I have worked as a barista in a cafe setting for two years now. We sell all kinds of delicious and high-fat pastries.
I am fat and well into plus-sizes. Because of this I was timid, at first, to say anything of a body acceptance nature as a fat woman. I feared judgement that I was just trying to make thin women like me** or that I was just trying to justify my fatness*** or something along those lines. It has been a good long time (over a year at the very least) since I made the decision to speak out when I felt like it and I am happy to say that it has all gone very well.
My worry surfaced again when I hired onto a cafe in a more thin-obsessed atmosphere, but again it has worked out okay. In fact, women face with the smothering atmosphere of thin-focused fatness (my cafe is in a famous department store) they seem very much ready to have their body-hate challenge. Sometimes they even seem to give me large tips for it.**** I sure didn’t expect that given the height of fat-hating panic in this country. I suspect that most women already think some of the ideas that the fatosphere promotes in the back of their minds, but are afraid to let it surface in the face of all the fat-hate and body-hate in our worlds. But, hearing someone say it, even if it is fat me, seems to help them let go a bit.
I wish more people could speak-up so that more people might let go… But, thank you to those of you who do fearlessly speak-up. You are awesome.
–AngryGrayRainbows
*For those of you who aren’t familiar with the “advice animals” meme (ie: the picture heading this post), this is Courage Wolf. He wants you to love yourself.
**I don’t think I can make thin people fat anymore than I think I can make fat people thin. Weight has high genetic correlation.
***I just like to spread the body-love message.
****The women who do get into conversation with me after I have challenge some body-hating or diet statement tend to give me the nicest tips.
Angry Gray Rainbows 
Woo Hoo! I remembered reading about some bitter people you had to deal with because of the location or clientele of the cafe, but I’m so glad you’ve been speaking up! I do it everyday at my cafe and it’s mixed responses, but at least they are getting the message. They don’t have to love it or even accept it, but just getting to hear a message that is either so new it seems foreign or so close to their own thoughts they seem delighted to hear it! This is fat activism! Rock on! ❤
Than you so much, NBA. Good for you for speaking up at your cafe! Are you the woman who had a case of tennis elbow and a pic of your brace recently? I think I cruise your blog now and then. 😉
Thank you for the recognition. I like to think of myself as a fat… and well body acceptance activist and it is very, very, very, very nice to have that reflected back to me from someone else.
Thank you for speaking up! It takes courage, especially in an environment like yours. You never know, though, when what you’ve said has made someone’s day a little brighter, or planted a seed that will someday grow into self-love and self-acceptance. Addressing body-hate directly is something I’ve been working on too over the past few years (I’m a teacher and there is a LOT of diet talk at my school). So yeah, what you’re doing is very important and very appreciated. 🙂
What grades do you teach? Is it more the students or your co-workers doing the talking? I am just curious. It’s been many a year since I was in school. 😉
Thank you for the appreciation. I hope someday soon our schools can be a safe haven from the body-hate… but I doubt that will be any day soon. When I was in 6th grade (1989/90) when I was first exposed to BMI and weight being talked about in the classroom and as a slightly chubby kid OMG IT HURT SO FREAKIN’ MUCH. And this was when it was a very lightly touched subject that we perhaps addressed once or twice a year for a half hour and otherwise didn’t really bother with. I cannot imagine the crap kids today have to deal with BMI report cards and all that silliness.
Thank you for the appreciation. It is much appreciated… 😉
I agree with Tina in that you have planted a seed and that’s a beginning for so many of us with body issues. I’m sure most people are shocked when you speak good things about fatness and fatties. It is definitely not the norm to be fat and be accepted.
Keep up the great work!