…year-round, media coverage of “larger bodied people” is almost 120 more times likely to focus on diet and weight loss than on weight stigma, bias or discrimination, according to just-released research from the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA).
That statistic is so staggering that we decided to do our own small part toward evening the score.
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In 2016, Ash Nischuk expanded the concept of the “fat spectrum” by adding the category of “Infinifat,” a term which she coined to describe people of any gender who are larger than U.S. women’s clothing 34/36. (See Editor’s note for more on terminology). Identifying as Infinifat herself, she's been an example of what it means to fight against all fat oppression and marginalization, but especially as they're experienced by those on the fattest end of the spectrum (Superfats and Infinifats).
In this interview, Angel Austin (she/her) speaks with Ash about what life has been like for her, feelings she has about maneuvering online given the elusiveness of "safety" as an infinifat person, and her thoughts on the current state of the fat liberation movement.
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Content warning: Discussion of cancer diagnosis and treatment
When I was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, I was thrust into a whirlwind. I found myself in a medical world where every tool in my toolbox, and some I didn't have yet, were going to be needed. I became an advocate, an expert, a researcher, and a journalist all at the same time. If each of these roles had an actual hat, picture a mile-high stack on my head. All these new roles were, of course, simultaneous with my daughter, mom, sister, friend, and other everyday roles. I was suddenly faced with so many medical decisions that were ultimately body and life altering decisions. I admit my initial choices were more based on saving my life more than being a cancer survivor and advocate. I was forced into one of the biggest strength tests of my life. You've probably heard the adage, "You don't know how strong you are until you have no other choice.” Well I was about to find out.
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Content Warning: discussion of suicidal ideation.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In the past, I haven’t acknowledged the cause. In fact, I stayed as far away from any mention of the word “suicide” as possible. I felt like being in mere proximity to the word would cast a light on a part of me I tried to keep hidden. The part of me that not only has attempted it in the past, but still thinks about it more frequently than I would like.
I’ve always felt such shame about my attempted suicide when I was younger, and even more shame that I still live with suicidal ideations. I wish I could say that it’s all behind me and I never have those thoughts anymore, but that simply isn’t true. Unfortunately, thanks to the stigma that still exists around mental health and mental illness, some of the shame still lives on, too.
In a time when so many people are dealing with difficult things, why do we all still try to deny that we’re struggling? If we were all honest with ourselves and each other maybe we would see more empathy being practiced.
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Fatshion (the term currently being used for fat fashion) and fatshionistas (those that love fat fashion) are something we see on social media every day. But what do we know of the history of women’s fat fashion?
This is part 2 of a 2-part review of the history of fat fashion visibility.
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Fatshion (the term currently being used for fat fashion) and fatshionistas (those that love fat fashion) are something we see on social media every day. But what do we know of the history of women’s fat fashion?
This is part 1 or a 2-part review of the history of fat fashion visibility.
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I love all the programs aimed at rounder bodies, directed toward the needs of fat people, and created for the various identities of the fat community (we are a diverse community!). Also, people who are fat allies, those who have an attraction to fat people, and those who simply want to understand fat issues are able to learn about the fat community through NAAFA’s literature and online resources. That is the reason that I think NAAFA is truly needed for anyone who is able to see wonderful fat bodies of various sizes of fatness as worthy of respect and love.
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From a young age I had no doubt that both boys and girls were beautiful to me. Growing up in a home where my parents were also foster parents, I was exposed to lots of different types of kids. Not only the privileged kids that I went to school with, but the children who didn’t come from a “stable home” with two parents who paid attention to them and showed them love every day. I learned that people are interesting and loveable no matter how they grew up.
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According to Meriam Webster, Asexuality (Ace) is: not having sexual feelings toward others : not experiencing sexual desire or attraction. Basically, it is an inborn absence of sexual desire.
Fat Liberation or Body Positivity can be hard spaces for Asexual people to navigate sometimes because for many, body liberation also includes sexual/sensual aspects of their lives. For myself personally, talk of fat sex/pleasure or images of those things makes me uncomfortable.
Finding safety in Queer spaces can be hard for Asexual people. When you are Fat and Asexual, it also comes with all the Fat bias, weight stigma, Fat hate too.
Asexual people are not wrong or broken or looking for attention. We are here and we are valid.
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Happy LGBTQIA+ Pride Month 2022!
This month and every month, I’m proud to be a queer and nonbinary trans person, a fat-attracted person married to a wonderful superfat queer gender non-conforming / butch / mas(s)culine-presenting woman, and an ally in the fat liberation movement.
