Understanding the Social Stigma: A Sociological Perspective on the Humiliation Experienced by Fat Persons

In my doctoral dissertation, I wrote that scholars define Fat Studies by what it is not and what it is.  Fat Studies scholars do not approach their research from the perspective that being fat is a disease, or is something ugly.  Fat Studies scholars do not approach their research from a perspective that human weight is alterable and negotiable.  Rather, just as some people are tall and others are short, weight is another human characteristic that varies in its diversity among individuals, cultures, and societies. As in my dissertation, I do not use the words “obesity” and “overweight” because these terms, among others, contribute to making fat persons “other” and contribute to their stigmatization.

Biological and behavioral perspectives are frequently used to analyze fat persons, emphasizing the effects on health and individual lifestyle decisions. But there are also significant societal implications for the stigma and humiliation connected to being fat. Through the use of sociological theories like systems theory, social constructionism, and symbolic interactionism, the purpose of this article is to identify and use the social constructs that underlie the stigmatization and humiliation that some fat persons endure.

Symbolic Interactionism

According to Herbert Blumer’s theory of symbolic interactionism, people’s actions depend on the meanings that objects have for them. Social interaction provides these meanings, which are then interpreted to change their meaning. Body size is portrayed in society as more than simply a physical characteristic when it comes to being fat; it is a symbol with deep symbolic significance. In the media and in popular culture, being slim is frequently associated with success, discipline, and attractiveness, whereas being fat is negatively associated with indolence, lack of self-control, and failure. These symbolic connotations have an impact on how people who are fat view themselves and others, which frequently results in internalized stigma and outside discrimination.

Social Constructionism: The ‘Ideal Body’

According to social constructionism, social activities shape knowledge and many other characteristics of the world around us rather than making them natural. The ‘ideal body’ image, according to this viewpoint, is a creation of historical and cultural views rather than something that is inherent or universal. Beauty and health standards are socially created and subject to change throughout time. The modern social construct that glorifies thinness and stigmatizes fatness is engrained in institutions and cultural norms, ranging from the media to healthcare. The stigma attached to being fat is further exacerbated by this construction, since those who experience it are frequently perceived as straying from the socially constructed ‘norm.’

Systems Theory: An All-encompassing Perspective on the Stigma Associated with Being Fat

Ludwig von Bertalanffy established the theory of systems, which highlights how interrelated the components are inside a system. When this is applied to being fat, it becomes evident that the stigma associated with it is a result of a complex system rather than just individual conduct or cultural beliefs. This system consists of healthcare laws that might not sufficiently address the needs of fat persons, educational programs that might not offer thorough nutrition education, urban design that might not encourage physical activity or is created for thinner persons (e.g., public seating), and economic policies that might make healthier food options less affordable for those with lower incomes. The combination of these elements fosters a culture in which being fat is seen as a systemic health problem as well as a personal one, which degrades and stigmatizes those who are affected.

Intersectionality

The theory of intersectionality provides important insights into the humiliation that fat persons might endure. This viewpoint emphasizes how the stigma associated with being fat interacts with other social constructs, including gender, race, and class. For example, because of the greater social pressure placed on women to meet specific beauty standards, fat women may experience stigmatization that is different and possibly more harsh than that experienced by men. Comprehending these interlocking dynamics is essential to tackling the humiliation associated with being fat in a comprehensive manner.

Tackling the Issue: Moving Forward

In order to counteract the stigma associated with being fat, a multimodal strategy is required. This comprises:

• Changing Societal Narratives: Influencers, educators, and the media are all very important in influencing how society views body size. The stigma attached to being fat can be lessened by promoting diversity and body positivity.
• Policy Interventions: Institutions and governments can put policies into place that deal with the structural causes of stigma and enact legislation that punishes institutional violations of the dignity of fat persons.
• Empowering Individuals: Support and empowerment groups can give fat persons a forum to talk about their experiences, question society norms, and push for structural change.
• Fat Studies Groups: Unfortunately, some fat studies groups have created a too-narrow agenda that precludes discussions of topics such as humiliation [NB: a well-known person in the Fat Studies community resigned from my dissertation committee because I wanted to discuss humiliation. They stated that I had no right to assume that any fat person experiences humiliation. I believe they were uninformed that there is a distinction between humiliation and shame.]

Conclusion

The shame that fat people endure is a complicated social problem rather than just a personal one. We can better comprehend the cultural structures and systemic variables leading to this stigma by using sociological theories like systems theory, social constructionism, and symbolic interactionism. It will take a team effort to change cultural narratives, put systemic improvements into place, and give people more authority going ahead. It will require groups such as some Fat Studies scholars to expand their agenda and risk “allowing” alternative perspectives that might challenge their preconceived notions. Then and only then will we be able to fight the stigma and humiliation attached to being fat and promote a more accepting and compassionate society.