Thick Not Fat

Thick Not Fat
In the essay “Discrimination at Large” written by Jennifer A. Coleman, she speaks of her struggle with weight and how no matter what she does she is still antagonized. In the essay “O.K. So I’m Fat” written by Neil Steinberg, he accepts that he is overweight and lives life happily. Although the essay “Diabesity” opposes obesity, both authors do a fantastic job in giving the larger person’s point of view by the way they appeal to the reader’s emotions, the way Coleman touches on morality, and the way Coleman and Steinberg make themselves relatable to people being discriminated against.
Both Steinberg and Coleman do a fine job of giving the heavy person’s perspective by using pathos to stir up the audience’s emotions. Jennifer Coleman says that, “Fat people are lampooned without remorse or apology on television, by newspaper columnists, in cartoons, you name it... All fat people are “outed” by their appearance(198).” This creates a sense of sorrow for obese people because they are constantly insulted by the media; moreover, in public the insults get even worse. Out in   public, heavy people are told to “move your fat ass(198),” “they are told over and over [they] are lazy and disgusting(198),” “and to lose weight you fat slob(199).” Growing up as a thicker kid myself, these words are harsh and depressing; they are the type of words that will cause some to starve themselves and take radical measures such as, liposuction, to stop the insults from coming. Neil Steinberg uses a sense of humor to express his views, “Some people are no doubt fat because of glandular disorders or the wrath of an angry God. I am fat because I eat a lot (202).” This is funny because he is not in denial of his weight; rarely does a fat person just accept he or she has a problem. As Steinberg writes, “the fat are good at denial (202).” He uses his humor to trash thin people, “forget the social stigma of being fat. Ignore the medical peril, the sheer discomfort of dragging all...