I did something today that I’m sad about: I removed a fat image of me from my portfolio website.
I am looking for a job, and fat-phobia exists, and might get in the way of someone considering me for a job. I feel icky about this, like I’m “caving”, or catering to fat-phobes.
I did this to some extent in the past. Before the pandemic, and before video conferencing was common, first interviews were often conducted in person. However I insisted on my first interviews being on the phone. I explained that this was the easiest way not to waste time with an in-person meeting, but actually it was really to avoid them seeing my fat body and drawing conclusions about me before actually knowing me and being impressed with me.
I was interviewed for a tech TV channel a few years ago. It was a great interview, and I loved including it on my site. However it shows most of my body, the body that is 90 lbs larger than my current body. I am fat, really fat in this interview. I decided to remove it. I’ve replaced it with an audio version only, branding it as a “podcast”.
Sad.
