Fat Things Festival: When Activism Becomes A Sizzle Reel
Ah, Philly FatCon—the land of “Free the Jiggle” classes, hoards of XL racks promising belonging, and vendors selling art that screams “Yes, I have body hair.” It all sounds well and good… until you realize this whole thing might be less about fighting discrimination and more about monetizing the “F-word.”
💰 Marketing By Weight: The True Agenda?
Everyone’s buzzing: “Body positivity!” “Safe space!” “Empowerment!” Meanwhile, someone’s making money every time the word fat hits the headline, and that’s the true convention center.
It’s not just therapy sessions and affirmations — it’s a mini-economy. Clothing swaps, class tickets, vendor booths, yoga mats, fashion panels. Doesn’t matter that discrimination is still legal in 48 states—what matters is selling the myth that showing up equals changing the world.
🍿 A Look at the “Activities”
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“Fat & Fashionable” panel — where influencers teach you how to look good while capitalizing on your curves.
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Twerk-lesque and “free the jiggle” classes — because nothing says empowerment like paying $25 to shake your butt in a university gym.
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Plus-Size Swap + Shop — clothes you bring in, clothes you buy out. Capitalism disguised as community.
Don’t get me wrong, feeling safe is great. But when healing looks suspiciously like a well-designed vendor mall, you’ve got to ask: Is it activism or enterprise?
🎭 Selling Identity for Profit
We've gone from “fat acceptance” to “fat branding.”
Attendees say they “needed people like them” — understandable. But the problem is, this need is being packaged. Need safe spaces? Here’s an entrance fee. Want dignity? Pay again. Need healing? Add the optional merch.
Every festival also double-dips as a marketing funnel. Book deals, clothing lines, coaching services — all with “fat liberation” as the hook. The message becomes: Be proud. Oh, and be a consumer too.
🔚 Final Bite
Philly FatCon might feel like a hug. But behind the warm vibes is a business model: How many times can we say “fat” before the cash register pings?
True empowerment grows in the streets, in policy battles, not in ticketed “fat heal and deal” expos. Until they take their show on the road — past the yoga mats and vendor tables — it’s not a movement. It’s a marketing event dressed in solidarity.
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