In an Instagram reel I saw, there was video a saw of a rather large woman working out at a gym.

When I turned on the comments, I thought that there would be kind and encouraging comments about her exercise journey; but I was wrong.

Most of the comments were really immature and hateful, having GIFS of whales and other “fat” things that just kinda broke my heart.

After a couple hours, I go back on reels just scrolling. I then see another workout video, this time with a rather large man. The comments were in fact encouraging and quite tame compared to the comments I saw with the woman.

It might’ve been just a coincidence, but I feel it says something about how society sees plus size men and plus size women.