April 2022 NAAFA Newsletter |
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Pending Legislation Seeks to Protect Against Weight Bias
by Darliene Howell, Tigress Osborn, Amanda Cooper, and Janet Conroy-Quirk |
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A recent article in the national business publication
Bloomberg/Businessweek has brought the issue of fat bias in the workplace back into focus and generated a national conversation.
Co-sponsor of the current Massachusetts legislation to end size discrimination Sen. Rebecca Rausch explained:
"Fatness for so long was seen as a personal failure and only as a personal failure, which is why I think it is still a legal form of discrimination," she says. "The existence of this law, as enacted, will help to further break down stigma."
She believes that opinions may be changing but that passage of this bill will codify that.
NAAFA Chair, Tigress Osborn, was also quoted in the article saying:
"The cultural shifts around acceptance of fat and questioning the diet industry and the pervasiveness of diet culture, some of those things have empowered more fat people individually to think about, 'Oh, when my rights are being violated, this is not my fault.'"
Riding the wave of these cultural shifts, two legislative bills are currently making their way through the State Houses of Massachusetts and New York.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Representatives have, for several years, attempted to pass bills adding weight or height to the anti-discrimination laws. NAAFA worked closely with former Representative Byron Rushing in support of a bill. After Rep. Rushing retired, the cause was taken up by MA State Sen. Rebecca Rausch (S.2669) and MA State Rep. Tram Nguyen (H.1822) in the current legislative session. The bills have been reported favorably from the Joint Committee on the Judiciary and have been referred to the committee on the Senate Ways and Means for further review.
If this bill passes in Massachusetts, it could have a huge impact and may result in other states sponsoring their own bills adding weight and/or height in their anti-discrimination legislation.
But this legislation is not limited to workplace protections; it has comprehensive wording that covers all forms of discrimination. (The only allowed consideration of height or weight is in relation to federal, state, and industry safety standards).
Many people wonder, what can I do to support ongoing antidiscrimination legislation?
MA Call to Action
Personal anecdotes are a great way to support legislation and change public perceptions on an issue. NAAFA Community Voices Blog Editor, Janet Conroy-Quirk, submitted written testimony in support of the bills to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary documenting specific instances when she was discriminated against based on her body size.
An excerpt from Janet's testimony reads:
"I exist in a body that society has labeled as unmotivated, uneducated, unsuccessful, unsanitary, uninspiring, unattractive, unhealthy, unlovable, undesirable, unsophisticated, unwanted and most of all: unwelcome. I am reminded of this prejudice every day, simply by showing up in the world. Whether it's street harassment, online threats, or fatphobic punchlines in the media, I will always know that I am not accepted. But perhaps this bill can ensure that I am, in some way, protected."
You may have a story you can share about size discrimination in the workplace, education, housing or public accommodation, or you may just support the bill. If you are a resident of Massachusetts, here's what you can do to help:
- If you have a story to tell, please share it with your State Senator, Rausch and NAAFA
- Write, call, email or send a social media message directed to your State Senator stating your support of Senate Bill S.2669
- Whether you are a resident of Massachusetts or another state, please share this with any MA residents in your network
New York
There are two bills currently in committee in New York. Senate bill S8462, authored by Sen. Anna Kaplan, prohibits discrimination against a person based on weight with regard to employment, housing or public accommodation. State Assembly bill A1851A, authored by Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, is a more comprehensive bill which, similar to the pending Massachusetts legislation, prohibits any discrimination against a person based upon weight, with safety standards as the only consideration. Both bills have been referred to the governmental operations committees of the Senate and Assembly.
According to the Bloomberg article, the bills are picking up support from other Senators and Assemblymembers, as well as the Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union (RWDSU).
NAAFA Chair Tigress Osborn and NAAFA PR Chair Amanda Cooper have begun coalition building with RWDSU. NAAFA supported drafting of an earlier NY bill, coordinated efforts for a coalition of fat organizations to support the earlier bill, and did outreach to residents who could contact their representatives. As the current bills progress, NAAFA will join RWDSU, other fat lib orgs, and other labor and social justice groups in working toward the adoption of A1851A as the bill that provides the most protection to fat people. We will also work with disability rights and height and stature organizations to help ensure the passage of legislation that prevents size discrimination in the broadest ways possible.
