A photographer decided to prove that people despise her for not being thin:
Memphis-based photographer Haley Morris-Cafiero has long been aware of strangers making fun of her behind her back due to her size. So aware, in fact, that she has turned the whole concept into a full-blown photography project. Titled Wait Watchers, the series consists of Morris-Cafiero’s self-portraits in public in which strangers can be seen in the background giving her strange looks and/or laughing.
The entire thing seemed extremely unconvincing to me. I really hate these self-pitying exercises. I’m a happily plump woman and I only see people observe me with admiration and awe. This woman, on the other hand, is so invested into proving that the world hates her that doesn’t seem to allow for the possibility that the problem is not her size but:
1. The horrible clothes;
2. The dirty hair that makes her look like a public menace;
3. Standing in a way that makes it impossible for a crowd to pass;
4. And, most importantly, the fact that she is being photographed while posing with weird facial expressions.
I also wonder how many photos of people not noticing her existence or looking at her kindly and respectfully she edited out of this collection.
Remember, when people look at you, they see exactly what you see in yourself. You see a fat, ridiculous, pitiful creature, and that’s what everybody else will see. You see a beautiful, elegant, awesome person, and that is what everybody else will see.
The gaze of the Other originates inside you. And that is a position of great power. Don’t squander the power.
P.S. Thank you, David Gendron, for leaving the link to the article.
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