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Roxane Gay: ‘Fat’ is the first insult

Prominent US academic and cultural critic Roxane Gay has spoken to the 鶹ҳ about the contempt she has faced due to her weight.

“People really do view fat as this repulsive thing that they should treat with disdain. It’s the first insult,” said the writer, best known for her book “Bad Feminist” and her memoir “Hunger".

“One of the most frustrating things in my career has been that no matter how much I achieve, no matter how high I rise there is some Fred over there who reminds me ‘oh you’re fat’. And that, in his mind of course, negates everything I have accomplished.”

Speaking to HARDtalk’s Stephen Sackur while visiting London, the author said she believes that people’s attitudes to being ‘fat’ are slowly beginning to change. “No matter how much weight I lose, I still think it’s important for people to be treated with respect and dignity at any size.”

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