Soon, we will be looking for New York residents who are willing to testify or contact their representative about the impacts of anti-fat discrimination. Watch for Call-to-Action announcements via our newsletter and social media.
Want to change legislation in your state?
If you are interested in working with legislators in your State to sponsor a bill, here's what you can do:
If you are interested in supporting adding weight to the anti-discrimination laws where you reside, go to the NAAFA website and complete the sign-up form at the bottom of the #EqualityAtEverySize page. We'll get in contact with you when we start working in your area. |
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The Difference between Diversity, Inclusion and Equity
Diversity expert Ritu Bhasin discusses these three related but separate concepts and how they affect workplace culture. Clearly, espousing diversity is lip service if the doors aren't opened for you to be included.
youtube.com/watch?v=spBB68Wv7KM |
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Health At Every Size and HAES are registered trademarks of the Association for Size Diversity and Health, and are used with permission.
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All in for Plus Size Representation: A NAAFA and Google Partnership
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In the spring of 2021, representatives from Google reached out to NAAFA to ask for our expertise and guidance in helping them with more inclusive representation of fat bodies in their marketing materials. The work we've done together is now available to the world via Google's
Think With Google blog and All In Inclusive Marketing project. This work will guide Google's internal practices related to showing fat bodies; it is also offered to their marketing peers throughout their industry and others via their All In project, which shares insights publicly with the hopes of supporting change beyond their own company.
To learn more about this project, check out Board Chair Tigress Osborn's op-ed for AdAge magazine, watch our webinar with Google Representatives on the NaafaOfficial YouTube channel, or go directly to All In with Google to see the background information and recommendations we helped Google shape. |
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Wage Disparity for Fat and Other Marginalized People
by Darliene Howell, Tegan Lecheler, Amanda Cooper, and Tigress Osborn
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Please note: Unless otherwise indicated, all quoted research cited in this article notes only statistics based on people who are or are assumed to be cisgender men or women. We encourage readers to consider how the intersections of fatness and gender cause additional marginalization and oppression for transgender and non-binary fat people.
When people talk about diversity and inclusion in the workplace, they are usually referring to diversity as presented by ethnic, racial, gender identity, disability, and sexual identity demographics. Less often is body diversity considered. It has been reported that employers often perceive that a fat person has less leadership potential, is not as intelligent, is less qualified, and costs the employer more than their "normal" sized peers. Fat employees often receive a lower starting wage than employees with smaller bodies. The fact that body size is not covered by anti-discrimination laws in most parts of the U.S. affects everyone with marginalized identities.
In 2008, NAAFA created the Size Diversity in Employment Toolkit, addressing body size as a business imperative as part of diversity and inclusion. In December 2008, we mailed copies to strategically positioned officers of America's Fortune 500, which were essentially ignored by those executives. When NAAFA updated the toolkit in 2017, we split it into two parts: The Executive Summary and the HR Training Guide. We felt we needed to specifically address the two different audiences: the executives/owners of businesses who are the ones to shape the policies for the work environment, and the HR staff/managers who reinforce those policies in creating the environment.
We have seen, however, that many business leaders are more often guided by what is mandated than by what may be moral or ethical determinants, a mindset encouraged by capitalism. Unfortunately, this type of thinking is what causes pay for young, cisgender white males or young, thin, white cisgender females to be more than for those that are older, persons of color, disabled and/or fat. |
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Join Us at Fat Fridays Virtual Social Club! Event Is Free!
presented by NAAFA and hosted by Bree (@BreeIsHelpfulAF) |
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The Fat Fridays Social Club is held via Zoom and is an affinity space only for folx who identify as fat (Ages 16+). Next gathering is 4/22, 5:30 - 7:30 PST
Each month has a theme. The theme for April is #FatHeroes. Here's what you can expect:
1. Introductions - Name, pronouns, location (learn the First Peoples of your location at native-land.ca)
2. Themed discussion about Fat Heroes
3. Themed game - Fat Hero-themed Et Cetera! (Winner will choose next month's theme!)
4. Open social time
Themed dress is totally encouraged! (But not required.)
