WHAT IS FATPHOBIA? FOX NEWS SAYS IT’S LIBERAL UNIVERSITIES NEW CAUSE CELEBRE
What is fatphobia? It’s the cultural stigmatization of obesity. As in, if you’re fat, you should be ashamed. Stigmatized. A failure. I believe that the stigmatization of any group is a bad thing, not including a host of criminal categories, of course. So I was actually curious when I saw a Fox News headline about “woke universities” new social justice campaign, or crusade, to eliminate fatphobia. I clicked on the bait. I’m still not sure if that was a mistake or not, as I tend to (hat in hand) stigmatize almost all things Fox News.
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FOX NEWS HAS A POINT ABOUT FATPHOBIA, JUST NOT THE ONE THEY SAY IS REAL
So yes, this Fox News piece on fatphobia is their latest volley to attack “progressives” in higher ed and their “woke” agenda. I’m generally pretty loathe to give any of the woke themes credence. And even less the idea that Universities are communist hotbeds. But in this case Fox has a point, if not the one they’re trying to score political points on. Because a number of universities have recently made a point of focusing on fatphobia, and the promotion of body acceptance. And that’s ok, if misguided.
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HIGHER ED HAS A HUGE FOCUS ON INCLUSION THESE DAYS, BECAUSE LIABILITY
Yes, higher ed (intentional lower caps) has lately trended way too hard on the hand holding of undergraduate students, including a pervasive focus on inclusion. And that’s fine. Inclusion is important, and has been severely lacking to date. But that historic lacking has made an imbalance, and schools are overcompensating as a matter of policy. Why? Well, it’s a trend for one. But what Fox is missing is that there’s a legal aspect, too. These universities are providing a context and template to avoid liability. For fatphobia and a host of other things. “Woke” culture has a lot to do with the overcompensation towards inclusion because of liability.”
As for obesity? It’s a major health problem, and, um, it’s getting bigger. Mostly because of processed and fast foods. And the Fox Corporation makes a lot of money on those, too. It is indeed a vicious (news) cycle.
