Being a fat man – intersectionality between fat stigma and male privilege

I was asked on Twitter this morning to comment on how fat stigma and male privilege intersect. I start out by saying that this is only from my lived experience. Other people will have different experiences to add to the discussion and should not be discounted.

One thing I think that needs to be outlined from the start is that all men, no matter if they are fat or otherwise, benefit from male privilege. I will be happy for the day to arrive where this isn’t the case, but it is a reality that I recognise exists at this current time.

I think it is also fair to say that most, if not all, fat people are affected by fat stigma. If we take these two things as being true, then it makes sense that fat men will still receive male privilege and therefore should have it easier than fat women.

I don’t think it is necessarily true to suggest that fat men get a ‘free pass’ because they are male. I still get comments about my weight, and get judged on it even in situations where it has no baring on the outcome. I’m unable to do things that I would like to do because society has decided that I’m too fat to do them.

I was bullied as child for my fatness, and still suffer negatively because people think that fat is synonymous with lazy, dumb, stupid and many other things. I’ve been told that I should lose weight because it would make me a better employee. I’ve been told by the opposite sex that I’m unattractive and ugly because I’m fat.

I also receive the benefits of male privilege. Fat women will be judged harder on all of the things that I’ve mentioned above. Fat women will suffer inequity and injustice more than me. I have access to things in society more readily because of my gender.

So I don’t think it is fair to suggest that fat men get a free pass and get to avoid the stigma of being fat. I do think it is fair that fat men receive privilege because they are men, and that sometimes this privilege will stop the fat stigma from getting in the way of what they want to do.

I don’t think any fat person gets it easy. I do think that men still receive male privilege even when fat, but that this doesn’t just wipe clean the effects of fat stigma. It does mean that the stigma affects me in different ways.