About Me — Shannan Barrett
Claw clips, fat guts, and bikinis
I used to worry that one day I’d see my gut on the news.
Maybe they’re reporting on the obesity crisis, or the newest weight loss craze, or how Australia is getting dangerously close to surpassing the USA in fatness. Cameras love to zoom in on big bodies as we walk down the street.
As a teacher, I’ve worried that my students’ families won’t want me around their kid, since I’m a walking poor example.
I’ve worried that I’ll get sick and my doctor won’t listen. Or that someone will pull me aside at the pool to tell me that bikinis aren’t for me.
Despite any other challenge I’ve had in my life, I’ve always added extra stress because of my body.
At 27 years old, I’ve recently started undoing some of this damage and unlearning some dangerous habits.
I’m learning that I’m more than the way I look.
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I’m the daughter of parents who should’ve divorced much sooner than they did.
I’m the bisexual wife of a beautiful, know it all, lesbian.
I’m an early childhood teacher, and like everyone in my line of work, I’m exhausted, underpaid, and terrified of being ridiculed for the choices I make in my personal life (so I use my maiden name at work and my married name here).
I’m a feminist, who occasionally leans too far ‘men’s rights activist’ and has to remind myself of reality.
I’ve recently started taking a narrative nonfiction course, and I feel insecure because the other students have bigger vocabularies than I do.
I love sitcoms, canned fish, claw clips, and Substack.
I’m trying to get a publication going, with a focus on body image. It’s got three followers so far, but hey, it can only go up. I’ve named it after my back fat.
So that’s me, in a nutshell.
Connect with me on medium, Substack, and Instagram (in case you need more of a visual) shannan (@shannanba) | AllMyLinks
Originally posted on Substack
