The October issue of Good Housekeeping has more than just some pretty pumpkins and delicious recipes within its pages. Journalist, Alexis Jetter has written an article called Don't Hate Me Because I'm Fat. It features Valerie (395 lbs), Nadine (280lbs) and Mary Ellen (350 lbs) and focuses on fat discrimination as it relates to jobs, medical care and parenting. There are also some sidebars about airplane seats, doctor's bedside manners and fat girls teaching fitness.
The vignettes breathe life into the obese faces we see on the street while shedding light on the accepted in-your-face hostility towards fat people. It also brings up a discrimination I wasn't aware of. Fat people discriminating against fat people, something I have yet to see myself. This issue was only briefly mentioned but definitely peaked my interest. The average sized people who read this article will probably thank their lucky stars they aren't fat while the obese will be inspired to read about people like them in a main stream magazine. Overall, it's a positive article. Ironically this issue also carries a "Get Healthy - Special Section".
I haven't purchased Good Housekeeping in a number of years and was delighted by the cost. The cheap price must have something to do with all the advertising the magazine is laden with (there was at least twelve ads from the pharmaceutical companies alone). In the US it costs $2.50 and in Canada $3.50, an amazing low price for the magazine market.
Regardless of advertising and storylines this is a good opportunity to support women in our community. Purchase this issue and write Good Housekeeping to let them know you enjoyed the article and would love it if they highlighted more plus size women. We do come in all shapes and sizes. The people who run the magazines know it and we know it, it's time the magazines reflect it. They won't do it if they don't have the support behind them.
A few of the women featured appeared on the Today Show to discuss the content of the article. It was a short but sweet discussion about being obese and the hostility received.
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