Many paragraphs of this article feel like I could've written them myself - thank you for sharing the read Tad.
The line in the article that stands out for me is:
"While visiting a college as a high school senior, a cute guy asked for my phone number, but when he called he wanted to know how much I weighed because, he told me, he “likes a woman he can climb.” "
So often (like almost always), FAs are only painted in a negative light in these types of articles, shows, etc. Like did she never have an at least somewhat positive encounter with an FA that she could share to balance it out!? No wonder everyone thinks we are a bunch of totally tactless freaks! Now certainly many FAs (both closet and non-closet) treat fat women like garbage. SOme don't know any better (they are totally socially inept) and some just don't give a ****. They see these fat women as just a 'hill to climb' and get their jollies, then move on. I fully realize that these kind of early experiences with FAs really scars these young women and turns them against all FAs. But just like any other distinct group, we are not a monolith, and perseverance is warranted. I continue to maintain that they (fat people) will never have a truly fully satisfying relationship with a guy/girl who is not an avowed FA. Everyone deserves to be with someone who thinks they are the bomb!
waldo - I think you vastly overestimate the general public knowledge regarding the existence of FAs. Especially since the scene the writer references in the article happened some 20+ years ago - meaning in the still early days of the internet. Chances that a high school senior in those days had ever heard the acronym "FA", let alone what it meant and that a corresponding sub-culture existed are somewhere <20%. So a 18-year old in say 1998 responding with incredulity to or assuming a prank in a blunt FA encounter sounds not judgemental but plain realistic.
General awareness of the diversity also of sexual preferences has increased tremendously in the meantime, and the respective age-group will be likely to file such an encounter accordingly. Nevertheless, fat admiration/acceptance has never - unfortunately - really succeeded in penetrating the lingo, acronyms and concepts beyond the specific subculture. Like BBW is much more likely to be spelled out as "beautiful black woman" than "big beautiful woman".
Two lines that jumped out at me were:
I wonder how many other people are like this, where it isn't that they ever minded being in a fatter body, and even saw some of the pluses of it, but simply hate how society treats them, or alternatively lose and fight to stay thinner just for the ease of existing? And then I wonder how the effects of covid maybe makes some of them re-evaluate those feelings?
In my personal case, that definitely was one consideration for maintaining a half-way acceptable weight despite never being close to what would qualify as "thin". Physically the only difference I feel in times when I'm 35 pounds lighter is that of being less strong and powerful but in turn being more agile on stilettos.
So not having to constantly fight even more negativity, prejudices and discrimination simply for not fitting the societal size standard for women always was one factor that kept me from completely giving in to my eating lust and love of all things fat. As well as - also as the author here writes - to have more clothes shopping options, not be limited to strictly plus-size brands and offers.
But apart from these conscious deliberations regarding my size staying within the "acceptable" weight range was not that much of a chore for me since I've always had a life with a lot going on, moving around - so turning very sedantary never was on the cards regarding neither life circumstances nor personality. Plus - I was taught good old-fashioned healthy eating habits at home that became second nature combined with a stomach that never could take some very rich foods (deep fried - my life-long enemy) - both certainly contributed to keeping my size within reason.
Regarding Covid19: my personal public&media-opinion-radar is currently telling me that the pandemic has brought a bad backlash to all things body positivity and fat-phobia is going stronger than ever. Not least because there seems to be some correlation between (real) obesity and Covid19 related risks. And this correlation is being used to put ever more societal pressure on fat people and to justidy open discrimination. Even rougher times are coming for the fat community imo.