Plus size bloggers Verena Prechtl and Julia Kremer have enough. Enough of bodyshaming. Enough discrimination in everyday life. Enough annoying prejudices. It is enough!
"Fat, lazy, ugly, smelly, disgusting, unsportsmanlike, undisciplined, excessive" – these are the hurtful words that overweight people have to deal with every day. In everyday life, at work, even when visiting a doctor. They are stigmatized and insulted. But now it's enough for the two plus size bloggers. Verena and Julia set an example – for more Body acceptance.
Now or never!
Why now? After all, the terms body positivity, self-acceptance and self-love are no longer foreign words. Debates and protests against discrimination and bodyshaming have existed for years. And Verena and Julia have also been committed to more diversity and acceptance for a long time. But apparently the importance of the topic has still not arrived in many minds. And a shocking news finally caused the barrel to overflow for the two.
Are you crazy?
Decisive was a newspaper article in "ButenunBinnen" from June 4th, 2020, in which the hotel owner Angelika Hargersheimer spoke out about overweight hotel guests in the following discriminatory words: "So I find it personally discriminatory that I have such a sight (overweight people, note d. Red.) Have to endure – honestly. And I know when I'm fat that something is wrong. And not everyone has something with the thyroid. " The two bloggers could not believe it and Julia describes:
"When Verena and I read this article, we once again realized that discrimination against overweight people is part of everyday life. After a short survey within our communities, we received hundreds of messages with touching and very frightening stories within 24 hours."
Stories from:
Data – “So I wouldn't push you from the edge of the bed, but it doesn't work in public.”
Doctor's visit – "You should lose weight first. Just eat less and do more exercise. This often leaves diseases undetected."
Professional life – “Fat people are uneducated anyway.”
And these are just a few examples. Julia and Verena knew that they had to do something. So the two launched the awareness campaign together with other plus size influencers. Under the #RespectMySize, # TogetherForMoreDiversity and #Get Together AgainstPrejudices, they set an example against discrimination in everyday life and for more diversity!
Julia and Verena were very well received and positive feedback. But the campaign also showed them one thing – they still have a lot of educational work to do. And not just them! It is time to rethink and drive change forward. Once and for all.