduate student here at

year old undergraduate student here at Central and my body has never fit so at

Central and my body has never fit so at

Central and my body has never fit so at the crux of this story lies a sentiment

the crux of this story lies a sentiment

the crux of this story lies a sentiment that’s actually deeply troubling namely

that’s actually deeply troubling namely

that’s actually deeply troubling namely we’ve managed to construct a consensus

we’ve managed to construct a consensus

we’ve managed to construct a consensus that says women’s bodies need to be a

that says women’s bodies need to be a

that says women’s bodies need to be a certain size in order to fit in to

certain size in order to fit in to

certain size in order to fit in to public space when they don’t fit

public space when they don’t fit

public space when they don’t fit we’ve stigmatized them we’ve stigmatized

we’ve stigmatized them we’ve stigmatized

we’ve stigmatized them we’ve stigmatized fatness

fatness

fatness we’ve labeled it unworthy lazy grotesque

we’ve labeled it unworthy lazy grotesque

we’ve labeled it unworthy lazy grotesque we’ve boxed it up and we’ve pushed it

we’ve boxed it up and we’ve pushed it

we’ve boxed it up and we’ve pushed it far away from our national conscience no

far away from our national conscience no

far away from our national conscience no actually most of us are complicit in a

actually most of us are complicit in a

actually most of us are complicit in a culture that grates women for taking up

culture that grates women for taking up

culture that grates women for taking up space sounds harsh bear with me for as

space sounds harsh bear with me for as

space sounds harsh bear with me for as long as I can remember I have taken up a

long as I can remember I have taken up a

long as I can remember I have taken up a lot of space in fact I’m pretty sure the

