American activists challenge beach body stigma with 'Fat Beach Day'

Many people believe that plus-size individuals are not discriminated against. This approach is incorrect, as activists whose bodies do not fit the size canon prove at every turn. To combat stigmatization, activists in the USA organise special beach outings for plus-size individuals.

Summer means beach outings, visits to pools, and relaxation by the lake. The warm season can be a nightmare for plus-size individuals - chafing thighs, fear of wearing shorts or dresses, judging looks, and comments. Some people with larger bodies sit on the beach in oversized, concealing clothes to avoid criticism.

In the United States, "Fat Beach Day" events are being increasingly organised, where plus-size individuals can enjoy the pleasures of the beach without restraint. On Saturday, 22 June, "Fat Beach Day" occurred in Far Rockaway. The event's organiser, Jordan Underwood, said in an interview with "The Guardian": - We are going through something cultural that impacts us every day on an individual and systemic level. We strive to open a space where people can be themselves.

Jordan Underwood is a model and artist who knows as few others do what it means to be persecuted because of weight. At the age of 12, she started a blog where she shared her problems related to hate speech. Underwood collaborates with the vintage store Berriez to organise Fat Beach Day in Jacob Riis Park. The store's owner, Emma Zack, said in an interview with "The Guardian": - I'm very insecure at the beach and am never among people who look like me. I'm excited that we have created this space for people with bigger bodies to have fun.

Researchers from KFF indicate that one in eight Americans has undergone treatment with drugs intended to promote weight loss, such as Ozempic or Mounjaro. Celebrities boast about "magically losing weight," which motivates ordinary people to take radical measures. Jordan Underwood notes that fatphobia has existed in the culture for years: - In the 2000s, there was a solid anti-fat, intense cultural shift that parallels what we're going through now.

Emma Zack adds: - It's a tough time, not only on the internet but also in society, to be fat, and in many aspects, it seems brutal. You'd think it wouldn't be such a big deal because New York is so open, and you dress the way you want. I always say that I never realised how much people hate fat people until I went on TikTok.