Hi friend, Here in the U.S., we've just celebrated Thanksgiving, and I'm still in absentminded vacation mode. The letters I send out in the Body Liberation Guide are often the fruits of events and things I notice that sit in the back of my mind and simmer until I draw connections between them. That means that at any time, there are a number of puzzle pieces waiting to be put together. Since nothing came together for me this morning as I sat down to write, I thought I'd show you some of the pieces waiting for inspiration right now. In no particular order, here's what's on my mind right now: |
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I'm increasingly uncomfortable celebrating Thanksgiving. As a child and young adult, it was simply what we did. But now, after: - Really beginning to understand the whitewashing of the history I was taught + what genocide really means
- Becoming acquainted with a few folks descended from survivors of genocide
- Reading about the horrors of residential “schools”
- Listening to Indigenous people
I'm no longer at ease about this holiday. It feels pretty crappy to celebrate when people I know are mourning the theft of their ancestral lands. I don't yet have more coherent thoughts around this, but by next Thanksgiving I likely will. Time to let it simmer. |
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Creator Month lost me more Instagram followers than ever before. All through November, I published Instagram posts highlighting all the amazing fat and marginalized artists and small business owners I've interviewed. And people unfollowed in droves – more than even after my most controversial past posts. The post that got the most interaction was my review of + interview with Dry Apron Panties; a few people were outraged that CarolAnn charges a living wage for her work. A connected thought: A friend who's a fat-positive and fat woman of color told me that every time she posts an image of her own face, she loses followers. Another connected thought: I've seen a great deal of resistance in both the HAES and fat communities to paying people. Fat people are seen – even by other fat people – as resources, or commodities to be consumed. Whenever I post anything to do with my actual business on Instagram, engagement absolutely tanks. Rhetorical questions: - How much of this is due to algorithmic manipulation?
- How much is due to distaste at fat folks who dare to also have businesses?
- How do algorithms reflect our existing preferences?
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A different friend who's a fat and fat-positive fashion influencer posted recently about how fat folks who do manage to be featured or interviewed by mainstream media outlets take on massive amounts of personal risk. 'Yet another acquaintance just posted on Twitter about a brand that wanted her to do a video interview – for free! – and pulled the offer when she asked how the brand intended to protect her. People interviewed/featured by these brands (see: Torrid) and publications are often targeted for an avalanche of hate, both in the comments section wherever they appear and in their own social media comments and email inboxes. Media outlets/brands seem totally unprepared for this and completely unwilling to take steps to protect fat folks. This thread ties back to fat people being seen as consumables. |
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December will be Podcast Month. Weaving these threads together takes a great amount of thought and emotional labor, and rest is what creates the space for that work to happen. Like November's Creator Month, I'll be posting all December about podcast episodes on which I've been a guest. It's a great time to do some deep dives into body liberation with me by listening. |
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Warmly,
Lindley P.S. You can share this week's letter here. It's only possible to offer the Body Liberation Guide and all its labor for free because people like you support it. If you find value here, please contribute for as little as $1 per month. Every dollar helps. |
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Here's what's being discussed this week in the world of body acceptance, Health at Every Size® (HAES), body positivity and fat liberation: |
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"Up until I started powerlifting 3 years ago, I would be covered up head to toe because I was ashamed of my "fat" body. I was told most of my young adult life to cover up because no one wanted to see my fat. I love this body. Every stretch mark and fat roll included. This powerbelly can do incredible things like squatting and deadlifting 500+ pounds." » Becci PrettySTRONG Holcomb |
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Quick Resources: HAES Informed Health Care |
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