Bodies at ALL Sizes By Steff Armstrong BSW, MSW, RSW & Gisèle Harrison MSW, RSW
This page is a work in progress, if you suggestions re: things to add or delete, please forward them to me: [email protected]
In such a social media driven world we are surrounded by ideas of what our bodies should look like, what they should and shouldn’t do, and how we should feel about them. This has led to many people having body image and self-esteem issues. It is not easy to overcome these thought processes that have been drilled into our heads from an early age. We hope this page can act as a starting point on your journey to challenge and confront these powerful and harmful ideas. Below you will find a wide variety of resources that are actively working on Body Positivity, Fat Activism and so much more. This page is for everybody and every body.
What’s the difference between Fat Activism and Body Positivity?
You may at times see these words used interchangeably but they mean two different things. Body Positivity is a great entry point for many people to fat acceptance and deeper self-acceptance work. Body positivity is talk about loving your body, being happy with your body, however, most times people who are doing this talking are either in bodies that are privileged by being thin, white and able bodied or are folks that are actively working to “improve” their fat bodies.
Sometimes body positivity inadvertently blames people for not feeling better about their bodies and ignores the reality of body shaming; objectification of bodies; racism, sizeism, ableism, sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, ageism and other weapons used to oppress people either through exclusion, verbal abuse and violence. When we are told to just love our bodies without acknowledging the realities of subtle to overt forms of oppression we put all the blame on individuals to individuals for their own oppression.
Fat Activism or fat acceptance advocates for the inclusion of marginalized bodies and bodies that are not culturally accepted. It recognizes that while a person can be positive about their body they may not be fully accepted, included or represented in positive ways in our society. Fat activism works toward eradicating systemic sizeism, racism, ableism, heterosexism, transphobia, ageism, and all other forms of marginalizing folks based on their appearance.
This article may be helpful if you’re interested in digging a little deeper to figure out the difference: https://www.healthline.com/health/fat-acceptance-vs-body-positivity
Often we see images like these and think that they’re embracing fat bodies and while they may be doing this they’re also marginalizing bodies that don’t have curves or that do have thigh gaps. Always try and be aware that some messages may appear to be body positive for one group but may be marginalizing another. Think critically about the things you consume and the things you share.
New to Body Positivity and working towards body liberation? These books may provide some great lessons along your journey.
Health at Every Size:
There are so many health myths that surround our bodies, primarily fat bodies and their relationship to health. These myths make accessing physical and mental health services extremely hard. Everybody has a right to access these systems. Your health is not equal to your weight.
When a doctor brings every physical or mental health concern back to your weight or uses the BMI as a standard measurement these are moments that body positivity, health at every size movement and fat activism are needed. It may be helpful to ask your doctor how they would treat a patient who fell into their preferred BMI category and then ask for the same treatment. We also recommend bringing a friend or a trusted loved one who can help advocate for you and recognize moments that the medical professional is treating you unfairly due to your size. We also know that accessing care can be even more difficult if your race, gender, ability, ethnicity, class or a combination of these are also marginalized, underserviced, or under researched.
Below are some great resources that tackle ideas around fatness and the health system(s).
Radical Intersectional Body Liberation:
Our relationships with our bodies are more complex than their size. The resources below take an intersectional look at bodies in relationship not only to their size but with race, gender, sexuality and ability. All bodies are worthy of respect, care, and access socially, politically, medically and architecturally to what they need to thrive.
Instagram:
Instagram can be both horrible and supportive of people working on body love, here are some Instagram accounts that may resonate with you, change up your feed, and inspire you. Please note this is not an exhaustive list but just a great starting point.
