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In the mid-2010s, phrases like body positivity were popularized to make surface-level changes to what society deems as acceptable body types. This collection of books examines desirability and what impact it has on society. These authors discuss the origins of fatphobia and provide context and solutions to dismantling the beauty standard by providing firsthand experience and findings of research.
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Belly of the Beast by Da’Shaun L. Harrison
Scholar, activist, and journalist Da’Shaun L. Harrison makes their literary debut with Belly of the Beast, an informative memoir tackling issues like fatphobia, queerphobia, and anti-blackness as it applies to the author, and others that share these marginalized identities. Using their personal experiences and research through their scholarly and journalistic background, Harrison delivers an informative and well-rounded read for readers of non-fiction.
What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon
By society’s definition, to be fat is to be lazy, unhealthy, and flat out undesirable. It is seen as a moral failing that removes the humanity from fat people. Author Aubrey Gordon dives into the societal norm that is fatphobia; the medical discrimination, denial of accessibility, and the legal ramifications that fat people consistently face. Gordon inspires readers of all backgrounds to be accepting of their bodies as is and hopes to eradicate false notions of “body positivity”.
Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings
In this historical narrative, the racial origins of fatphobia are chronologized in detail by Professor of Sociology, Sabrina Strings. From the medieval period in Venice, Italy, to the Hottentot Venus in South Africa, the oversexualization and stigmatization of Black female bodies is identified and explained. This book provides a framework to modern fatphobia and allows readers to draw parallels, making it essential to any collegiate syllabus.
Unshrinking by Kate Mann gives readers a personal glance at how fatphobia can affect people. From weight obsession to unhealthy diet culture, Mann provides a perspective from a philosophical view. Instead of spreading “body positivity, she advocates for body reflexivity, a reevaluation of how we view our bodies by dismantling the systems that set these harmful ideologies in place.
Bad Fat Black Girl by Sesali Bowen
Trap Feminism: A reclamation of women’s body agency through trap music. Sesali Bowen created this term to embody her activism and provides readers with a look inside her trap feminist world through her memoir. Bad Fat Black Girl shines a light on the experiences of Black women and girls navigating through a world that sexualizes them while simultaneously strips their femininity away. Bowen delivers on laying out the intersections on what it means to be a trap feminist and a Bad Fat Black Girl.
About the Author
Hanna is a Library Associate at DC Public Libraries. She enjoys reading books authored by Octavia Butler, Tayari Jones, and Nnedi Okorafor. Aside from reading she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing sims 4, and painting.