Hi friend,
Since I first wrote â
The word on the scaleâ and shared it with my Patreon supporters (and later in the Body Liberation Guide), Taylor Swift has updated her video to remove the couple of seconds showing the word on the scale (without public comment).
Ten or twenty fat activists had offered mild criticism of the original clip, and then thanked Swift for removing it.
And thousands of viciously fatphobic and pro-ana âSwiftiesâ have organized hate campaigns from their circles on Twitter, Reddit, Instagram and elsewhere, sending these fat activists death threats, stalking them, attempting to dox them and harassing them off social media.
The mainstream media then picked up the story, with thin people being paid to publish articles in publications like The Independent and Rolling Stone repeating the Swiftiesâ fatphobic talking points.
When you see articles like this pop up in big media outlets, step back and think.
» How are systems of power being set up and reinforced?
» Who is objecting to something in pop culture, and why?
» Are writers and journalists setting marginalized groups up to seem silly, petty or ridiculous? How might the viewpoint change if you were part of that marginalized group?
» Are specific people mentioned? What kind of aggression, dogpiling, hate or harm might come the way of those people as a result of being named this way?
Also: Laura and I have opened up two special last-minute spots at the Exhale Retreat, which starts this Sunday. If you're feeling spontaneous and want to join us,
you still can.
You'll want to let us know and sign up ASAP, though, so we can make sure we have enough yoga props and other goodies for you! And so you can grab a hotel room.
The photo at the top of this week's letter is of me bringing home my 105% jam-packed car after picking up all of our yoga props. Restorative yoga is all about draping yourself over, under and around all kinds of support for the comfiest possible experience, so we have TONS of options.
(And to be clear, it doesn't matter whether you have yoga skill or experience. You don't even have to show up and do yoga at all, there are plenty of other options for your time. Just reply to this email if you're considering going and have questions.)
Also also: I'm including some extra entries in the Conversation section this week, since I may not have time to write and schedule a guide before I head to the retreat.
Now, on to part 4 of our series on body-positive business practices:
Examine your employment practices.
What kind of body privilege does your staff as a whole hold?
What kind of diversity is shown in your staffing, or are all of your employees thin, white, cisgendered, abled and straight?
Your customers and potential customers vet you in advance and consider whether to become customers based partly on whether they feel you can serve them and their bodies. And of course, part of that calculation is âDoes this business have anyone around who looks like me?â
For example, I go to the one yoga studio in my area that has larger instructors. A studio with bigger-bodied instructors has the highest chance of not only treating my body with dignity and respect, but of knowing how to modify yoga poses for my body.
Letâs be honest: My boobs and tummy get in the way of âtraditionalâ poses a lot, so Iâm going to attend a studio that can deal with that without making me feel humiliated, put on the spot, or ignored.
Quick Fix: Ensure that your employees who have a lot of body privilege understand that they need to treat all bodies equally, and how to do that. Model that behavior in your own actions. The next time you hire, consider bringing in someone with a less privileged body.
