This post was a wonderful rallying cry, you are my hero! You know that I struggle with this a ton. I share the feminist politic (duh, obviously) and the demand for evidence-based science in dealing with our health. I struggle finding true peace with how I look. I think gender identity is part of this for me -- femme cuteness has always been a not-quite-making-it struggle with my fat body, and has gotten more elusive as I age. One antidote to that attitude certainly comes from my sexual esteem -- queer ladies tend to know how to honor my body in ways that are so affirming and also hot. I love sexual interactions where my body (and those of my partners) is appreciated for what it can DO (come like fireworks over and over) rather than judged for it's shape (fluffy, a la staypuft marshmallow man). But that affirmation, as wonderful as it is, doesn't erase the well-worn tracks of compulsory body shame in my mind. Which is a bummer, as no one deserves to live with that. I really want to hear more about your patient instructing spiel. I've been adding a line or two ("you're going to see a lot of fat patients over your medical career and I want you to know how to treat us...") but I KNOW you have excellent, well-researched techniques to pass on.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-03-16 09:21 pm (UTC)One antidote to that attitude certainly comes from my sexual esteem -- queer ladies tend to know how to honor my body in ways that are so affirming and also hot. I love sexual interactions where my body (and those of my partners) is appreciated for what it can DO (come like fireworks over and over) rather than judged for it's shape (fluffy, a la staypuft marshmallow man). But that affirmation, as wonderful as it is, doesn't erase the well-worn tracks of compulsory body shame in my mind. Which is a bummer, as no one deserves to live with that.
I really want to hear more about your patient instructing spiel. I've been adding a line or two ("you're going to see a lot of fat patients over your medical career and I want you to know how to treat us...") but I KNOW you have excellent, well-researched techniques to pass on.