@shilogeorge
@dietitiananna
@thethicknutritionist
@ditch.your.diet
@plussizetransguy
@plusmommy
@chairbreaker
@plussizebirth
@bodyliberationwithlindley
@bodyposipower
@goodbodyfeel
@theaishanash
@stuff_my_ed_never_says
@jogale.move
@reclaimingyourplate
@thefatsextherapist
@thebodyisnotanapology
@ragenchastain
@Comfyfattravels
@june.pilote
@balanced.eating.dietician
@homebodytherapy
@boar.lord
@nalgonapositivitypride
@ Fyeahmfabello
@takeupspaceforever
@kellybellyohio
@fatlippodcast
@artifats_collection
@thefatphobiaslayer
@yrfatfriend
@iamannachapman
@huntythelion
@fattiesandfeelings
@fatwomenofcolor
@arti.speaks
@saucyewest
@shooglet
@with_this_body
@sofiehagendk
@bodyimagewithbri
@bodyimage_therapist
@thefuckitdiet
@sonyareneetaylor
@ihartericka
Podcasts:
Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular and are a useful tool to challenge our current ways of thinking and inspire us into new thought patterns. Here is a list of my top 10 podcasts for any BODY.
Film and TV:
It is rare to find body positive or liberatory television and film. Here is a short list from a pretty non-existent genre.
Websites & Links:
Still looking for more information or just not into social media? Perhaps you’re looking for a local resource or two? Here are some local resources, and some other links to help you learn more about bodies of all sizes.
Windsor’s local organization for disordered eating of all kinds https://bana.ca/
A registry of service providers committed to believing in health at every size: haescommunity.com/search/
Whole Life Nutrition: www.wholeliferd.com/meetanna
Shilo George: www.shilogeorge.com/
A variety of blogs, comics, and articles:
What’s the difference between Fat Activism and Body Positivity?
You may at times see these words used interchangeably but they mean two different things. Body Positivity is a great entry point for many people to fat acceptance and deeper self-acceptance work. Body positivity is talk about loving your body, being happy with your body, however, most times people who are doing this talking are either in bodies that are privileged by being thin, white and able bodied or are folks that are actively working to “improve” their fat bodies.
Sometimes body positivity inadvertently blames people for not feeling better about their bodies and ignores the reality of body shaming; objectification of bodies; racism, sizeism, ableism, sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, ageism and other weapons used to oppress people either through exclusion, verbal abuse and violence. When we are told to just love our bodies without acknowledging the realities of subtle to overt forms of oppression we put all the blame on individuals to individuals for their own oppression.
Fat Activism or fat acceptance advocates for the inclusion of marginalized bodies and bodies that are not culturally accepted. It recognizes that while a person can be positive about their body they may not be fully accepted, included or represented in positive ways in our society. Fat activism works toward eradicating systemic sizeism, racism, ableism, heterosexism, transphobia, ageism, and all other forms of marginalizing folks based on their appearance.
This article may be helpful if you’re interested in digging a little deeper to figure out the difference: https://www.healthline.com/health/fat-acceptance-vs-body-positivity
Often we see images like these and think that they’re embracing fat bodies and while they may be doing this they’re also marginalizing bodies that don’t have curves or that do have thigh gaps. Always try and be aware that some messages may appear to be body positive for one group but may be marginalizing another. Think critically about the things you consume and the things you share.
New to Body Positivity and working towards body liberation? These books may provide some great lessons along your journey.
- Things No One Tells Fat Girls – Jes Baker (IG @themilitantbaker)
- Landwhale: On Turning Insults into Nicknames, Why Body Image is Hard, and How Diets Can Kiss My Ass – Jes Baker
- Body Positive Power – Megan Jayne Crabbe (IG @bodyposipanda)
- Hot and Heavy: Fierce Fat Girls on Life, Love and Fashion – Virgie Tovar (IG @virgietovar)
- Fattily Ever After: A Black Fat Girl’s Guide to Living Life Unapologetically – Stephanie Yeboah (IG @stephanieyeboah)
- Lessons from the Fat-o-Sphere: Quit Dieting and Declare a Truce with your Body – Marianne Kirby and Kate Harding (IG for Marianne @therotund)
- Fat!So?: Because You Don’t Have to Apologize for Your Size – Marilyn Wann
- Dietland – Sarai Walker (Fiction)
- Dumplin’ – Julie Murphy (Young Adult Fiction)
- What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat - Aubrey Gordon (Creator of Your Fat Friend)
Health at Every Size:
There are so many health myths that surround our bodies, primarily fat bodies and their relationship to health. These myths make accessing physical and mental health services extremely hard. Everybody has a right to access these systems. Your health is not equal to your weight.