lot of space in fact I’m pretty sure the

lot of space in fact I’m pretty sure the only time I was an acceptable size was

only time I was an acceptable size was

only time I was an acceptable size was near my exit from the womb and since

near my exit from the womb and since

near my exit from the womb and since I’ve paid space way greater than that of

I’ve paid space way greater than that of

I’ve paid space way greater than that of my perceived deserving I’ve watched my

my perceived deserving I’ve watched my

my perceived deserving I’ve watched my body grow and my skin stretch at a rate

body grow and my skin stretch at a rate

body grow and my skin stretch at a rate I can’t control and I’ve got marks all

I can’t control and I’ve got marks all

I can’t control and I’ve got marks all over my hips and my breasts to prove it

over my hips and my breasts to prove it

over my hips and my breasts to prove it and as my body grew so diminished my

and as my body grew so diminished my

and as my body grew so diminished my confidence and in some darker times I

confidence and in some darker times I

confidence and in some darker times I made one truly loyal companion Shane and

made one truly loyal companion Shane and

made one truly loyal companion Shane and I were best friends really we did

I were best friends really we did

I were best friends really we did everything together we particularly

everything together we particularly

everything together we particularly enjoyed birthday parties barbecues

enjoyed birthday parties barbecues

enjoyed birthday parties barbecues crowded spaces shame and I tried a path

crowded spaces shame and I tried a path

crowded spaces shame and I tried a path that wasn’t necessarily unique actually

that wasn’t necessarily unique actually

that wasn’t necessarily unique actually it’s a path that a growing number of

it’s a path that a growing number of

it’s a path that a growing number of young women are treading it’s the one

young women are treading it’s the one

young women are treading it’s the one that goes from the eating disorder

that goes from the eating disorder

that goes from the eating disorder clinic to the doctor surgery to the

clinic to the doctor surgery to the

clinic to the doctor surgery to the fridge and back again time and time over

fridge and back again time and time over

fridge and back again time and time over and it wasn’t that shame and I didn’t

and it wasn’t that shame and I didn’t

and it wasn’t that shame and I didn’t know our place we did know our place it

know our place we did know our place it

know our place we did know our place it wasn’t in public you see as long as

wasn’t in public you see as long as

wasn’t in public you see as long as shame and I could be pitied we were

shame and I could be pitied we were

shame and I could be pitied we were doing fad right we were the reason you

doing fad right we were the reason you

doing fad right we were the reason you workout fat fat and shameful fat and

workout fat fat and shameful fat and

workout fat fat and shameful fat and unhappy this is bad fat and a few years

unhappy this is bad fat and a few years

unhappy this is bad fat and a few years down the line when Shane and I made a

down the line when Shane and I made a

down the line when Shane and I made a change we were doing it right then to

change we were doing it right then to

change we were doing it right then to see instead of exclusively being fat and

see instead of exclusively being fat and

see instead of exclusively being fat and unhappy we became the fat woman

unhappy we became the fat woman

unhappy we became the fat woman desperately trying not to be fat anymore

desperately trying not to be fat anymore

desperately trying not to be fat anymore now this is not fat unhappy

now this is not fat unhappy

now this is not fat unhappy this is the fat woman in a transition

this is the fat woman in a transition

this is the fat woman in a transition state trying to get from before to after

state trying to get from before to after

state trying to get from before to after and this is good fat

and this is good fat

and this is good fat now people absolutely love good fat

now people absolutely love good fat

now people absolutely love good fat seriously when Shane and I started going

seriously when Shane and I started going

seriously when Shane and I started going to the gym twice a day every day when

to the gym twice a day every day when

to the gym twice a day every day when Shane and I started obsessively

Shane and I started obsessively

Shane and I started obsessively restricting our eating people praised us

restricting our eating people praised us

restricting our eating people praised us applauded us it remains true then and it

applauded us it remains true then and it

applauded us it remains true then and it is true now that being the fat woman

is true now that being the fat woman

is true now that being the fat woman trying not to be fat anymore is one of

trying not to be fat anymore is one of

trying not to be fat anymore is one of the most respectable ventures that you

the most respectable ventures that you

the most respectable ventures that you combine to so flash-forward and as so

combine to so flash-forward and as so

combine to so flash-forward and as so many people do by plateaued and as

many people do by plateaued and as

many people do by plateaued and as according to an article in The New York

according to an article in The New York

according to an article in The New York Times 95% of people who diet do I put on

Times 95% of people who diet do I put on

Times 95% of people who diet do I put on all the weight I had lost and more and

all the weight I had lost and more and

all the weight I had lost and more and more and more and on the morning of my

more and more and on the morning of my

more and more and on the morning of my 21st birthday there supposedly awaited

21st birthday there supposedly awaited

21st birthday there supposedly awaited dawning of new womanhood I wake up in

dawning of new womanhood I wake up in

dawning of new womanhood I wake up in the morning and I realize I’m still fat

the morning and I realize I’m still fat

the morning and I realize I’m still fat and so for the first time in my life I

and so for the first time in my life I

and so for the first time in my life I choose the radical I decide to commit to

choose the radical I decide to commit to

choose the radical I decide to commit to investing time and energy into radically

investing time and energy into radically

investing time and energy into radically shifting my perception of myself and of

shifting my perception of myself and of

shifting my perception of myself and of my body and in doing so I buy into some

my body and in doing so I buy into some

my body and in doing so I buy into some kind of underground movement called

kind of underground movement called

kind of underground movement called happy fat happy fat is understandably a

happy fat happy fat is understandably a

happy fat happy fat is understandably a state that a lot of people find

state that a lot of people find

state that a lot of people find confusing so let us understand why we’re

confusing so let us understand why we’re

confusing so let us understand why we’re used generally to being able to sort the