You must RSVP at bit.ly/ff-apr22 |
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Anti-Racism Resources
compiled by Darliene Howell
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES OF RACISM
RACE: The Power of an Illusion [Documentary on Vimeo] - California Newsreel
The division of the world's peoples into distinct groups -- "red," "black," "white" or "yellow" peoples -- has become so deeply embedded in our psyches, so widely accepted, that many would dismiss as crazy any suggestion of its falsity. Yet, that's exactly what this new three-hour series by California Newsreel claims.
Race - The Power of an Illusion questions the very idea of race as biology, suggesting that a belief in race is no more sound than believing that the sun revolves around the earth.
Yet race still matters. Just because race doesn't exist in biology doesn't mean it isn't very real, helping shape life chances and opportunities.
SYSTEMIC RACISM
What is Systemic Racism? Video Series - Race Forward
What Is Systemic Racism? is an 8-part series of video shorts that shows how racism shows up in our lives across institutions and society: Wealth Gap, Employment, Housing Discrimination, Government Surveillance, Incarceration, Drug Arrests, Immigration Arrests, Infant Mortality . . . yes, systemic racism is really a thing.
Featuring Jay Smooth, produced by Kat Lazo. Follow online with #SystemicRacismIs.
What is Systemic Racism? - Wealth Gap
What is Systemic Racism? - Education
What is Systemic Racism? - Housing Descrimination
What is Systemic Racism? - Government Surveillance
What is Systemic Racism? - Incarceration
What is Systemic Racism? - Drug Arrests
What is Systemic Racism? - Immigration Arrests
What is Systemic Racism? - Infant Mortality
Systems Thinking and Race - Project Linked Fate
Systems Thinking and Race (STAR) is a series of materials about structural inequality. The materials provide new ways to think about how race works in American society, new strategies for talking more effectively about the issues that have racialized outcomes, and new ways to make change. Within each section, written and visual materials, case studies, exercises and worksheets support understanding concepts and applying them to your specific context. |
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Remembering Dr. Cat Pausé
by Dr. Angela Meadows
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Dr Caitlin (Cat) Pausé passed away in her sleep on March 26th, 2022. Cat was a force of nature. She was a scholar, a mentor, a teacher, an activist, and a tireless advocate for fat rights. She also hosted a successful radio show in New Zealand called
Friend of Marilyn (referring to formidable activist Marilyn Wann) and available as a podcast, in which she interviewed researchers, practitioners, activists, plus-size models, and political campaigners, as well as sharing others' writing and providing commentary on topics that were on the public radar. You can access most of Cat's work including her scholarship, activism, podcast, blog, tumblr and more on her website www.friendofmarilyn.com.
In the days since learning of Cat's death, I have been reading about how much she also supported others doing all kinds of work in fat scholarship and fat activism, supporting producers of all kinds. Those of us who were lucky enough to have Zoomed with Cat will have seen the amazing gallery wall behind her desk showcasing the photography of Substantia Jones and the Adipositivity Project. She impressed on me the importance of changing our visual diet, surrounding ourselves with images of beautiful fat bodies to counter the normalization of fatphobia and our own acquired body hatred.
I have been trying to remember when I first came across Cat, and to begin with, I couldn't. I was surprised to remember how many years I had known her. Revisiting her work to write this, it came back to me. It was in response to Dr. Geoffrey Miller's fatphobic tweet in 2013 where he explicitly mocked fat individuals who were applying to graduate school. Cat responded by setting up the tumblr "F*ck, yeah! Fat PhDs" to feature fat people proud of being "fatlicious in academia." Page after page of Fat PhDs and graduate students, beginning with her own doctoral graduation photo. I had only just started my own PhD studies at the time and scrolling through page after page of smiling fat people receiving their doctorates was incredibly powerful.
