--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reclaiming the word 'fat' was the most…" description: "\"Reclaiming the word 'fat' was the most empowering step in my progress. I stopped using it for insult or degradation and instead replaced it with truth,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ac/beth-ditto-3017_agree_reclaiming-the-word-fat-was-the-most-emp_873501.jpg" --- # Reclaiming the word 'fat' was the most empowering step in… ![“Reclaiming the word 'fat' was the most empowering step in my progress. I stopped using it for insult or degradation and instead replaced it with truth, because the truth is that I am fat, and that's ok. So now when someone calls me fat, I agree, whereas before I would get embarrassed and emotional.” quote by Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ac/beth-ditto-3017_agree_reclaiming-the-word-fat-was-the-most-emp_873501.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ac/beth-ditto-3017_agree_reclaiming-the-word-fat-was-the-most-emp_873501.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ac/beth-ditto-3017_agree_reclaiming-the-word-fat-was-the-most-emp_873501.jpg) > “Reclaiming the word 'fat' was the most empowering step in my progress. I stopped using it for insult or degradation and instead replaced it with truth, because the truth is that I am fat, and that's ok. So now when someone calls me fat, I agree, whereas before I would get embarrassed and emotional.” [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reclaiming the term “fat” turned it into an honest descriptor, reducing shame. **In simple terms:** Accepting the word “fat” empowered her. Key Takeaway Embrace honest self‑labeling. Themes body positivity self‑acceptance language empowerment Mood empowering vulnerable Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - support groups - online discussions - personal journaling Key Concepts social identity psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape self‑image? - What risks exist in normalizing stigmatized terms? A Different Perspective Potential backlash from stigma‑focused audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agree/) [Call me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/call-me/) [Calls Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calls-fat-788419/) [Degradation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degradation/) [Embarrassed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassed/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Empowering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empowering/) [Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fat/) [Fat Agree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fat-agree-977492/) [Fat Empowering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fat-empowering-977490/) [Fats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fats/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Insult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insult/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Replaced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/replaced/) [Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-fat-977493/) [Truth is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-is/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) [Word Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-fat-977491/) ## Related quotes > [What does politically correct mean? If you're fat, don't ask me if you're fat, because I'm gonna tell you the truth. You're fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/what-does-politically-correct-mean-if-you-re-fat-don-t-ask-me-if-you/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [I don't own a scale, and Tao banned the word 'fat' from our house. If we eat too much, we say, 'I feel clogged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/i-don-t-own-a-scale-and-tao-banned-the-word-fat-from-our-house-if-we/) [Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/) > [I use the word 'fat'. I use that word because that's what people are: they're fat. They're not bulky; they're not large, chunky, hefty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-use-the-word-fat-i-use-that-word-because-that-s-what-people-are/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [In my family, my fat family, none of us ever say the word 'fat.' 'Fat' is the word you hear shouted on the playground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/in-my-family-my-fat-family-none-of-us-ever-say-the-word-fat-fat-is/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [I'm not a body shamer. The word fat has been used to hurt me my entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-m-not-a-body-shamer-the-word-fat-has-been-used-to-hurt-me-my-entire/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I am fully aware of what the word 'fat' means ... It's a swear word. It's a weapon. It's a sociological subspecies. It's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/i-am-fully-aware-of-what-the-word-fat-means-it-s-a-swear-word-it-s-a/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [I'm showbiz-fat. It's so funny, in all the reviews that I read, no one wants to use the word 'fat' as an adjective. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-jaret-winokur/i-m-showbiz-fat-it-s-so-funny-in-all-the-reviews-that-i-read-no-one/) [Marissa Jaret Winokur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-jaret-winokur/) > [Everybody calls me fat all the time, so I can’t wait to have a reason, instead of everybody just being a jerk! I’ve never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clark/everybody-calls-me-fat-all-the-time-so-i-can-t-wait-to-have-a-reason/) [Kelly Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clark/) > [I don't look at the criticism anymore. If somebody calls me fat, even in a vulnerable moment, I laugh to myself and think, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-don-t-look-at-the-criticism-anymore-if-somebody-calls-me-fat-even/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Gradually, at the concerts, I began to hear calls for 'the fat girl'… Then I would jump up for the piano stool, forgetting about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-tucker/gradually-at-the-concerts-i-began-to-hear-calls-for-the-fat-girl-then/) [Sophie Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-tucker/) > [I hate when skinny girls calls themselves fat just to get compliments…bitch, shut up and go eat that sandwich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eniss/i-hate-when-skinny-girls-calls-themselves-fat-just-to-get-compliments/) [Eniss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eniss/) > [When someone calls you 'gay,' there's not much you can do about that because I am. Whereas, if someone calls you fat, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/when-someone-calls-you-gay-there-s-not-much-you-can-do-about-that/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [If someone calls you fat and you are fat, then it will be hurtful only if you feel you should not be fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/if-someone-calls-you-fat-and-you-are-fat-then-it-will-be-hurtful-only/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [When you calls someone fat, it really hurts. It might just be a joke to you, but think about how they feel. Words can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-calls-someone-fat-it-really-hurts-it-might-just-be-a-joke-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain if environmental degradation and natural resource depletion continue unabated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/all-our-efforts-to-defeat-poverty-and-pursue-sustainable-development/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) ## More by Beth Ditto > [I was overcome by the Holy Ghost one time, but in a Baptist way. I was six or seven, and I was saved. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-was-overcome-by-the-holy-ghost-one-time-but-in-a-baptist-way-i-was/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [I've never had a very quiet voice. I tried in choir to make it smaller, and it just didn't work out. 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Puberty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-was-born-fat-and-have-always-been-which-was-just-fine-and-even/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Growing up as a chubby kid with a ton of imaginary friends and a Cyndi Lauper obsession, I learned about rejection early on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/growing-up-as-a-chubby-kid-with-a-ton-of-imaginary-friends-and-a/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [This archaic idea - that a woman who is unmarried and childless at 30 is somehow unnatural - will probably always exist, and, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/this-archaic-idea-that-a-woman-who-is-unmarried-and-childless-at-30/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Not everyone wants to be sexy everyday, wearing tight dresses and spanx.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/not-everyone-wants-to-be-sexy-everyday-wearing-tight-dresses-and-spanx/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Here is my prescription to heal all wounds. 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