Is being fat pejorative? Cherchez la Femme think not.

Facebook got into trouble when it stopped an image of an over sized model from being used as an advert for Cherchez la Femme. The two weathermen pinched some cellulite.

Weatherman 1 : Did you read that Cherchez la Femme were upset when Facebook prohibited one of their posts being used as an advert? It featured  a generous woman in a bikini.

Weatherman 2 : Was she giving away ice creams?

WM1 : Generous is a euphemism for fat. Over-sized is another term used to gloss over large people. Facebook said the image contravened their guidelines which state photos cannot depict people as perfect or undesirable.

WM2 : So what do you have to be?

WM1 :  Average I guess. Marks and Spencer would have to use ordinary women off the high street. “Excuse me – have you ever thought of modelling for an M&S  Facebook campaign?”  The woman responds, “never....no-one ever gives me a second glance.”  And she’s hired.

 WM2 : Isn’t desirable or undesirable subjective? I don’t fancy my neighbour’s wife, but my neighbour does.

WM1 : I think Facebook’s rationale was that adverts of fat women upset fat women. It’s akin to holding a mirror up to them.

WM2 : But I doubt it’s a surprise. “oh look at me, I’m so obese – how did that happen? I am sure my BMI was normal when I went to sleep.” Cellulite doesn’t arrive without us knowing....every time we go up a dress size, or the size 34” trousers are too tight and we buy 36”, it’s obvious what is to happening.

WM1 : And Facebook failed to acknowledge that some people like the way they are, overweight or not. There are fat acceptance communities for people who are tired of being stigmatised for cellulite.  

WM2 : Fat has become pejorative.

WM1 : Precisely.  One thing fat people dislike is being told they are not. They maintain it is simply a description of their bodies. It isn’t a condemnation, and if we say “no you are not fat” – in a well meaning attempt to make them feel good about themselves, we are not allowing them to be who they are.

WM2 : It’s hard to argue otherwise. We don’t get embarrassed about shoes. If I say to you “I have size 10 shoes” and you reply “oh goodness, no....you can’t be a 10, it must be a 9 at the most.” Well I would think you had lost it.

WM1 : Facebook’s guidelines will inevitably trip them up. They seem at times contradictory. You can write an advert which says “meet Black men” but not one which asks the question “are you Black?”

WM2 : Isn’t being black a statement of fact like being fat? Black has lost its pejorative connotation hasn’t it?

WM1 : Yes - it’s fine to be black and look for Black people, but not fine to ask myself if I am black or not. They do it with Christians too. “Am I Christian?” is banned. It’s because then the advert would be attributing a personal characteristic.

WM2 : How about “do you drive? Need a new car?”

WM1 : If they deem a driving license as a characteristic then it’s banned.

WM2 : But it’s a skill I learned. I acquired it – I wasn’t born with it.

WM1 : You weren’t born fat or born a Christian either.

WM2 : It’s the world of try not to offend gone mad.

WM1 : But it has done wonders for Cherchez la Femme. The global social community now know who they are. Today, we are all celebrating obesity, and soon will probably be celebrating Blacks and Christians.

WM2 : I’m not celebrating the idiot who nearly drove into me this morning. He needs his eyes testing...he must be blind.

WM1 : Facebook will ban that – you are describing a characteristic.

WM2 : Which one? The idiocy or the short-sight?