CENTERING THE MOST MARGINALIZED

Categories of Fat Access

Transportation

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CATEGORY LABELS

We refer to various categories of fat access based on the experience of how a person is impacted by anti-fat bias. Not all people are impacted by anti-fat bias equally. Fatter individuals experience more anti-fat bias and to represent this increase in experience we’re looking to find new category names to represent the levels of anti-fat bias different individuals receive.

LEVEL DEFINITION
Level 1 Inaccessibility
Level 2 Restricted Access
Level 3 Limited Access
Level 4 Basic Access
Level 5 Systemic Access

Note: Transportation accessibility can be impacted by both body size and body shape. Accessible transportation is often the most expensive, in effect levying a “fat tax” on the most marginalized fat people.

Passenger Vehicles

Purchasing, renting, driving, and riding in passenger vehicles can be difficult or impossible for fat people. Vehicle “fit” concerns include everything from center consoles and door frames to leg room and steering wheel clearance. Having to prioritize fit often means foregoing other vehicle features of importance to the fat person. Vehicle manufacturers’ seat belt extenders can vary from model year to model year, and even within a model year, making it difficult for fat people to safely ride in others’ cars. This makes carpooling, ridesharing, and taxis problematic.

DRIVER SEATS

LEVEL DEFINITION
1 No driver seats fit
2 Very few driver seats fit
3, 4 Some driver seats fit
5 Most or virtually all driver seats fit

PASSENGER SEATS

LEVEL DEFINITION
1 No passenger seats fit
2 Very few passenger seats fit
3, 4 Some passenger seats fit
5 Most or virtually all passenger seats fit

DOOR FRAME

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 Vehicle door frame is too small to enter the car
2
 Vehicle door frame is a tight squeeze but you can make it in
3, 4 Vehicle door frame is small but you can get in
5 Vehicle door frame sizes are rarely or never an issue
LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2
 Vehicle back door frame is too small to enter the car
3
 Vehicle back door frame is a tight squeeze but you can make it in
4 Vehicle back door frame is small but you can get in
5 Vehicle back door frame sizes are rarely or never an issue

DOOR

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 Vehicle door is too low to get your body in and out
2
 Vehicle door is too low and makes it difficult to get in and out
3, 4 Vehicle door being low is inconvenient but okay
5 Vehicle door being low is not usually or never an issue

BACK SEATS

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 No back seats fit
2, 3
 Very few back seats fit
4 Some back seats fit
5 Most or virtually all back seats fit

SAFETY

LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2, 3
 Unable to safely ride in a vehicle due to inadequate seat belts
4, 5
 Able to safely ride in a vehicle with a seat belt
LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 Unable to ride in a vehicle even with seat belt extender(s)
2, 3
 Able to safely ride in a vehicle with seat belt extender(s)
4, 5 Able to safely ride in a vehicle without seat belt extender(s)
LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2, 3
 Unable to safely ride in a vehicle due to airbags
4, 5
 Able to safely ride in a vehicle with airbags

Buses

Bus stop and bus station accessibility varies greatly from location to location. Accessibility barriers at bus stops and bus stations include steps to enter or exit the bus, stairs to enter or exit the station, the absence of accessibility ramps, and the absence of elevators.

AISLES

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 Aisles cannot physically be used
2, 3
 Aisles are painful to use
4, 5 Aisles are not painful to use

SEATING

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 No bus seats fit
2, 3 Very few bus seats fit
4 Some bus seats fit
5 Most or virtually all bus seats fit

Airplanes

The strides that have been made in airplane accessibility, such as Southwest’s Customer of Size policy, have typically been the result of lawsuits brought following poor treatment of fat people, demonstrations organized by NAAFA, and media coverage of such actions. An explanation of various airlines’ policies can be found here.

At best, airports are a fraught experience for fat people. Airports typically require moving significant distances, which is a mobility challenge. While wheelchair service is available, airlines may not have wheelchairs that accommodate fat passengers or may have employees who refuse to push the wheelchairs. Access to “family” restrooms for those needing space or companion care is often unavailable early in the morning or late at night. Fat people routinely report invasive pat downs by TSA personnel and airline breakage of mobility aids and CPAP machines.

