— Joey. (@Joeyldn) March 14, 2020
Don’t use your bookshelf ( read “social media platform”) to hate on the size of others.
Small person or big person: Stop using hate speech to shame people based on the size of their bodies.
Fat person, thin person: Stop trolling, stop criticising and stop feeling superior because of the size of the person you’re looking at wishing you could be them (or not to look like them because of your own body dysmorphia).
And that goes for how you see yourself too — Mike (@SlimJ87) March 29, 2020
In reaction to the posts, Twitter threads have trended with #bopo activists and body-positive individuals declaring hatred towards the mocking of obesity via social media.
Throughout the now-viral Twitter thread, #bopo activists called out the use of obesity in the political cartoon and even demanded that the outlet do better.
Evidently, this is not the first time “The Independent” has featured a “fat” political cartoon.
Previously, the outlet used a “fat man” in a cartoon to mock Liberal leader Scott Morrison after toying with lowering migration rates.
What were your thoughts about the political cartoon? Let us know by tweeting at us @feminisminindia.
In recent years, there has been an increased focus on body positivity and inclusivity in the media. However, fat people are still often used in political cartoons as a way to mock or critize politicians and their policies. This is not only hurtful and offensive, but it also reinforces harmful stereotypes about fat people.
Fat people are not lazy, stupid, or worthless. We are just like everyone else, with our own unique talents, strengths, and weaknesses. We deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, not ridiculed or made into a punchline.
Using fat people in political cartoons is simply lazy and unimaginative. There are so many other ways to critize politicians without resorting to offensive and harmful stereotypes. It’s time to retire this tired trope and start showing fat people the respect they deserve.
