Thin privilege is the ability to deny your own privilege because you don’t believe people have been “wrong enough” to fat people.
When I was arrested (for being 30 feet away from a car jacking that I had nothing to do with, I was reprehended by the owner of the car until the police arrived – although I was nowhere near his car nor did I run or resist) I tried to explain this to the officer who promptly interrupted me with “I don’t need to listen to you, fat ass.” I was then arrested and spent 2 nights in jail charged with that car jacking.
When I was fired from being a dog walker although I had invested my own interests and resources – grew to love and adore the dogs I was caring for and worked harder and more committedly than ANYONE at the agency – I was told it was because two families had insisted I couldn’t be a qualified dog walker because of my weight. When I can not only run and walk for longer than the other walkers – but also lift heavier objects.
Thin privilege is your ability to turn around and say that this is simply “not enough” to qualify as discrimination.
