In 2016, the Egyptian Radio and Television Union caused uproar by ordering female anchors to go on mandatory diets, deeming their appearance “inappropriate” for television. Eight presenters were suspended until they met these controversial beauty standards, putting a glaring spotlight on fatphobia. Fatphobia is defined as “the irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against obesity or people with obesity.” It is rooted in societal stigma and negative stereotypes about larger bodies, contributes to discrimination, and harms self-esteem and mental health. Fatphobia and weight bias can manifest in society through practices such as clothing stores failing to offer a range of sizes or the absence of larger chairs in public spaces. Unsolicited compliments such as “you look amazing, you’ve lost so much weight,” imply that maintaining or gaining weight is negative and exhibits fatphobia. Additionally, using the term “fat” as an insult reinforces negative connotations, despite it simply being a description of body shape. In another instance of fatphobia, Gold’s Gym, one of Egypt’s leading fitness chains, sparked outrage by posting an image of a pear on Facebook with the caption, “This is no shape for a girl.” The post…
Shark Tank Egypt Episode Highlights Divided Views on Fatphobia and Body Positivity
January 2, 2025
By Nadine Tag
Journalist
