Along with colorism, weight discrimination is big issue that people everywhere face. However, the focus of this section will primarily be based on women.
The classic slim figure is highly sought after in Asia and it is probably the most normalized toxic beauty standard out of them all. Even if you don't have a fair skin tone in the Philippines, you will be considered attractive if you are slim or skinny. Fat shaming is highly generalized in the culture and it is something that can be done to a friend or family member in a normal conversation. People will comment on your weight or make jokes and believe that it is not a sensitive topic. Many Filipinos are desensitized to weight discrimination as they were raised to believe that it was normal and not harmful to people. It is a real culture shock to people who are not Filipino and even some Filipino-Americans who do not see it as normal growing up.
This video talks about why the culture glamorizes these unhealthy habits and why it is a taboo topic that no one wants to talk about since it has been normalized forever. This topic has a wide range because people have experienced weight discrimination from both sides of the spectrum where you could be seen as 'too fat' or 'too skinny'. When you are bigger, people will tell you to exercise and criticize you for being fat and unhealthy. When you are underweight, they will tell you to eat more and claim that you are sick and unhealthy once again. People who have lived through both of these feel stuck and feel there is no way for others to feel satisfied with them.
The history behind this topic comes from the very nature of the culture. The video talks about how Filipinos naturally have small builds. Most people are short with an average height of 5'4" and under, you will not normally see people who are large in build and tall like in the States. People are used to seeing small builds and due to the Philippines being a poor country, naturally, a majority of the people will be skinny due to the evolution of their anatomy possibly from the starvation of their ancestors. When people do fit the 'average' appearance they are used to then they will automatically criticize their look.
My Experience
I relate to this topic because I have experienced being called overweight and underweight. When I was younger I played sports and did gymnastics and I was thin for most of my life then. However, when I quit doing those things and focused on school, I naturally gained weight and over time my family began to comment on my weight gain. When I was thirteen we went to the Philippines for vacation and my relatives would make jokes and comment on my weight. After this trip, my self-esteem plummeted and I began doing extreme workouts and skipping meals. I became very insecure about every aspect of myself and it took many years for me to respect myself again. As the years passed, I eventually became skinnier and then my mom told me that I had to eat more because I looked unhealthy. I remember feeling confused and rejected because I felt that I could never win. Even though I have come to terms with these experiences they still haunt me till this day and I still get insecure and watch out how much I eat.
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This was such a beautiful article! I was so glad to learn about all this information!