used generally to being able to sort the

used generally to being able to sort the fat people that we encounter into two

fat people that we encounter into two

fat people that we encounter into two distinct categories they are good fat

distinct categories they are good fat

distinct categories they are good fat and bad fat now I’ve mentioned them both

and bad fat now I’ve mentioned them both

and bad fat now I’ve mentioned them both earlier but let’s look at them in a

earlier but let’s look at them in a

earlier but let’s look at them in a little bit more detail now bad fat means

little bit more detail now bad fat means

little bit more detail now bad fat means pity in order to thrive bad fat is a

pity in order to thrive bad fat is a

pity in order to thrive bad fat is a drain on the National Health Service a

drain on the National Health Service a

drain on the National Health Service a drain on the state bad fat can probably

drain on the state bad fat can probably

drain on the state bad fat can probably be found sat on the sofa smoking a

be found sat on the sofa smoking a

be found sat on the sofa smoking a cigarette weight

cigarette weight

cigarette weight for the next benefit pack to roll around

for the next benefit pack to roll around

for the next benefit pack to roll around or maybe crying in front of the fridge

bad fats is probably your worst

bad fats is probably your worst nightmare

nightmare

nightmare and then there’s good fat good fat is

and then there’s good fat good fat is

and then there’s good fat good fat is visibly engaged in attempts not to be

visibly engaged in attempts not to be

visibly engaged in attempts not to be fat anymore

fat anymore

fat anymore now these attempts are probably costly

now these attempts are probably costly

now these attempts are probably costly and they are probably failing good fat

and they are probably failing good fat

and they are probably failing good fat does things like not order dessert in a

does things like not order dessert in a

does things like not order dessert in a restaurant and as such she is

restaurant and as such she is

restaurant and as such she is commendable respectable fat now it

commendable respectable fat now it

commendable respectable fat now it doesn’t actually matter what good fat

doesn’t actually matter what good fat

doesn’t actually matter what good fat does at home right because as long as

does at home right because as long as

does at home right because as long as she is committed to the public

she is committed to the public

she is committed to the public suppression of habit it– she is easier

suppression of habit it– she is easier

suppression of habit it– she is easier to perceive as a valuable member of

to perceive as a valuable member of

to perceive as a valuable member of society happy fat then is a rejection of

society happy fat then is a rejection of

society happy fat then is a rejection of stigmatized fat and it’s not an end game

stigmatized fat and it’s not an end game

stigmatized fat and it’s not an end game as much as it is a state in fact happy

as much as it is a state in fact happy

as much as it is a state in fact happy fat is a state of being that incurs once

fat is a state of being that incurs once

fat is a state of being that incurs once I admit to myself I have been fat I am

I admit to myself I have been fat I am

I admit to myself I have been fat I am fat I will be fat and there’s very

fat I will be fat and there’s very

fat I will be fat and there’s very little that I’m doing about it also a

little that I’m doing about it also a

little that I’m doing about it also a decision that a lot of people find

decision that a lot of people find

decision that a lot of people find confusing now the past 18 months for me

confusing now the past 18 months for me

confusing now the past 18 months for me can be marked by a series of

can be marked by a series of

can be marked by a series of observations that I’ve made about how I

observations that I’ve made about how I

observations that I’ve made about how I figure myself into the world as a fat

figure myself into the world as a fat

figure myself into the world as a fat woman and how the world sees me and I’d

woman and how the world sees me and I’d

woman and how the world sees me and I’d like to share with you three of those

like to share with you three of those

like to share with you three of those main observations followed by three

main observations followed by three

main observations followed by three small steps that I took to try and honor

small steps that I took to try and honor

small steps that I took to try and honor my body in the best way possible

my body in the best way possible

my body in the best way possible so observation number one the space now

so observation number one the space now

so observation number one the space now I’d like you to do something for me for

I’d like you to do something for me for

I’d like you to do something for me for a second if that’s okay think about your

a second if that’s okay think about your

a second if that’s okay think about your past week think about some of the times

past week think about some of the times

past week think about some of the times that you might have spent walking down

that you might have spent walking down

that you might have spent walking down the street now it’s likely that you were

the street now it’s likely that you were

the street now it’s likely that you were involved in a scenario that plays out a

involved in a scenario that plays out a

involved in a scenario that plays out a little like this you’re walking down the

little like this you’re walking down the

little like this you’re walking down the street in one direction minding your own

street in one direction minding your own

street in one direction minding your own business and in the distance you see

business and in the distance you see

business and in the distance you see someone else probably a man

someone else probably a man

someone else probably a man sorry it’s true walking towards you and

sorry it’s true walking towards you and

sorry it’s true walking towards you and as they come closer it becomes

as they come closer it becomes

as they come closer it becomes increasingly obvious that this person

increasingly obvious that this person

increasingly obvious that this person has zero intention of moving out the way

has zero intention of moving out the way

has zero intention of moving out the way and that the inevitable point of meeting

and that the inevitable point of meeting

and that the inevitable point of meeting what do you do you probably shift to the