When a doctor brings every physical or mental health concern back to your weight or uses the BMI as a standard measurement these are moments that body positivity, health at every size movement and fat activism are needed. It may be helpful to ask your doctor how they would treat a patient who fell into their preferred BMI category and then ask for the same treatment. We also recommend bringing a friend or a trusted loved one who can help advocate for you and recognize moments that the medical professional is treating you unfairly due to your size. We also know that accessing care can be even more difficult if your race, gender, ability, ethnicity, class or a combination of these are also marginalized, underserviced, or under researched.
Below are some great resources that tackle ideas around fatness and the health system(s).
- Health at Every Size - Based Guides for Blame-Free, Shame Free Explanations of Common Medical Conditions: Welcome - HAES Health Sheets
- Bacon, L. & Aphramor, L. (2011). Weight Science: Evaluating the Evidence for a Paradigm Shift. Nutrition Journal, 10(9)
- Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About your Weight – Lindo Bacon (will be listed to buy under Linda Bacon)
- Body Respect: What Conventional Health Books Get Wrong, Leave Out, and Just Plain Fail to Understand about Weight - Linda Bacon and Lucy Aphramore+
- Anti-Diet: Reclaim your time, money, well-being, and happiness through intuitive eating – Christy Harrison (IG @chr1styharrison)
- The F*ck It Diet: Eating Should be Easy – Caroline Dooner (IG @thefuckitdiet)
- BigFatScience – https://bigfatscience.tumblr.com/
- I'm A Chronically Ill Fat Woman. But Doctors Can't See Past My Body Size To Treat Me: Fat-Shaming Doctors Mean People Don’t Get Diagnoses That They Need (bustle.com)
- Association for Size Diversity and Health: https://asdah.org/
Radical Intersectional Body Liberation:
Our relationships with our bodies are more complex than their size. The resources below take an intersectional look at bodies in relationship not only to their size but with race, gender, sexuality and ability. All bodies are worthy of respect, care, and access socially, politically, medically and architecturally to what they need to thrive.
- Fat Activism: A Radical Social Movement – Charlotte Cooper
- Being Fat: Women, Weight and Feminist Activism in Canada – Jenny Ellison
- Thickening Fat: Fat Bodies, Intersectionality, and Social Justice edited by May Friedman, Carla Rice, and Jennifer Rinaldi
- What we Don’t Talk About When we Talk About Fat – Aubrey Gordon (IG @yrfatfriend)
- Revolting Bodies?: The Struggle to Redefine Fat Identity – Kathleen LeBesco
- Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fatphobia – Sabrina Strings
- The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love – Sonya Renee Taylor (IG @sonyareneetaylor or @thebodyisnotanapology)
- The Fat Studies Reader edited by Esther Rothblum and Sandra Solovay
Instagram:
Instagram can be both horrible and supportive of people working on body love, here are some Instagram accounts that may resonate with you, change up your feed, and inspire you. Please note this is not an exhaustive list but just a great starting point.
