Are Plus Size Bloggers Actually Making a Difference?

Guest post by Glen Johnson

A year ago I asked the readers of my blog a question “is plus size blogging ethically correct or is it just frustrated whining?” Fast forward to almost the end of 2009 in some ways I am still asking that very question trying to figure out if those of us in the plus size blog community are really making a difference or just shouting to hear ourselves talk.

Part of me says absolutely yes we are making a difference because of the relationships I have forged as well as some of the positive events I have witnessed since starting in the blog world so many years ago. Another part of me is not so confident because of the hatred that I see spewed out in the comment section of blogs as well as within the feed streams on Twitter as well as from some of the posts from my fellow bloggers.

I am going to go out on a limb and say yes what we plus bloggers are doing is positive and for the good of the entire curvy community. Even though blogging can bring out the narcissistic nature in a person which to many can be viewed as negative if the goal is to help others by the spreading of positive information then regardless as to what the Meme Roth’s and other critics say about large men and women we have a voice and we are not afraid to use it to protect our rights.

There have been many time over the last five years that I have wanted to quit because at time I like I was beating my head against the wall. In times that I am moments away from hitting the delete button I receive emails like the one below to let me know that my/our voice is very important.

Mr. Johnson,

I would love to be considered for “Beauty of the Week.” I’ve been plus-sized most of my life and have finally realized at the age of 37 that “a little extra” can be quite beautiful. Sexy can be any size and your site is so encouraging! Even if mainstream media hasn’t fully accepted the phenomena, there’s a growing culture of women who are no longer willing to be ignored and men who can recognize true beauty in all it’s many shapes and sizes.

Between emails like this and hearing the words of others stating that the plus size community has a voice that is strong and powerful when used correctly I can stand by my earlier statement that we in the plus size blog community are doing a fantastic job of being advocates for the curvy community. Not only are we addressing our personal needs but helping others out whether we know it or not.

I am grateful for the opportunity to share my voice with the readers of this blog as well as those that frequent Full Figure Plus. Without platforms like the one that Sarah has built as well as my own a section of people will continually be discriminated against but without a written account of the fight to end size discrimination forever.

By the way congratulations to Sarah on starting a new chapter in her life! If you know her or are getting to know her wish her good luck on starting on a new journey of bliss!

Glen is the author of Full Figure Plus a blog that is dedicated to writing about plus size fashion and all things relevant to the plus size community.

My New Favorite Song

I am a bit ashamed of not having discovered this song earlier, but thank goodness I stumbled on it a few weeks ago online whilst browsing around YouTube.com. Since then this song has been playing in my car constantly.

Let me introduce to you Mika, a singer who was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to a Lebanese mother of Syrian-Lebanese descent and an American father. A lot of you might probably know the song… ‘Relax, Take it Eaaaaasy‘… well Mika is the man behing that song. And he has recently launched another great single which simply praises big beautiful curvy ladies. The song is aptly name ‘Big Girl… You Are Beautiful!’.

Besides loving this song because it is truly about time full figured women get some love in the music scene, the piece is simply up beat and just makes you want to get off your chair, dance and celebrate your curves! Woo hoo! The video is great and the plus size women dancing along look gorgeous and sexy too.

Some snippets from the lyrics of the song, which stand out for me…

You take your girl
And multiply her by four
Now a whole lot of woman
Needs a whole lot more

Right on! And also…

No need to fantasize
Since I was in my braces
A watering hole
With the girls around
And curves in all the right places

Please share this with every curvy lady you know, I am sure it will make her day!

Love Your Body Day: 6 Ultimate Rules

Ladies, today is Love Your Body Day! This is an initiative being organized by Hollywood Now, and among its advocated are plus size celebrities Mia Tyler and Chenese Lewis. If you live in the Hollywood Area, then I suggest you head down to the celebrations today between noon and 4pm. Everything is taking place at:
Plummer Park – Fiesta Hall
1200 N. Vista Street
West Hollywood, CA

However do visit the Love Your Body Day website for up to date details and information.

In the meantime, here are the 6 ultimate rules every woman should following today to make is indeed a special and meaningful Love Your Body Day!

1. Accept yourself as you are.
2. Your weight is not your worth, so you cannot even look at the scales today, let alone go on them.
3. Quit hating yourself and your body. Turn all the negative energy into positive energy, and start loving yourself today. You deserve it!
4. Accept that every body is beautiful. There is no perfect body, no right or wrong shape. Every body is special and beautiful.
5. Have confidence in yourself!
6. Real beauty comes from within, so although it is definitely important to take care of your physical appearance, do not let it determine how you feel about yourself and how you live your life.

Top 5 Reasons Why I Love Being Plus Size

1. Being able to create Pasazz.net first and foremost. This website is like my baby and I love helping other plus size women find fashionable clothing in their size.

2. Chocolate! Although I am quite health conscious and I do strive to eat well and exercise (when I have time!), not being on a strict regime to keep me a certain weight lets me enjoy very yummy things. Including chocolate, my one true passion. Hehehe…

3. Being able to wear beautiful clothes from top designers in the industry like IGIGI, Missphit and Monif C.

4. Being plus size, and active online, has throughout the years made me get to know some pretty great people including the staff at IGIGI, Missphit, Sydney’s Closet, Chenese Lewis, Anna Nicole and her lovely mother Dorez at Jahqoi… and so many other like minded bloggers like Glen and Mopie.

5. I love being the person who breaks the mood when a group of girlfriends start talking about diets and losing weight. Being the ‘different’ voice, and challenging the thin stereotype often surprises people, and that gets them thinking. That, to me, is awesome.

This post is part of the meme/contest by Problogger: Top 5 Group Writing Project. Keep on reading in the next few days for a roundup of my favorite posts taking part in this ‘contest’.

Can Fat People be Happy?

I’m sure regular readers of this blog will be shocked by this post title, or better question! How dare I pose such a question? Well it’s the topic that is raising a lot of discussion over at Big Fat Deal. Anne’s post yesterday pointed to an article which appeared in the Daily Mail yesterday entitled “Why you can never be fat and happy“.

Her descriptions of the way fat people, although occupying a great deal of physical space, actually become ‘invisible’ – to the shop assistants who stare through them to the men who pretend you don’t exist – made me realise that the best thing I ever did to lose weight and keep it off was to stop beating myself up about it.

But there’s more…

It shouldn’t – but fat demeans you, even in your own eyes…I was already divorced, but it is at this stage that many people turn away from their partner, and turn instead to the fridge. Outside my family, the closest relationship I had was with a packet of Hobnobs.

When you’re fat, you dread getting dressed in the mornings because you hate all your fat clothes, and you dread going to bed at night feeling a failure because you’ve eaten a Malteser.

Although I have to admit that the article is quite realistic, in the sense that feeling and attitude do hit home. It’s what many overweight people experience and go through due to society’s stereotypes.

But that does not mean that one should succumb to these stereotypes and plainly rule out that fat people cannot be happy just because society decided this is so. It’s a matter of turning these thoughts around, and instead of succumbing, learning to love and accept yourself the way you are. Being fat and happy is possible. It is not an easy ride, it’s a constant struggle sometimes I admit, but I know and also know a lot of other plus size people who are happy about their body shape.

Also, in light of all the hot debates that have been going on about skinny models on the runway and role models for teenagers, to me it seems very unprofessional to publish an article with such a demeaning title.

One step forward. Three steps backwards.

What do you think?