what do you do you probably shift to the

what do you do you probably shift to the side you probably look at the floor

side you probably look at the floor

side you probably look at the floor maybe you say sorry and as you continue

maybe you say sorry and as you continue

maybe you say sorry and as you continue your journey maybe that happens to you a

your journey maybe that happens to you a

your journey maybe that happens to you a second time a third time maybe when

second time a third time maybe when

second time a third time maybe when you’re on the tube on the way in this

you’re on the tube on the way in this

you’re on the tube on the way in this morning you folded your arms or you

morning you folded your arms or you

morning you folded your arms or you crossed your legs or you pushed up

crossed your legs or you pushed up

crossed your legs or you pushed up against the glass you said sorry you

against the glass you said sorry you

against the glass you said sorry you excuse yourself out of existence in

excuse yourself out of existence in

excuse yourself out of existence in order to accommodate somebody else now

order to accommodate somebody else now

order to accommodate somebody else now the street scenario and the tube

the street scenario and the tube

the street scenario and the tube scenario are two of the clearest ways

scenario are two of the clearest ways

scenario are two of the clearest ways that we can understand that the taking

that we can understand that the taking

that we can understand that the taking up of space is disproportionate it’s

up of space is disproportionate it’s

up of space is disproportionate it’s also not merely visual right it’s

also not merely visual right it’s

also not merely visual right it’s gendered and it’s political and actually

gendered and it’s political and actually

gendered and it’s political and actually both the tube scenario and the street

both the tube scenario and the street

both the tube scenario and the street scenario are some of the most frequent

scenario are some of the most frequent

scenario are some of the most frequent manifestations of the rhetoric that

manifestations of the rhetoric that

manifestations of the rhetoric that women are fed from all angles all their

women are fed from all angles all their

women are fed from all angles all their lives the rhetoric that says you must

lives the rhetoric that says you must

lives the rhetoric that says you must squeeze and squish and fold and say

squeeze and squish and fold and say

squeeze and squish and fold and say sorry and be polite whilst doing so and

sorry and be polite whilst doing so and

sorry and be polite whilst doing so and so then when I or you or we excuse

so then when I or you or we excuse

so then when I or you or we excuse ourselves out of space with a story or

ourselves out of space with a story or

ourselves out of space with a story or an excuse me or in is there room for me

an excuse me or in is there room for me

an excuse me or in is there room for me and my big bum there every time we do

and my big bum there every time we do

and my big bum there every time we do that we in some small way consent to the

that we in some small way consent to the

that we in some small way consent to the notion that we deserve less space that

notion that we deserve less space that

notion that we deserve less space that we are in some way worthy of

we are in some way worthy of

we are in some way worthy of preemptively being a thought of that way

preemptively being a thought of that way

preemptively being a thought of that way and of course we know that’s not true

and of course we know that’s not true

and of course we know that’s not true and so step one seemed more logical step

and so step one seemed more logical step

and so step one seemed more logical step one is embracing a mentality that lets

one is embracing a mentality that lets

one is embracing a mentality that lets me exist without apology and basically I

me exist without apology and basically I

me exist without apology and basically I wanted to see what it would be like to

wanted to see what it would be like to

wanted to see what it would be like to pretend that this whole space debacle

pretend that this whole space debacle

pretend that this whole space debacle wasn’t a norm so I walked down the

wasn’t a norm so I walked down the

wasn’t a norm so I walked down the street a couple of times and didn’t move

street a couple of times and didn’t move

street a couple of times and didn’t move out the way when some someone was coming

