Naomi Cohen*
Choked on the Culture
by Sharon Bas Hannah
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The death of Cass Elliot has special significance for people concerned with Fat Liberation. For we are going
to expose the lies and manipulations by which fat people are oppressed within this society. Why would a "successful",
popular, energetic woman always be placing her body under stress by dieting? And how could the doctors ignore the
nature of this body stress when searching for a cause of death?
In relation to this, the Fat Underground has been doing research and studies are being revealed showing that constant
weight loss, then gain, then weight loss again, the "yo yo syndrome," is bad for the body. 99% of those
who diet gain the weight back. When weight is gained back it's not usually from overeating, but rather that the
body wants its natural needs met, instead of the strain of starvation. Strenuous dieting degenerates and shrivels
the muscle tissue in the heart and elsewhere. And in the process of the body trying to recover or recuperate itself,
the fat cells expand into those places where the muscle has degenerated. However, most doctors are biased toward
slimness and haven't much concerned themselves with how harmful dieting can be. A study of Italian immigrants in
Pennsylvania shows that fat people who aren't exposed to, or aware of, anti-fat attitudes live long, healthy lives,
but that the emotional stresses on their culturally assimilated, fat descendents had negative effects.
When the fashion was to be heavy, and fat women were the more valued sex objects of the day, (see the painting
of Renoir, Rubens . . .), thin folks were often scorned and mocked. Today, a flowing, sensual fullness of flesh
is seen as evil, threatening, and too sexy. We must continue to say and to write that fat people develop health
problems because of the stressful nature of being members of an oppressed group. From childhood on we must listen
to the unasked for "helpful advice" of anyone who decides to tell us how we should look. It's very hard
to always have been told, how pretty I'd be if I lost weight. Not healthy, happy, or more together, just "pretty."
Where any fool on the street feels he/she had the privilege to insult us.
| "When you go out in the street, so many hassles with the heat, no one there can fill your desire." |
Certainly fat people don't benefit from being insulted. Once someone tried to make fun of me on the street by
calling out, "Hey, Mama Cass!" The social order functions by keeping certain elements in their place,
the people divided and factionalized, so that those who are in power remain there. New scapegoats are always being
harnessed.
Cass Elliot had lost 80 lbs. just before starting a strenuous two-week concert schedule. After the concerts she'd
been partying for days with no sleep. (When we're not accepted we can harm ourselves by overcompensation.) We can
mention once more the sado-masochism and competitive nature of our system, as exemplified in the rock and film
industry. Others, including Montgomery Clift and James Morrison (The Doors), died of heart attacks that couldn't
be blamed on drugs or fat. Non-conformity in looks, age, or politics is stifled unless it can make a lot of money,
and even then the performers still suffer and die early.
One of the earliest reports about her death said that she choked on a ham sandwich. That's not how she died though:
Naomi Cohen choked on the culture, on the stale empty air and worthless standards of our conditioning. But Fat
Power/Pride and love of sensualitv is being reborn and is here to stay!
| "Safe in my garden, an ancient flower blooms, and the scent from its nature slowly fills the room, and its perfume means such that it's causing me to swoon..." |
* Naomi Cohen was Cass Elliott's real name.
Originally Published in Sister, the Los Angeles feminist newspaper
September 1974
Los Angeles, California USA
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Presented as a public service by Largesse, the Network for Size Esteem LARGESSE HOMEPAGE |