AISLES

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 No airplane aisles are accessible
2, 3, 4 Airplane aisles cause pain
5 Airplane aisles do not cause pain

SEATING

LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2, 3
 No airplane seats fit
4 Some airplane seats fit
5 Most or virtually all airplane seats fit
LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2, 3
 No first class airplane seats fit
4 Some first class airplane seats fit
5 Most or virtually all first class airplane seats fit
LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2, 3, 4
 No bulkhead seats fit
5 Most or virtually all bulkhead seats fit

SAFETY

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 Unable to ride on an airplane with seatbelt extender(s)
2, 3, 4 Able to ride on an airplane with seat belt extender(s)
5 Able to ride on an airplane without seat belt extender(s)

COMFORT

LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2
 No airplane tray tables are accessible
3, 4 Some airplane tray tables are accessible
5 Most or virtually all airplane tray tables are accessible
LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2, 3, 4
 No first class airplane tray tables are accessible
5 Most or virtually all first class airplane tray tables are accessible
LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2
 No airplane bathroom stalls fit
3, 4
 Some airplane bathroom stalls fit
5 Most or virtually all airplane bathroom stalls fit

Trains

Train accessibility varies greatly from location to location. Accessibility barriers for trains include steps to enter or exit the train, stairs to move from one level of the train to the next, stairs to enter or exit the station, the absence of accessibility ramps, the absence of elevators, and the presence of turnstiles.

AISLES

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 Aisles cannot physically be used
2
 Aisles are painful to use
3, 4, 5
 Aisles are not painful to use

SEATING

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 No train seats fit
2
 Some train seats fit
3, 4, 5
 Most or virtually all train seats fit

BATHROOMS

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 No train bathroom stalls fit
2, 3
 Some train bathroom stalls fit
4, 5
 Most or virtually all train bathroom stalls fit

STAIRS

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 Train entrance stairs are inaccessible
2, 3
 Train entrance stairs cause pain
4, 5
 Train entrance stairs don’t cause pain
LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2, 3
 Interior train stairs are inaccessible
4
 Interior train stairs cause pain
5
 Interior train stairs don’t cause pain

Boats/Ferries

Boat accessibility varies greatly from type and size of boat and from location to location. Most boats used for recreation are not built for larger bodies or differing abilities. Accessibility barriers for boats include steps to enter or exit the boat, stairs to move from one level of the boat to the next, stairs to enter or exit the dock, the absence of accessibility ramps, the absence of elevators, and the presence of turnstiles. Vehicles on ferries may be parked too close together for people to get out. Sleeping berths in sailboats may be small.

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 Boat/Ferry aisles cannot physically be used
2
 Boat/Ferry aisles are painful to use
3, 4, 5
 Boat/Ferry aisles are not painful to use
LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 No boat/ferry seats fit
2
 Some boat/ferry seats fit
3, 4, 5
 Most or virtually all boat/ferry seats fit
LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 No boat/ferry bathroom stalls fit
2, 3
 Some boat/ferry bathroom stalls fit
4, 5
 Most or virtually all boat/ferry bathroom stalls fit
LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 Boat/Ferry entrance stairs are inaccessible
2, 3
 Boat/Ferry entrance stairs cause pain
4, 5
 Boat/Ferry entrance stairs don’t cause pain
LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2, 3
 Interior boat/ferry stairs are inaccessible
4
 Interior boat/ferry stairs cause pain
5
 Interior boat/ferry stairs don’t cause pain

Travel from the perspective of someone who experiences Restricted Access

“There are a million things I have to consider before I travel, whether by plane or car. The most important question is “how much space will I take up?” For air travel, I only use Southwest because of their Customer of Size (“COS”) policy. This policy guarantees me two seats without having to pay for an extra one. Because I use this policy, I always get to the airport early to check in and make sure the plane isn’t overbooked. Extra time is also needed because I use the wheelchair service in order to get to my gate with the least amount of back pain and stress. While this service has been essential in keeping air travel feasible for me and I am incredibly grateful for it, it’s still a stressful and potentially traumatic experience. It’s clear that the workers do not want to push me, the fat woman for whom other methods of transit are inaccessible. I’ve had friends miss their flights because the workers took too long fighting over who had to push them to their gate. It can feel very dehumanizing to be in these vulnerable positions. Getting through security can also be a vulnerable experience for fat flyers, between the long lines and frequently being subjected to additional scrutiny and pat-downs by TSA agents. As a result, I have taken on the extra cost of paying for TSA precheck in an effort to avoid the wait time and the extra pat-downs. Once arriving at the gate, it’s also nice to have the wheelchair if all of the regular seating is full. Finally, the COS policy allows me to pre-board, which gives me the opportunity to discreetly ask for a seatbelt extender and get situated in my seat before others board. “

Travel from the perspective of someone who experiences Systemic Access

“Travel can be a little stressful for anyone, but my primary concerns are just getting where I need to be on time and making sure I have packed everything I need while being mindful of security protocols. Once I have made it to the airport, checked in, and have arrived at my gate, the rest is typically smooth sailing and there is little else I have to worry or think about. I enjoy traveling and am typically able to find more affordable options by shopping around at multiple airlines.”