September 2022 NAAFA Newsletter |
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Meet Our Scholarship Winner |
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After receipt and review of several applications, NAAFA is delighted to announce that the first Dr. Paul Ernsberger Research Scholarship has been awarded to Samantha Turner.
Samantha is a PhD Candidate and a Graduate Teaching Associate for the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing at UMass Chan Medical School.
When asked what Samantha is planning to study, she stated:
"This study aims to investigate pediatric health care providers' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about weight stigma. In 2017, a policy statement published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) highlighted the importance of addressing childhood weight stigma at the healthcare level. This was reinforced by a 2020 joint international consensus statement which called for an end to weight stigma, and activism among healthcare providers to move this work forward. However, anti-weight stigma efforts are still scant, and little policy change has occurred since these momentous statements. This gap suggests that pediatric health care providers may be unaware of weight bias, its effects, or how to address it. The proposed study will investigate whether pediatric healthcare providers are committed to, invested in, and interested in the concept of weight stigma, as well as in reducing it or mitigating its effects."
Samantha also informed us of how her research will carry on Dr. Ernsberger's legacy and further fat liberation:
"Dr. Ernsberger's work and legacy have had an undeniable impact on the liberation of fat people. Like him, I believe that healthcare providers have a responsibility to mitigate any harm caused by personal biases, and to give patients the most evidence-based and socially-just care possible. As a nurse, I often see the fundamental mistrust that many fat people feel toward the healthcare system, and have a unique understanding of the training and preparation of healthcare providers. Personally, my interest in fat liberation came from a unique professor during my undergraduate career. As I studied nutrition, I witnessed anti-fat biases consistently, as my university did not centralize or prioritize marginalized voices at the time (As an alum, I am glad to hear that things have since changed). Not knowing very much about weight science or the work of scientists like Dr. Ernsberger, I spent the first few years of my undergraduate career in concert with what I'd been taught. One professor, however, showed me the complexities of weight and medical sciences, and identified the work of Dr. Ernsberger about weight cycling. This changed my perspective and made me question my future path. From then, my interest shifted away from clinical nutrition and toward understanding how healthcare can become a less stigmatizing, more holistic, and more evidence-based discipline. Dr. Ernsberger's legacy played a large role in this shift, and has continued to propel me forward in my pursuit to critically understand and dismantle the systems which perpetuate fat oppression. With his work as a guidepost, I aim to reduce the harm caused by medical weight bias, and to ultimately further fat liberation."
We are looking forward to receiving updates from Samantha on her progress and furthering the work of Dr. Ernsberger. |
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Thanks for attending Fat Liberation Month 2022
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We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for attending NAAFA's FLM 2022 webinars and events. We'd love your feedback by completing this short survey. We estimate it should take 5 - 10 minutes to complete. Survey closes on 10/1/2022.
Recordings of the 2022 FLM events are available to view at youtube.com/naafaofficial. There are also lots of past episodes of the NAAFA Webinar Series and our fashion show, Ahead of the Curve, available there. And, of course, you can register for free upcoming virtual events at naafa.org/webinars. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. |
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The
Gordita Chronicles is a new HBO Max sitcom set in 1985 about a Dominican family that immigrated to Miami. According to an article from Today.com, "If there's one lesson to take from
Gordita Chronicles, it's to be your most authentic self."
Unfortunately, after a little over a month on the air, the producers were notified by a spokesperson that, "Live-action kids and family programming will not be part of our programming focus in the immediate future, and as a result, we've had to make the very difficult decision to end
Gordita Chronicles at HBO Max."
What we need is MORE programming like
Gordita Chronicles, and more representation of both people of color and people that are fat. But obviously, HBO Max isn't ready to celebrate chubby Latina girls and IT IS A SHAME. |
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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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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 9/23, 5:30 - 7:30 PM PDT
Each month has a theme. The theme for September is #Travel. 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 Travel
3. Themed game - Travel-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-sept22 |
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@sizeacceptancewarrior
by Peggy Howell
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It was 2005 and I was headed back west on my cross-country chunkEnation tour, during which I attended several size positive events as a vendor with fun fat positive products from our chunkEbusiness website (no longer in business). I received a call from Kara Brewer Allen, Co-Chair of NAAFA. I had recently visited with Kara in Asheville, NC where I interviewed her for my documentary film,
Not In It For the Money, a collection of interviews with people who organized and hosted size positive events around the country. Kara was calling to invite me to join the Board of Directors of NAAFA. Little did I know it would be 17 years before I would retire.
My experience in advertising and promotions prepared me to work with the media. As Public Relations Director of NAAFA for 15 years, I had opportunities and experiences that might not otherwise have come my way. In checking through my records, I found that we created about 250 press releases announcing significant happenings at NAAFA or speaking out against the injustices fat people face in daily life. These press releases resulted in hundreds of news articles, radio interviews and television appearances. The most notable television appearances were a double episode of
The Dr. Phil Show,
Anderson Cooper 360 and Nat Geo's
Taboo.
