Fat-shaming photo meant no harm

“I’m juggling too heavy a workload.”

“There are too few hours in a day.”

“My metabolism just isn’t fast enough to begin with.”

There are countless reasons to brush off that walk to the gym. Maria Kang’s response to those “reasons?”: A three-word question.

Alan Hung | Daily Trojan

The 32-year-old with a body of an Olympian started a cyberspace firestorm with a Facebook photo where she is kneeling in a sports bra and shorts, posing with her three young sons alongside the caption, “What’s your excuse?” Though many critics accuse her of “fat-shaming,” most miss Kang’s inspiring message. Rather than letting excuses and blame hold one back from achieving fitness goals — be it running a marathon or simply attain a healthier lifestyle — she’s saying, “Just go for it.” The first step to do that is recognizing excuses for what they are.

Some feel that her photo is insulting because it seems to suggest that all women can look like Kang if they just work hard enough. Morgan Moss, a family blogger at Theinklingsooflife.com addressed Kang, “You, as a woman, should be ashamed that you are furthering the downward spiral of how society views women, and how we women view ourselves … Most REAL moms don’t look like you, sweetheart.”

But that’s not Kang’s point at all. Kang’s point isn’t that women should look exactly like her. She doesn’t intend to brainwash girls into thinking that the perfect body is a 5-foot-3 inch frame, nor is it to declare size zero as the ideal size. Her point is not to shame mothers who have put off getting back into shape for years after giving birth either. Rather, Kang’s message is simpler and more constructive: It’s a wake-up call.

In a recent Facebook post, Kang issued an apology for having caused pain and provided a backstory to give the photo a richer context. Its origins, as it turns out, stem from goodwill. She had posted the photo to promote her free fitness classes and to say that there should be “no excuses not to follow through on your fitness action plan.” Life hasn’t always been easy for her either, which makes her photo more relatable. “I’m sorry you took an image and resonated with it in such a negative way. I … had an eating disorder, work full time owning two businesses, have no nanny, am not naturally skinny and do not work as a personal trainer,” Kang wrote.

For those who are fixated and offended by that photo, know that its aim is to help instead of hurt others. The response to that care is the heart of the matter. The idea of being fit is different for every individual, and there’s no excuse for people not to try to attain their fitness goals.

Whether a person is a size 6 or a size 16, giving up on health should not be an option. Janelle Hanchett of Renegademothering.com wrote, “Maria Kang, I hate you. But you’re right. And now I hate you more … I am currently 40 pounds overweight. Why? Because I use food for emotional comfort. Because I’m lazy. Because I put things before my health … I’m tired of my own excuses.”

Not every woman will look like Maria Kang even after four months of marathon training.

But women must recognize that Kang’s deeper message is one that can be applied to improve life. Women everywhere can feel their best by not letting excuses run their lives.

Valerie Yu is a sophomore majoring in  biological sciences and English.

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