Melissa Kite Melissa Kite

If I don’t like being fat, I should be allowed to say so

When you join the ranks of the fat, the fat lobby feel they have control over how you talk about it

issue 14 March 2020

The game was up when I put on a pair of size 14 jodhpurs at the country store and they almost fit me. ‘No no no no no no no!’ I said, backing away from the mirror. The builder boyfriend looked over from where he was taking the blonde wig off a mannequin and putting it on his head in an attempt to entertain the other customers, who were not laughing at all. He is the worst shopping companion.

I looked back at myself in the mirror. Never have I been bigger than a 10 and now it seems I have passed from 10 to 14 without even pausing at 12 and without so much as a word from my nearest and dearest.

The problem is that our society is now so ‘body positive’ that when I balloon in the space of one wet, miserable winter, the reaction of my friends and family is to say nothing.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in