I am not writing this piece to receive “ally cookies” (rewards from an oppressed community for supporting them in ways that everyone should as part of being a mensch, a good person). My kavannah, intention, is to show other thin people some ways they can begin, maintain or grow their practice of allyship with the fat community. Whether we are LGBTQIA+ or not, wherever we are and go in life, we can and must share the good news of fat liberation. We must center fat voices, and we must add our own in solidarity. It is not always safe, or without cost, but it is far safer and less costly for us than for fat folks.
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When I was 10, the doctor told my mom that I was 30 pounds overweight. At the time, I weighed 120 pounds and according to the infamous “chart”, I was supposed to weigh 90 pounds. It would impact the choices I would make along the way in everything from relationships and job-related experiences to how I view weight loss.
I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and was told that what I was experiencing was depression. At that moment, I was speechless. There was a name to what I was going through. And it made me reflect on my life as a whole. My therapist told me that I probably developed this as a child because of that experience when I was 10 and she said that she was in awe that I had dealt with this for so long on my own.
So every year, when May rolls around, I celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month by sharing my story. It continues to evolve. No one is perfect and it’s perfectly okay to seek help when you need it.
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Dr Caitlin (Cat) Pausé, scholar, a mentor, a teacher, an activist, and a tireless advocate for fat rights, passed away in her sleep on March 26th, 2022. Dr. Angela Meadows shares her memories of Cat and the accomplishments she made in fighting for fat community.
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Happy Poetry Month! Poet, Vanessa Chica Ferreira, shares some of her poetry with us. She states, "Poetry for me is the ability to create, connect, release, contemplate, be petty, to remember, it is to heal, inform, be used for activism, to honor my mother’s memory. It is a shapeshifter that changes with my needs. Poetry helps me unlearn what I was taught about how to exist in a fat body. It gives me the courage not only to advocate for myself but also for others." Vanessa also invites readers to consider writing an "I am more than" poem themselves!
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In this piece for Women’s History Month 2022, Barbara Altman Bruno PhD gives us a glimpse into why she felt “driven” in working to end fat stigma and toward fat liberation. Dr. Bruno conveys some of the history of the fat acceptance/fat liberation movement from her perspective, the beginnings of Health At Every Size and her work in preserving our history for the future.
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Medical avoidance was the norm after my teenage years. The loathing and judgement from medical systems was too much. Avoidance put me in the hospital twice. I could not bear the thought of going to the doctors. I would cry at the thought of it. If for some reason I had to go, the entire time was panic-inducing.
Fast forward to 2020 and my forties. I was a few years into learning about Health at Every Size (HAES), weight biases, and Fat Liberation. I decided to take the leap and sought after a weight-neutral doctor. After researching in my area, I found one.
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The Dr. Paul Ernsberger research scholarship fund was established through the generous gift of one of Dr. Ernsberger’s colleagues. In this blog post, Dr. Richard Koletsky, who was Dr. Ernsberger’s research partner for many years at Case Western Reserve University, gives us more insight into their work and why it’s essential that Paul’s approach be carried on by the next generation of researchers.
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During emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, when hospitals are overwhelmed with the number of people needing help, they turn to “care rationing.” Care rationing means medical providers limit the types of care they provide to certain people.
Sometimes care rationing means that people will be denied life-saving care and instead will only receive care to help them be more comfortable. When care rationing happens on the basis of certain characteristics, it can be unlawful or wrong. Because COVID precautions often mean patients are without their usual support systems, care rationing can happen behind closed doors without input from family members, friends, support workers, or community. It is important to share stories of discrimination so that all people receive fair treatment.
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Fat Pig, is an unprecedented operatic performance that you have to see. Victory Hall Opera presents FAT PIG: a new chamber opera featuring the first romantic lead in opera to be written specifically for a plus-size woman.
The world premiere chamber opera written by Matt Boehler, commissioned by Victory Hall Opera, will be held for two performances only; January 22 & 27, 2022, 8:00pm ET at V. EARL DICKINSON THEATER AT PVCC, 501 College Dr., Charlottesville, VA 22902.
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Finding a famous plus size female guitar player in the history of rock music can be a rare challenge. There are way too many slim female guitar players on Instagram and Tiktok. I barely see any fat girls screaming with an electric guitar. Fat liberation and plus size positivity needs to be seen in rock music. It is crucial. I live for rock music and I’m very passionate and vocal about being a fat girl in rock.
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