I still don't remember when I first spoke to Cat directly -- I can't imagine a time when she was not in my life. I think many of us are just starting to comprehend the amount of time that Cat dedicated to building and nurturing these relationships, building a closer fat community, and making every person she spoke with feel truly special.
One of Cat's passions was elevating the voices and work of fat activists around the world, providing a platform for those working outside North America and Western Europe and beyond the English-speaking mainstream. Dr Pausé's loss to the fat studies and fat activism community can barely be captured in words. There is a hole where Cat used to be. But her influence extends way beyond those of us whose lives she touched personally, with the ripples extending to fat people around the world who will never know her name.
The world is a better place for having had Cat in it.
Note: A longer version of this piece can be found at the Weight Stigma Conference Website. The conference created the Dr. Cat Pause Travel Bursary, which will award students from the Global South to enable them to attend the WSC.
Click here to give to the fund in honor of Dr. Pausé life and legacy.
Note: Dr. Pause was featured on the NAAFA Webinar Series in April 2021 as part of our COVID-19 series. Click here to see Cat interviewed by NAAFA Chair Tigress Osborn about "Medical and Government Bias is the Unethical Scapegoating of Fat People".
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Dr. Angela Meadows is a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Essex, UK. She is a social psychologist specializing in prejudice and discrimination relating to weight and body size. Her research focuses on how fat people respond to the stigma they encounter in their daily lives, especially those who reject and challenge weight stigma. She has published a number of articles and book chapters and has been interviewed by numerous media outlets internationally. In 2013, she founded the Annual International Weight Stigma Conference, now in its eighth year. |
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Media and Research Roundup
by Bill and Terri Weitze
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March 25, 2022: Seayoung Yim wins the 2022 Yale Drama Series prize for her play
Jar of Fat, a darkly comedic fairytale about the quest for beauty and thinness. Yim states, "I offer this play as a struck match to burn some of the accumulated rage at what fatphobia steals from us every day: grace, space, possibility, and breath."
https://news.yale.edu/2022/03/25/comedic-take-quest-thinness-wins-yale-drama-series-prize
March 28, 2022:
Plus Mommy takes ABC's Chief Medical Correspondent to task for exaggerating the risk for perinatal death for fat women by not putting the statistics in proper context.
https://plusmommy.com/media-plus-size-pregnancy-risks
March 29, 2022: Despite manufacturer size and weight restrictions, Tyre Sampson, a 6 feet 5 inches tall, 320-pound teen was allowed to ride the Orlando Free Fall ride and fell to his death.
https://news.yahoo.com/teen-died-theme-park-may-205311234.html
https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-tyre-sampson-14yr-old-killed-at-icon-park/sign
March 31, 2022: Historical romances featuring fat heroines, while not plentiful, can be found. A few recommendations are offered and a request is made for suggestions from other readers.
https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2022/03/fat-girls-in-history
April 4, 2022: Actor Joy Nash is interviewed by Velvet d'Amour, talking about being a fat working actor, the fat acceptance movement, and life in general.
https://www.volup2.com/articles-and-blog/2022/4/2/ssvzqrbqp8dcx16n59ewcxxsycbr7f
April 6, 2022: Tigress Osborn offers a list of five strategies for creating inclusive, diverse, and fat-friendly marketing.
https://adage.com/article/opinion/how-create-marketing-positively-represents-plus-size-people/2410491
April 6, 2022: In her search for plus-sized dancers for an upcoming tour, Lizzo ended up creating a TV show,
Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, which premiered in March 2022 on Amazon Prime Video.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/06/style/lizzo-big-grrrls-amazon.html
https://www.hollywoodinsider.com/lizzos-watch-out-big-grrrls
April 11, 2022: BBC.com discusses why legal protection against size and weight discrimination in the workplace is needed.
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220411-the-unspoken-weight-discrimination-problem-at-work |
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Founded in 1969, NAAFA, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, is a non-profit human rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through public education, advocacy, and member support.
Any products or services mentioned in articles in this newsletter are for information only and should not be considered endorsements by NAAFA.
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