by Raquel Arnold

Created on: May 19, 2010

I'm an Honors college student on the Dean's List with a 3.5 GPA, a prominent writer on my college's newspaper staff, a devoted girlfriend of three years, a sister, a daughter, a cousin, a friend. 

And I'm overweight. 

Unfortunately, it has become so accepted in society to discriminate against those who may be heavier than others that the important details like who we are, what we stand for, and how we contribute to our community matters little. Instead, it is boasted time and again by the media and our culture as a whole that the only way to display your worth and importance is to wiggle into a size two. 

While I admit that being healthy mentally as well as physically should be a top priority, it saddens me that physical beauty is so heavily harped on. We all stand on the scale in the bathroom and, from time to time, wonder if we should lose an extra few. But when children as young as four and five admit to feeling "ugly" and "fat" because of their weight, it's time for us as a collective society to focus on the topic of weight acceptance. Perhaps we should start with why we are not accepting in the first place, and what we can do to change it. 

As stated above, the importance of physical beauty in western culture borders on obsession. The plastic surgery industry is one that is constantly booming, as well as the weight loss industry. The urge to adhere to the 'blueprint' we have set for each other is so strong, we are afraid to go against them and ridicule those who actually decide to do so. It is the fear of being the outcast, the black sheep. On the other side, it is the thrill of making fun of those who walk to the beat of their own drum in hopes of being seen as one of the crowd.

Instead of realizing that this world is comprised of people from all walks of life and all shapes and sizes, we continue to ostracize those who refuse to play by the rules. The solution to changing is simple: open your mind. Weight discrimination is no less ridiculous than passing judgment on someone because of their nationality, gender, race, or financial status. And yet, it is acknowledged that this seemingly small answer to an enormous problem is easier said than done.

There will always be the bullies in grade school, the mean girls in high school, those very rude co-workers, and even strangers who criticize solely on weight. I've experienced my fair share. But no matter what, it should be remembered to walk with head held high, enjoy every moment life has to offer, and never let anyone ruin a special moment or a precious memory just because of a glare or nasty comment. 

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