Trigger warning: This post includes content related to eating disorders, racism, fat-phobia, physical ability, homophobia, and gender identity. If you are struggling with an eating disorder, please reach out to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline: (800) 931-2237. If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call 911 or reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (1-800) 273-8255.

We all have intersectional identities and experience both privilege and oppression.

I live with extreme privilege in my life, and I acknowledge that even though my journey has been very difficult thus far, my privileges have made my life far easier to navigate than those with fewer inherent privileges. I struggle with shame at how difficult it has been for me to accept my body despite the unearned privileges it receives. If you also struggle with shame around your privilege, this is a time to practice self-compassion. It is okay to acknowledge our privileges without feeling guilty about them or using them to oppress others. In fact, it is necessary to acknowledge our privileges to fight oppression. One important way to address this is to listen to the stories of marginalized voices and lift those voices when possible. I intend to do the same.

1. White Privilege 

I am white.

I am a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, fair-skinned white American of Italian, English, German, and Swiss descent. It is a privilege that I can even trace my ancestry. Although historically (i.e., before I was born), Italians did face some oppression in the United States, it did not compare to the oppression faced by non-white people living in the U.S. People see and treat me simply as white, and that gives me a huge advantage over people who do not look like me.

As stated so eloquently by Peggy McIntosh, at the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women, in her article, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, “I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was “meant” to remain oblivious.” I refuse to remain oblivious.

When I was a child, I attended a counter-protest at a Ku Klux Klan rally. I knew racism was wrong, and I wanted to be on the right side of history. I was able to attend without fear of the KKK, though, because it was not me who they hated. I was safe in my skin at that rally. I intend to continue to acknowledge my unfair advantage and use it to fight for equality.

Eating disorders and disordered eating are not white person ailments. Yet, in eating disorder treatment, almost all the patients I saw were white. They were white because treatment options are much more readily available to white people than to people of color, and health care providers are more likely to recommend treatment for their white patients. In fact, according to the National Eating Disorders Association’s website, “Black teenagers are 50% more likely than white teenagers to exhibit bulimic behavior, such as binging and purging,” and, “In a study of adolescents, researchers found that Hispanics were significantly more likely to suffer from bulimia nervosa than their non-Hispanic peers. The researchers also reported a trend towards a higher prevalence of binge eating disorder in all minority groups.”

2. Thin Privilege

I am relatively thin.

My struggle with my body is largely due to internalized fat-phobia. Growing up in the United States, I have been inundated with messages that fat is bad/unhealthy/unattractive/etc. and that thin is good/healthy/attractive. Despite being personally able to see other people’s fat bodies as beautiful, these messages instilled a fear in me of becoming fat. This fear solidified for me in college when I was told repeatedly until I believed it that I needed to lose weight. My pain and fear were real and serious, but they do not compare to the external, systemic fat-phobia faced by people in larger bodies.

When I go to the doctor, I can expect that the doctor will effectively treat me for the reason I scheduled the appointment. People in larger bodies, who do not have a Health at Every Size (HAES) doctor, can expect to be prescribed diet and exercise – even if they scheduled their appointment for the same symptom I did.

When I want to fly on an airplane, I can expect that I can buy a ticket for one seat, that I will fit in it, and that the seatbelt will fit on me without an extension. I can expect that the person sitting next to me will not look at me with disgust or complain.

I can exercise without people assuming I am doing it to lose weight and without getting unsolicited weight loss advice.

I can buy “junk food” at the grocery store without being judged by the cashier.

The government has not declared a war on my body type.

3. Socioeconomic Privilege

Food Security 

I am food secure.

I never fear if I will be able to afford my next meal or snack. I am able to go to the grocery store every week and buy whatever sounds delicious and nourishing. I have never felt the urge to binge on food because I always know that it will be available to me. Even though money is a challenge for me now, I know that my parents would support me in purchasing food if I needed it.

Educational Privilege

 I have a Master of Science degree.

With the financial support of my parents, scholarships, and fellowships, I was able to earn my Masters degree and the respect and opportunities that come with having a higher education degree. I was also able to double major and double minor for my undergraduate degrees.

The support of my parents (e.g., the value they placed on education and their willingness and ability to help me with my homework) also helped me become valedictorian of my high school class.

4. Able-bodied Privilege

I am able-bodied.

My body can see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. I do not struggle with chronic physical illness or pain, and I do not face mobility challenges. My body allows me to do so many amazing things, and I have hated it anyway. Recovery is certainly easier for me because I can thank my body for all the things it can do when I properly fuel and rest it.

I cannot imagine how upsetting it must be for somebody who does not identify as “able-bodied” to see people like me with able-bodies hating our bodies, which do so much for us.

My body allows me to hike to the top of Colorado’s mountains hearing birds chirping and seeing remarkable mountain vistas and wild animals. This has been a huge motivating factor in my recovery.

5. Heterosexual Privilege

I am heterosexual.

In America, this is by far the most widely accepted sexuality. I do not face the bigotry and hatred faced by homosexual, bisexual, and asexual folks. Love is arguably the most beautiful part of the human experience, and we should cherish it in all of its manifestations.

6. Cisgender Privilege

 I identify as cisgender.

I identify as a woman, and I live in a biologically female body. This gender gives me privilege over any gender other than males who identify as men. (My gender identity even gives me an advantage over men when it comes to eating disorder treatment.) I do not face the bigotry and hatred faced by transgender, non-binary, and all other non-cisgender folks. Additionally, I do not face the body-dysmorphia suffered by, for example, a man living in a biologically female body who may feel especially compelled to restrict or exercise so that his body more accurately represents his identity (e.g., reduce breast size).

If your voice has been marginalized due to inherent, unfair disadvantages and you would like to share your experience on my blog, please reach out to me. I would love to hear your voice.