out the way when some someone was coming

out the way when some someone was coming towards me causes confusion and also

towards me causes confusion and also

towards me causes confusion and also there’s quite a lot of me to accommodate

there’s quite a lot of me to accommodate

there’s quite a lot of me to accommodate so that makes for a truly fascinating

so that makes for a truly fascinating

so that makes for a truly fascinating visual

visual

visual and sure this isn’t revolutionary but

and sure this isn’t revolutionary but

and sure this isn’t revolutionary but what small steps like these start to do

what small steps like these start to do

what small steps like these start to do is account for the fact that there are

is account for the fact that there are

is account for the fact that there are women who refuse to apologize for

women who refuse to apologize for

women who refuse to apologize for themselves for their bodies and for the

themselves for their bodies and for the

themselves for their bodies and for the space they take up and honestly this is

space they take up and honestly this is

space they take up and honestly this is just scratching the surface of the space

just scratching the surface of the space

just scratching the surface of the space conversation so observation – I want to

conversation so observation – I want to

conversation so observation – I want to tackle something small and that is

tackle something small and that is

tackle something small and that is dieting right so it seems that most of

dieting right so it seems that most of

dieting right so it seems that most of the Western world is fixated on ensuring

the Western world is fixated on ensuring

the Western world is fixated on ensuring that women buy into this rhetoric we

that women buy into this rhetoric we

that women buy into this rhetoric we talked about before but perpetuated in

talked about before but perpetuated in

talked about before but perpetuated in the most insidious way possible and diet

the most insidious way possible and diet

the most insidious way possible and diet culture is so insidious that we don’t

culture is so insidious that we don’t

culture is so insidious that we don’t even have to look for it before it finds

even have to look for it before it finds

even have to look for it before it finds us it’s everywhere in television

us it’s everywhere in television

us it’s everywhere in television advertising campaigns you know that Diet

advertising campaigns you know that Diet

advertising campaigns you know that Diet Coke one with the puppet ladies in the

Coke one with the puppet ladies in the

Coke one with the puppet ladies in the fridge it’s in diet pill packaging it’s

fridge it’s in diet pill packaging it’s

fridge it’s in diet pill packaging it’s in magazines and on Billboard’s and what

in magazines and on Billboard’s and what

in magazines and on Billboard’s and what does diet culture do it tells us that we

does diet culture do it tells us that we

does diet culture do it tells us that we can have a happier life for twenty

can have a happier life for twenty

can have a happier life for twenty pounds and two mil replacement shakes a

pounds and two mil replacement shakes a

pounds and two mil replacement shakes a day diet culture literally traps us into

day diet culture literally traps us into

day diet culture literally traps us into paying for a life in which happiness is

paying for a life in which happiness is

paying for a life in which happiness is directly correlated to the smallest

directly correlated to the smallest

directly correlated to the smallest amount of body mass that exists in

amount of body mass that exists in

amount of body mass that exists in physical space and it’s a culture by the

physical space and it’s a culture by the

physical space and it’s a culture by the way that according to an article sent

way that according to an article sent

way that according to an article sent out by Common Sense Media absorbs 80% of

out by Common Sense Media absorbs 80% of

out by Common Sense Media absorbs 80% of ten-year-old girls and so step two

ten-year-old girls and so step two

ten-year-old girls and so step two seemed more tricky but maybe resistance

seemed more tricky but maybe resistance

seemed more tricky but maybe resistance to diet culture partly manifests in the

to diet culture partly manifests in the

to diet culture partly manifests in the unapologetic loving of food so for me it

unapologetic loving of food so for me it

unapologetic loving of food so for me it meant that I would try to relinquish the

meant that I would try to relinquish the

meant that I would try to relinquish the shame that consumed me every time I made

shame that consumed me every time I made

shame that consumed me every time I made the decision to consume in public life’s

the decision to consume in public life’s

the decision to consume in public life’s good now can eat my sandwich on the tube

