Starbucks: Stop Calling Me Skinny
Last week, we mentioned the roll out of a new Starbucks policy - zero-calorie drinks. However, not everyone is happy - and it's all to do with the word "skinny".
One unhappy employee has publicly complained about the new "skinny platform". His/her comments are interesting.
Among the complaints in the letter:
Political Correctness
Should we start calling drinks with 2% or whole milk and regular syrups "Fat" or "Obese?" Consider what customers on line waiting for their turn to order their drink will think if they hear the drink before them being called out as "Skinny." It leaves the door open for the next person on line to be offended.
Size Discrimination
Calling a drink "Skinny" could easily be considered a form of size discrimination. This is not exclusive to people who are overweight as a result of their lifestyle or eating habits. There are a number of medical maladies that result in people becoming overweight regardless of eating habits or how they live their lives.
Self-esteem Issues
[...] there are partners that are employed by Starbucks who are "overweight," and it is ridiculous to think otherwise. Imagine going to work for several hours at a time, and hearing the term "skinny" being called out countless times. It will undoubtedly have a negative affect on a person's self-esteem that may already be low from living in a society that is generally not accepting of people who do not fit the mold of a "beautiful" person.
How do you feel about a drink being called "skinny"? What if a drink was called "fat"? Is there any difference? Storm in a coffee-cup?
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Wow, this is one of the biggest wastes of time and energy I've heard of in a long time. As someone else pointed out, 'skinny latte' etc. has been a 'Bucks choice forever. What's the big deal. I also feel this employee needs to choose his/her battles a bit better. There are lots of words that SOMEONE will find offensive; get over it since it's not aimed at a person rather at a drink. What about Blimpie subs?
Fat Burgers? Big Boy restaurants? 'nuff said!
SandyO
ReplyWhy use the word Skinny at all? Just change the name that way no one is offended. Who cares? Just order than dang drink!
ReplyThis is completely ridiculous. It sounds to me like someone has some personal issues to work out, as no one else seems to be offended by the term "skinny". Does she also get offended by the term "virgin" for alcohol-free versions of drinks?
ReplyYou blame me for your fat, if I call you "fatty". Or you blame yourself for being fat, and are crippled by shame.
But I won't blame anyone for being fat. I'll blame them for doing nothing about it!
The results are not ours. It's the doing that matters.
When there is nothing or no one left to blame, then no offense can be taken.
ReplyKailish, no one blames you for their state of fatness or thinness. People blame you for a rude and immature name calling, such as "fatty." "Fatty" is a derogatory term, not a simple adjective. It has connotations beyond a particular size, to a particular size being bad. As such, offense is a reasonable response. If someone says a word with a long history of being insulting to women, or any other group, then offense still stands whether anything can be changed or not.
Furthermore, blame and insults have very little use in such a situation. Making someone feel bad for their size is likely to have the opposite effect.
I am overweight. I'm pregnant now, but even before I had an additional 8 lb on me. I didn't particularly care if I lost it. I was and am happy with myself-- after years of eating disorders, that was an accomplishment. I run marathons and would exercise 15-20 hours a week. Why do you have a right to come in, then, and say that because I'm not seeking to change some arbitrary aspect of my appearance that you should be allowed to insult and judge?
I stand by that it was rude and ignorant. It is more the behavior of an immature teenager than the adults we should all aim to be.
ReplyWas that an attempt at being profound? Sorry, missed it.
ReplyWell said!!
ReplyOh come on, this is taking politcal correctness to far!
I'm an Australian reader and we've been asking for 'skim' or 'skinny' lattes or whatever beverage you are having that requires milk. If you want skim or no fat milk that's what you ask for a "skinny".
It certainly doesn't offend the person before or after you waiting in line, as the customers name is taken and called out when the drink is ready. So no one need worry about someone else finding out what you're drinking.
ReplyTranslation: If it makes people more aware of their lard-itude, I'm all for naming everything "skinny" or "fat".
Ignoring the issue is worse than prodding it. If these names grate on someone's nerves, then that's what should happen!
I didn't call any particular person "fatty". If you self-identified, and were offended, it says loads about YOU.
And the better expectations you have for yourself.
ReplyIf you really are that dense about the effect of words - fatty and larditude - and how far this went beyond calling a drink skinny, then I suppose a reasonable argument has no chance of getting through to you. Good day.
ReplyI'm short and fat, but have never been offended when ordering a tall skinny latte. People need to not take things so personally...especially when it's not personal. Hello, it's just the name of a drink. Get over yourself already!
ReplyYou know how former smokers (Like me on occasion, I hate to admit.) can sometimes be overly sensitive to cigarette smoke and smokers. We tend to forget how difficult it was to quit, how hard we had to work to beat an addiction, and how we used to be the group standing out front blowing smoke in others face because we thought, "Free Country. I have a right to kill myself slowly over time if I want." Apparently, former "fatties" can be the same way. It would be nice if those who were once socially ostracized would remember how it felt and be more civil instead of being righteously indignant. I suppose some people are only so evolved. In some cases that childhood saying "I'm rubber; you're glue," is appropriate in dealing with some adults who insist on acting like children.
