Liberation from thinness culture: Motivations for joining fat acceptance movements
Katie Margavio Striley, Sophia Hutchens
Abstract
Thinness culture stigmatizes people of size. Both interpersonal and systemic discrimination are daily experiences for fat people. However, some people of size find acceptance in varieties of fat acceptance movements (FAMs), human rights movements seeking to eliminate fat discrimination. Modern FAMs are less radical than early versions, and emphasize aesthetics, body positivity, and everyday talk, rather than systemic activism. The current article seeks to understand motivations for joining FAMs because involvement in these movements enables people of size to resist toxic thin culture messages while finding others with similar experiences, needs, and identities. We conducted surveys with 217 fat-identifying individuals to ask their reasons for joining FAMs. Findings indicate participants joined for both intra/interpersonal reasons, such as finding self-love and supportive communities, and systemic reasons, such as fighting for social justice and equality for people of size. As a result of findings, we suggest FAMs adopt a both/and approach to fat stigma: continuing to support members’ intra/interpersonal needs and systemically fighting size discrimination in thinness cultures.