good now can eat my sandwich on the tube

good now can eat my sandwich on the tube I can order dessert

I can order dessert

I can order dessert in a restaurant without having to

in a restaurant without having to

in a restaurant without having to pretend that it hadn’t previously

pretend that it hadn’t previously

pretend that it hadn’t previously crossed my mind no what could laughs no

crossed my mind no what could laughs no

crossed my mind no what could laughs no sideways glances just dessert

sideways glances just dessert

sideways glances just dessert so step two is essentially about

so step two is essentially about

so step two is essentially about learning to embrace appetite after only

learning to embrace appetite after only

learning to embrace appetite after only knowing to publicly suppress it for so

knowing to publicly suppress it for so

knowing to publicly suppress it for so long

long

long so if observation 3 I’ll talk briefly

so if observation 3 I’ll talk briefly

so if observation 3 I’ll talk briefly about fad fashion now one of the things

about fad fashion now one of the things

about fad fashion now one of the things that I’d like to say about that fashion

that I’d like to say about that fashion

that I’d like to say about that fashion is that it’s remarkably different to the

is that it’s remarkably different to the

is that it’s remarkably different to the societal perception of fashion for fat

societal perception of fashion for fat

societal perception of fashion for fat women the golden rule of which is you

women the golden rule of which is you

women the golden rule of which is you must dress as though you aren’t fat

must dress as though you aren’t fat

must dress as though you aren’t fat anymore

anymore

anymore and as such a lot of plus-size fashion

and as such a lot of plus-size fashion

and as such a lot of plus-size fashion tips are founded on the premise that the

tips are founded on the premise that the

tips are founded on the premise that the only thing that you should want to do

only thing that you should want to do

only thing that you should want to do with a fat body is conceal it now I’ve

with a fat body is conceal it now I’ve

with a fat body is conceal it now I’ve cried in enough changing rooms to know

cried in enough changing rooms to know

cried in enough changing rooms to know that there are a few items of clothing

that there are a few items of clothing

that there are a few items of clothing in this world worth doubting yourself

in this world worth doubting yourself

in this world worth doubting yourself worth for and the ones that are I can’t

worth for and the ones that are I can’t

worth for and the ones that are I can’t afford anyway so we are currently

afford anyway so we are currently

afford anyway so we are currently operating in a context that renders full

operating in a context that renders full

operating in a context that renders full and unashamed self-love as radical and I

and unashamed self-love as radical and I

and unashamed self-love as radical and I say great maybe at least right now we

say great maybe at least right now we

say great maybe at least right now we need it to be so that the energy that we

need it to be so that the energy that we

need it to be so that the energy that we are putting into creating this shift can

are putting into creating this shift can

are putting into creating this shift can be noticed now the shift that I’m

be noticed now the shift that I’m

be noticed now the shift that I’m talking about isn’t just one of

talking about isn’t just one of

talking about isn’t just one of perception it’s one of ownership – it’s

perception it’s one of ownership – it’s

perception it’s one of ownership – it’s the public and personal reclamation of

the public and personal reclamation of

the public and personal reclamation of the right to love and honor your body

the right to love and honor your body

the right to love and honor your body for ourselves and for generations of

for ourselves and for generations of

for ourselves and for generations of young women for whom loving and knowing

young women for whom loving and knowing

young women for whom loving and knowing themselves can be a matter of life and

themselves can be a matter of life and

themselves can be a matter of life and death what does the other side of the

death what does the other side of the

death what does the other side of the shift look like it looks like the full

shift look like it looks like the full

shift look like it looks like the full embrace of diverse bodied women it looks

embrace of diverse bodied women it looks

embrace of diverse bodied women it looks like greater visibility

like greater visibility

like greater visibility it looks like the rapid end to using

it looks like the rapid end to using

it looks like the rapid end to using photos of fat women as inspiration and

photos of fat women as inspiration and

photos of fat women as inspiration and it sounds distinctly like less apologies

it sounds distinctly like less apologies

it sounds distinctly like less apologies so there are lots of things that the fat

so there are lots of things that the fat

so there are lots of things that the fat girl doesn’t get told and so from the

girl doesn’t get told and so from the

girl doesn’t get told and so from the fat girl to a room of diverse bodied

fat girl to a room of diverse bodied

fat girl to a room of diverse bodied people I would like you to know this it

people I would like you to know this it

people I would like you to know this it might be true that we can’t change the

might be true that we can’t change the

might be true that we can’t change the traits that people attach to our bodies

traits that people attach to our bodies

traits that people attach to our bodies but what we can change is the investment

but what we can change is the investment

but what we can change is the investment of our emotional resources from fear and

of our emotional resources from fear and

of our emotional resources from fear and hatred and self-loathing to full deep

hatred and self-loathing to full deep

hatred and self-loathing to full deep radical self-love and if however

radical self-love and if however

radical self-love and if however bizarrely self-love is radical the shift

bizarrely self-love is radical the shift

bizarrely self-love is radical the shift is to thank you

is to thank you

is to thank you [Applause]

”

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