Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Weightism
I just had a handful of run-ins with weightism (the discrimination against fat, obese, and plus-sized persons) over the past couple of weeks that have made me feel just that little bit uncomfortable about the whole concept of exercising to keep healthy and fit.
I guess the issue with me is that performing well at sport (to a reasonably comptitive level) sits uneasily with the wider social aspect of participatory recreational sport.
When socialising with training groups and friends who are actively engaged in sport, the topics of conversation tend to follow well-worn tracks. We talk about the weekend's training sessions, the last PB, the upcoming goal race, or the latest bit of sports gear. But we also end up comparing ourselves to each other, and to others whom we interact with in our daily lives - others who may not appear to be as actively engaged in sport as we are, or who simply AREN'T active.
One classic example is toodling down Beach Rd, and i catch myself thinking:"Boy, that fat guy sure does not carry himself well in tight-fitting lycra! What's he doing out on the bike?" Its's true, but prejudices are hard to wipe from the mind's eye when one is actively engaged in a progressive level of activity and feeling good/fit/fast all-round. This is big-head thinking aloud.
A healthy amount of elitism is necessary to squeeze out peak performance, but when does that exclusivity turn into an unhealthy disdain for 'unlike' people? The seemingly innocent little jokes we make behind each others' back about how unfit/fat/sick a hypothetical someone must be... they must sound rather hurtful if said in the face of someone who, whether by choice or circumstance, cannot enjoy the same kind of lifestyle we lead.
How would you feel if you were injured or very ill and unable to be active, or if you were weight challenged, or if you were physically disabled in one way or another?
I'm just griping now, but i prefer to adopt the attitude of being inclusive and encouraging to all, rather than snivelling or laughing silently at others' ineptness or lack of fitness. I've been guilty of the latter in the past, and who's to say i won't commit the same mistakes again (that big-headedness thing at work again)?
I can only pray for more compassion, a clear conscience and a clear (smaller) head whenever prejudices come creeping back.
I guess the issue with me is that performing well at sport (to a reasonably comptitive level) sits uneasily with the wider social aspect of participatory recreational sport.
When socialising with training groups and friends who are actively engaged in sport, the topics of conversation tend to follow well-worn tracks. We talk about the weekend's training sessions, the last PB, the upcoming goal race, or the latest bit of sports gear. But we also end up comparing ourselves to each other, and to others whom we interact with in our daily lives - others who may not appear to be as actively engaged in sport as we are, or who simply AREN'T active.
One classic example is toodling down Beach Rd, and i catch myself thinking:"Boy, that fat guy sure does not carry himself well in tight-fitting lycra! What's he doing out on the bike?" Its's true, but prejudices are hard to wipe from the mind's eye when one is actively engaged in a progressive level of activity and feeling good/fit/fast all-round. This is big-head thinking aloud.
A healthy amount of elitism is necessary to squeeze out peak performance, but when does that exclusivity turn into an unhealthy disdain for 'unlike' people? The seemingly innocent little jokes we make behind each others' back about how unfit/fat/sick a hypothetical someone must be... they must sound rather hurtful if said in the face of someone who, whether by choice or circumstance, cannot enjoy the same kind of lifestyle we lead.
How would you feel if you were injured or very ill and unable to be active, or if you were weight challenged, or if you were physically disabled in one way or another?
I'm just griping now, but i prefer to adopt the attitude of being inclusive and encouraging to all, rather than snivelling or laughing silently at others' ineptness or lack of fitness. I've been guilty of the latter in the past, and who's to say i won't commit the same mistakes again (that big-headedness thing at work again)?
I can only pray for more compassion, a clear conscience and a clear (smaller) head whenever prejudices come creeping back.
