College Times

Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Blogs

Media Credit: Bob Thayer

Apparently people are so cruel nowadays that overweight people have to create their own club in order to be themselves.

Sad but true.

Club Bounce debuted last Thursday night in Phoenix promoting a place for "plus size" women to have a little fun in an accepting environment.

The night was said to be a success with over 200 people showing up, mostly a mixed crowd of BBW, "big beautiful women," and average-sized men. (Supposedly, some men have a thing for plus-size women).

Now, at its core I suppose it's a good idea, I mean how many plus-size women would feel comfortable dancing in a mainstream club surrounded by a bunch of skinny girls? My guess: not too many.

And from a business standpoint, I see it as an even greater idea, especially as the percentage of obese Americans seems to steadily increase every year. I mean I'm kind of upset that I didn't think of it.

But, at the same time, I do see several problems with this new fad. To me, it just seems like the easy way out, for both overweight people and average-sized people.

It's one of those things that if you never have interacted with an overweight person, then you may have these perceived notions in your head that fat people are "ugly," or "outcasts" or whatever you have come up with in your mind.

So as clubs become more and more exclusive, whether it be by music, sexuality, style or now weight, people interact more and more with people who are like themselves and never get to experience or understand the differences that exist among the wide range of people in the world.

For those of you who think I am blowing this way out of proportion, hold on a minute, because I'm not suggesting that the exclusion of clubs is going to destroy diversity. Rather, I'm nearly pointing out that too often people hang out with people that are too much like themselves because that is what is comfortable, and what is accepted - whether it be in a club, at school or at work.

So, while I'm happy Club Bounce is a place for overweight people to feel confident and comfortable about their appearance, I hope that in the future the general population can start being a little bit more conscience of the circumstances next time they see an overweight person out on the dance floor.

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