I've traveled to multiple cities for NAAFA conventions and met hundreds of wonderful people. In 2009 I had the opportunity to visit my political representatives in Washington, DC and deliver our message: we need to change the laws to protect people of all sizes from discrimination. Two years later we returned to DC and I had the opportunity to speak at the National Press Club about fat kids being left out of the anti-bullying laws being considered. In 2015 I was invited by
U.S. News & World Report to write as a guest blogger for their "For Better Blog". I had six articles published over the next few months. During my tenure we increased the NAAFA Newsletter from quarterly to monthly and with the help of Bill Weitze and a lot of talented writers we worked to keep you informed.
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At NAAFA's 50th Anniversary Conference in 2019, I decided to start a social media campaign on Instagram and Facebook because the world needs to know that there are plenty of us fat people who live past 30, who live past 50 and even make it to 72 (75 this year!). My handle on Instagram is @fatacceptancewarrior and I use the #oldfatty hashtag in most of my posts. Join me in showing the world that we can have long lives without being thin.
Working with so many brilliant fat activists from NAAFA and healthcare educators/specialists from ASDAH has been such an honor. I learned something new almost every day and felt so blessed to be part of something that is much bigger than myself (no pun intended). I have decided to retire from the NAAFA Board of Directors but I'll still be around and volunteering for projects because there is still so much to do!
There are exciting things going on right now and NAAFA could use you to help get the work done. There are several states in the east that are actively working to change the laws. Other countries such as Germany, Mexico and Brazil have growing fat acceptance communities and are looking to change their laws. Join the Legislative subcommittee of the Advocacy Committee and change the world! There are plans in the works for an in-person conference next year and there is always lots of work to be done in preparation and on-site. There is always work to do so please reach out to Dawn Clark, NAAFA's volunteer coordinator at dawn.clark@naafa.org to see what you can do to help change the world.
Hope to see you all next year! |
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#isupportnaafa - Support NAAFA's Virtual Events
Fundraising Goal = $3,000 |
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We hope you enjoyed NAAFA's programming during #fatliberationmonth. If you weren't able to attend the events and webinars live, you can view the recordings at youtube.com/naafaofficial.
As we at NAAFA prepare for the rest of 2022, we can't wait to give you more opportunities to be in #fatcommunity via our virtual events. We've lined up exciting speakers for the NAAFA Webinar Series and our fat fashion show, Ahead of the Curve. And we're planning for more fun, interactive, online social events!
NAAFA is committed to providing programming that is equitable, inclusive, and accessible. We offer our virtual events at no cost to fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes, and we intend to continue to do so. Your support is what allows us to pay our guest speakers and performers, provide ASL interpreting, and have the recording of each event edited by a fat-owned, trans-owned video editing company.
Each virtual event we host costs a minimum of $600 to produce. We are committed to continuing to offer excellent, accessible programs, but we can only do that with your support. Please give whatever you can by going to naafa.org/give
Every donation of any size is an expression of big fat love! Thank you for your support of #naafa and of #EqualityAtEverySize.
#fatliberation #fatactivism #fatvisibility #naafawebinarseries #aheadofthecurve #fatactivism #unapologeticallyfat
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Anti-Racism Resources
Latinx Heritage Month 2022
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Media and Research Roundup
by Bill and Terri Weitze
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July July 29, 2022: Comedian Sofie Hagen writes about her journey as a fat comedian learning about fat acceptance, body positivity, and her colleagues, who cannot be trusted not to turn to fat jokes for a laugh.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/29/is-there-a-single-comedian-out-there-not-fatphobic-apart-from-me-of-course
August 10, 2022: According to a recent study, when it comes to fat shaming and weight bias in healthcare, it's the support staff as well as the doctors and nurses who are causing harm to fat patients. The study suggests several methods of reducing this bias in healthcare.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/aug/10/obese-patients-weight-shamed-doctors-nurses
https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13494
August 16, 2022: Writer Alex Smith and illustrator James Dillenbeck have created a fat black-latino gay hero in the comic book series "Black Vans". The hero Bo is a cyberhacker in "Future Philly" who works with his assigned superhero Wildstar; but Bo is not the sidekick. He is the star of this series.
https://whyy.org/articles/gay-black-superheroes-comics-black-vans-fatphobia-philadelphia/
September 4, 2022: Researchers have developed new tools to study the nerves that connect fat tissue to the brain, which they hope will lead to a better understanding on the function of fat tissue in the body.
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220904/The-brain-and-fat-communicate-directly.aspx
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05137-7
September 14, 2022: Brendan Fraser dons a fat suit for his new film,
The Whale, the story of a depressed 650-pound man. Critics have acclaimed the film and Fraser's performance; however, many people have major issues about the film and its content.
https://nypost.com/2022/09/14/the-whale-backlash-critic-warns-fat-and-skinny-people/ |
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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.
On the web: https://naafa.org
Comments: pr@naafa.org
Newsletter Content Editors: Darliene Howell and Tigress Osborn
Newsletter Layout Editor: Bill Weitze
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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