@shilogeorge
@dietitiananna
@thethicknutritionist
@ditch.your.diet
@plussizetransguy
@plusmommy
@chairbreaker
@plussizebirth
@bodyliberationwithlindley
@bodyposipower
@goodbodyfeel
@theaishanash
@stuff_my_ed_never_says
@jogale.move
@reclaimingyourplate
@thefatsextherapist
@thebodyisnotanapology
@ragenchastain
@Comfyfattravels
@june.pilote
@balanced.eating.dietician
@homebodytherapy
@boar.lord
@nalgonapositivitypride
@ Fyeahmfabello
@takeupspaceforever
@kellybellyohio
@fatlippodcast
@artifats_collection
@thefatphobiaslayer
@yrfatfriend
@iamannachapman
@huntythelion
@fattiesandfeelings
@fatwomenofcolor
@arti.speaks
@saucyewest
@shooglet
@with_this_body
@sofiehagendk
@bodyimagewithbri
@bodyimage_therapist
@thefuckitdiet
@sonyareneetaylor
@ihartericka
Podcasts:
Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular and are a useful tool to challenge our current ways of thinking and inspire us into new thought patterns. Here is a list of my top 10 podcasts for any BODY.
- Maintenance Phase
- Fat Lip Podcast
- Food Psych
- F*ck It Diet
- She’s All Fat
- Woman of Size
- Why Won’t You Date Me?
- FAF Podcast
- Be Yourself
- The Recovery Warrior Podcast
Film and TV:
It is rare to find body positive or liberatory television and film. Here is a short list from a pretty non-existent genre.
- Shrill - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB2i0fuSMRI
- Dietland - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jjlqB5APY4
- Fattitude - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Javgb-dG5E
- The Fat Body (In)Visible - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO9Ekd9t6Q0
- Dumplin’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ8e_0i7UDk
Websites & Links:
Still looking for more information or just not into social media? Perhaps you’re looking for a local resource or two? Here are some local resources, and some other links to help you learn more about bodies of all sizes.
Windsor’s local organization for disordered eating of all kinds https://bana.ca/
A registry of service providers committed to believing in health at every size: haescommunity.com/search/
Whole Life Nutrition: www.wholeliferd.com/meetanna
Shilo George: www.shilogeorge.com/
A variety of blogs, comics, and articles:
- http://stacybias.net/2014/06/12-good-fatty-archetypes/
- https://danceswithfat.org/
- https://www.accessibleyogatraining.com/blog/fatphobia-and-breath?fbclid=IwAR37Fn1YUg49kQ4DmKrkQnva2Hh_cGPx8a9WHn1QuiqNzFjl0mV-DxzvROs
- https://www.self.com/story/healthism?fbclid=IwAR0xYSZ9DMSeC26IMMZudCKwWsdcwfNAJc5CXTO45s3kOX2y-fraBMf17eQ
- https://wearyourvoicemag.com/why-fat-humanity-should-not-be-governed-by-fuckability/?fbclid=IwAR1UIbyNKSNwlimB9YgCHwGaRmRDH_vTmkiOtNS3cF4MAom3cBo73iFzs2Y
- https://thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/the-gender-nonconformity-of-my-fatness/?fbclid=IwAR3gHdLcYh7ADhdnxJCOHr2Ghs1G6FeIrf4YHNs0H3fG1iuudTmh23RBJtY
- https://humanparts.medium.com/my-journey-toward-radical-body-positivity-3412796df8ff?fbclid=IwAR0wlsw7VH4grsDuZIM63GU7L2sSrRHYsxcz7g9Art2SdcTIfrpEcN78Kiw
- https://wearyourvoicemag.com/sex-and-health/sex/summer-of-sex/fat-black-women-deserve-fulfilling-sex
- https://www.health.com/mind-body/sonalee-rashatwar-how-i-made-peace-with-my-fat-body-health-at-every-size
- https://thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/how-to-be-fat-caleb-luna-sub/
- https://www.thecut.com/2017/03/forget-body-positivity-how-about-body-neutrality.html
- https://hellobeautiful.com/3009432/black-women-body-positivity-movement/
- http://charlottecooper.net/fat/fat-research/a-queer-and-trans-fat-activist-timeline/
- https://thebodypositive.org/
- https://www.cbc.ca/radio/move-over-body-positivity-it-s-time-to-start-normalizing-our-bodies-as-they-are-these-canadians-say-1.5755042
- https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/how-body-positivity-movement-is-evolving-whats-next
