Feminists Engage in the Same Behavior For Which They Criticize Others
by Tiffany Madison
DALLAS, October 15th, 2013 – My recent article about Maria Kang’s “fat-shaming” controversy sparked a conversation with a feminist that I respect. During our discussion, she informed me that my opinion regarding what constitutes “fat shaming” was irrelevant. Why?
I have “hourglass” privilege.
“You don’t know what it’s like to be discriminated against based on your looks,” she decided. She wasn’t interested in discovering my body image experiences or health struggles as a life-long thyroid patient, but confirming her “us vs. them” collectivist bias. To her, pitting “heavy” women against “skinny” women elevates her struggles for acceptance to superior heights. Divisive nonsense!
READ: Should fat people feel ashamed of themselves?
Whether working with Marines in the non-profit sector, IT professionals or construction managers in real estate, I have operated in predominately male environments most of my life. As a blonde woman named “Tiffany” with a Texas twang and penchant for stilettos, you can bet I know what it’s like is to be judged by my appearance.
But instead of complaining about their assumptions, I use their prejudices to my advantage in contract negotiations and I’m respected because I destroy their preconceived notions. I’m confident, intelligent, honest and polite. I conduct business as an individual with integrity. I have done this whether I’ve weighed 140 or 115 lbs, a size 12 or a 2. As a result, I am valued accordingly by men and most women.
READ: “Black & Pink” Interview with Suicide Girl Olivia Black (NSFW)
How ironic that this feminist hypocrite would move to invalidate my critique of our hyper-sensitive, politically correct culture based on my appearance, treating me the way others have treated her. Doing the very thing she is complaining society does to women struggling with their weight.
The great women that came before you “modern feminists” would laugh at your concocted outrage and selective activism. Most individuals struggle with their body image; we all feel we’re too short, too tall, too white, too dark, too thin, too fat, etc. Ridiculing others to make your (and your victim-group) feel supremely oppressed is disingenuous and counterproductive. We should be working together, not picking one another apart.
The only idea-leaders that can save “modern feminism” are individualist feminists, particularly of the libertarian variety. If you know a feminist dismisses the opinion of others because they’re “privileged”, please refer them to Thoughts on Liberty or Sex and the State so they can evolve. Because in 2013, you can’t buttress your claims of seeking progressive societal advancement with dismissive, belittling arguments. You win you no converts.
Tiffany Madison is a writer, libertarian pundit and social media strategist from Dallas, Texas. Her column for Washington Times Communities covers current events, civil liberties, veteran’s issues and foreign policy. Her work has been featured or referenced by Policy Mic, The Rutherford Institute, Freedom Outpost, Military.com, and AmberLyon.com.
