COURSE DESCRIPTION
Weight is commonly understood through a medical paradigm that has determined that so-called “excess” fat bears considerable health risks. This notion of “excess weight” is the bedrock of what has come to be known by health practitioners as the “Global Obesity Epidemic.” However, Black feminist scholars such as Dr. Sabrina Strings have contested this idea arguing that purported concern over weight gain and fatness by medical professionals is historically linked to both the trans-Atlantic slave trade and Protestantism rather than medical “worry” and “responsibility.” In this workshop on the introduction to Fat Activism/Liberation, we will center on how the aforementioned racialized history is crucial to how we, as a society, have defined fatness in the aftermath of slavery and, consequently, how antifatness continues to shape the everyday experiences of Fat people, especially those that are Black, queer, transgender, and disabled. We will then engage with fat activists and organizers who continue to fight against normalized fatphobia and are committed to efforts toward its end and Fat liberation.
LOCATION
Online via Zoom
PRICING AND REGISTRATION
For any questions regarding registration, our sliding scale, work-trade opportunities or accessibility needs, please contact Shay Braden at sjp@ywcapdx.org or (971) 358-6227.
ACCESSIBILITY
This class will be held online via Zoom. Please contact us to let us know if you need specific accommodations.
VIRTUAL CLASSROOM TIPS
Thanks for joining us online! Here are some suggestions for getting the most out of this workshop:
Mute your microphone. To help keep background noise to a minimum, make sure you mute your microphone when you are not speaking. When your microphone is not muted, avoid activities that could create additional noise.
Engage with the class. These are intended to be workshops, not webinars! Please come ready to engage and participate, and help build community within the “classroom.” Not everyone is able to participate via webcam, but if you are able, we ask that you do so as much as possible.
Limit distractions and avoid multi-tasking. You can make it easier to focus on the meeting by turning off notifications, closing or minimizing running apps, and muting your smartphone. You’ll retain the discussion better if you refrain from replying to emails or test messages during the meeting and wait until after the workshop ends.
Help us improve our program! Each workshop will have a brief survey sent out. All results are anonymous and help us continuously improve our program.
Take notes. Our facilitators’ own their presentation material so it is not a requirement for the presentation to be shared afterwards.
Need an accommodation? Email us so we can create an ideal learning environment for you. sjp@ywcapdx.org
GROUP PARTICIPATION FRAMEWORK & AGREEMENTS
While guidelines and expectations will vary from workshop to workshop, most of these apply to a typical workshop session:
One speaker at a time. When one person talks, everyone else listens.
Community wisdom. Nobody knows everything, together we know a lot.
Take space & give space. Be mindful of how much you’re participating in the discussion.
Intent vs. impact. Before sharing, consider how what you say will affect others in the group.
Confidentiality. Details shared in the class stay in the class, but what’s learned goes with you.
Active participation. In this environment, it’s better to be open and imperfect than worry too much about being overly articulate.
Embrace discomfort and expect non-closure. Learning and growth can be stressful, do your best to hold space for those feelings.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Recording. These sessions are designed to be interactive workshops rather than webinars, and as such are NOT recorded. Presentation materials (Powerpoint, handouts, etc.) are typically available.
Time Zone. We’re located in Portland, Oregon and so all workshop times listed are Pacific.
PRESENTER
Presented by Ebony Oldham (they/them)
Ebony is from inner North and Northeast Portland, Oregon, born and raised. As a doctoral student in the Department of Gender Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, Ebony’s research employs Black feminist theory, fat studies, disability studies, and queer and trans of color critique to think about the Black fat figure and examine black gender, antiblackness, and antifatness. Before pursuing doctoral study, they received their B.A. in Ethnic Studies from the University of Oregon in 2012 and their M.A. in Educational Leadership and Policy and a certificate in Gender, Race, and Nations from Portland State University in 2018. Ebony is also a longtime organizer and the curator of the Black Feminist Kitchen, an experimental and pop-up working group of artists, activists, organizers, and scholars committed to Black feminist study.
Contact Us
Email: Christina at christinaf@ywcapdx.org or Shay at shayb@ywcapdx.org