Weren't we discussing coffee? I could use a venti nonfat sugarfree vanilla latte...you know, if I'd known the whole time that drink was called a "skinny" vanilla latte it would have saved me so many syllables over so much time, ironic as it may be. I wonder if I could somehow save some syllables when I ask if a store carries "Fat Bastard" wine?
ReplyI love Fat Bastard wine. I'm 6 foot and 185 pound guy. Does this mean I'm going to get fat drinking Fat Bastard as opposed to Little Penquin? I mean if:
Then I guess I should stop drinking "Big Daddy" wine and drink "thin" wine. (In case you are wondering a thin wine is poor, small wine that tastes more like water than wine. It's not a complimentary term.) But, gosh, I guess since we're guilting people into a healthy life, I guess I'll have to drink it so people won't think I'm fat!Reply
Kailash, you should really write a weight loss book. The world needs another big mouth spo-called expert spouting catch phrases in one more diet book. You've already got a title built right in: "Change Your Lard-itude" and lose 20 lbs in one month. I think I smell a best seller.
ReplyA lot of us have friends and family members fighting in Iraq, kids getting killed in school shoootings, people dying of AIDS and cancer, terrorism, and kids saying they don't want to live anymore.....
ReplyAnd this guy is raising a big stink about the name of a drink??? Sad.
Honestly, pick your battles.
I am a non-skinny barista at Starbucks and, frankly, I never really thought of the new skinny campaign in this way until now. It is a deceptively clever campaign, I would have to admit, playing on the odd habits of our culture to focus on perceived methods of obtaining health all the while cashing in on a product already being sold. For instance changing a non-fat latte to a skinny latte right after New Years when people are making resolutions to lose weight is marketing tactics on fire. A "skinny" latte still has calories, it is not going to make you skinny if you drink them all the time. Better to caffienate yourself on green tea or black coffee with a bit of soy or what the hey, a bit of whole milk to lighten it up. Guaranteed it will be less caloric than an entire glass of steamed non-fat milk with about two tablespoons of espresso to flavor it.
Within the store, there is a sense of cleansing and sparseness with the wheaty browns and beiges that seem to make things feel basic, medical, and flat. There is more of a get back to basics which no matter what your size can feel awfully good after the excesses of the holiday season.
While I do not feel all that discriminated against by calling a non-fat latte a skinny or by others having to mold themselves to new (already existing) verbiage, considering calling a full cream beverage a "fatty"(teehee) is kind of vulgar--it is called a breve which sounds awfully close to brave! Which to order one in this society no matter what your size you definitely have to exhibit some bravery.
Weight issues in this society have all to do with predictions and prejudice of the population no doubt! Large corporations make marketing decisions in reflection of what society has become. What does this mean? It means that if Starbucks is wrong in the messaging that society is sending the wrong message. Some people like it that way but some people are wrong and need to be educated. Some people will never get it they are prejudiced and will likely feel perfectly comfortable in their ignorance.
Word!! To the people who do get it!
ReplyWell put!
ReplyWell i use to be an overweight person i lost all mu weight and i dont like the taste of skim milk or any of those other fat free or sugar free milks its other things we need to be looking at and not milk for goodness sakes and there are a lot of medical reasons why people are in fact over weight eg toxemia,hernias and perhaps even a personal past like rape and or abuse i was not always overweight but when i had my child i got toxemia and it was really bad i tripled my size plus some it was all fluid thankfully i lost it were as other people it stays with just like my mother she is hardly anything and she is really big and i feel sorry for her because she has tried everything and nothing at this time has been working it makes me angry that there are dead beats out there making fun or staring of people like this before they even know the real story behind some people's obesity fair enough there are people out there that really do just eat the wrong foods and what not BUT WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE WE ARE ALL HUMAN AND ALL HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS YOU ME AND EVERYONE ELSE ARE NOTHING TO THE WORLD BUT EVERYONE MEANS SOMETHING TO SOMEONE!!!!! REMEMBER THAT AND JUST THINK WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF SOMEONE WAS TO HURT YOUR SISTER,MOTHER,FATHER,OR EVEN YOUR BROTHER'S FEELINGS!!!! VERBAL ABUSE OR EVEN STARING AT SOMEONE IS JUST AS BAD AS BASHING THEM IF NOT WORSE
ReplyLIke many of the readers say, these fat sensitive people need to lighten up. What about the word Light
Replywell considering most people who eat those delicious ice cream sandwiches....FAT BOYS are probably slightly fat haha....why hasnt anybody complained about that. its like they are calling the buy fat right...u are what you eat i thought? haha stop complaining abouta stupid name....for real....its a term to describe the contents of something lol. PPPPFFFFT! forget your insecurities puh-lease
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