Of Mary Ray Worley's 'In Defense Of Fat Acceptance'

Most people in today’s society assert that being fat and happy simultaneously is inconceivable due to a simple reason: we hate fat. However, despite the tenacious opposition towards the idea, Mary Ray Worley, a member of the NAAFA (the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance) argues in “Fat and Happy: In Defense of Fat Acceptance” the complete opposite (163). After discussing her eye-opening experiences in the annual convention of the NAAFA, Worley moves on to discuss the social, mental, and physical implications of the social ostracism that is a significant part of overweight people’s lives. Overall, she elucidates that in order to be fat and content one must disregard society’s expectations and love his own body. Near the beginning of her article, Worley recounts an anecdote about her experiences at the annual NAAFA convention, which she describes as feeling like a “different planet” (163). There, she encountered numerous fat people just like herself that were all delighted and confident about their bodies (163). She notes the staggering differences between her “home planet” (163) and this “different planet” (163). For example, the fat people at the convention were easily able to find clothes that fit them, while everywhere else this would be

Worley states that fat people are often excluded from social events and situations, such as the lead role in a school play and parties. This occurs because people do not want to be around fat people for the fear of embarrassing themselves (163). Psychologically, fat people can be subjected to low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety due to the way people look down on them. In the ignorance of others and pressures of society, beauty is seen in thin and toned bodies (165). Thus, rather than accepting obese people for who they are, people disgrace them in society resulting in negative psychological and social