FYI.

Indigenous(ly) Fat, Fat(ly) Indigenous

He kanohi kitea ka hoki ngā mahara is a well-known Māori whakataukī (proverb); it encapsulates one of the integral principles of Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) and Kaupapa Māori (Māori philosophy, ways of being, knowing, seeing). It reiterates the importance of being seen, being present, and being remembered, it highlights the value of whakawhanaungatanga (good relationships), and of the ways we Indigenous Peoples relate to each other through presence. When considering this way of conceptualising the significance of (re)visibilisation, we seek to re-think and re-shape our Indigenous knowledge:

He tinana kitea ka hoki ngā mahara (a familiar body, a seen body, causes memories to flow, memories to stir)

Here, we re-conceptualise this notion of presence, relationality, and (re)visibilisation of our bodies.

We seek to explore the space of Indigenous fat studies, posing the question: What does Indigenous fat studies look like? Fatness is intersectionally experienced and, for those of us who occupy multiple identities that are minoritised, our experiences of navigating fatness are complex. We invite papers for a special issue of Fat Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Body Weight and Society, on Indigenous(ly) Fat – Fat(ly) Indigenous. This special issue will encompass a variety of topics around the conceptualisation, actualisation, and embodiment of Indigenous fat studies and fat Indigeneity and what this may look like to us as Indigenous Peoples.

Welcome topics include but are not limited to:

• Developing Indigenous fat studies
• Indigenous experiences of fatness
• Indigenous languages of fatness
• The intersections of fatness, Indigeneity, queerness, disability, age, sexuality
• Shifts in fat social justice related to Indigenous sovereignty
• Being Indigenous and fat within social contexts (e.g., relationships, families, legal systems, health and medicine, employment, education, housing, religion, politics, media, etc.)
• What does fat Indigenous joy, hope, sovereignty, and reclamation look like?
• Being socially assigned as Indigenous and fat
• Bodily autonomy, boundary and bodily surveillance, and bodily transitions in the fight for fat Indigenous sovereignty
• Challenges, oppression, decolonising, and re-Indigenising fat Indigenous experiences and realities
• Flax-roots-Earth-roots Indigenous fat initiatives and socialisations
• Building and promoting solidarity for fat Indigeneity
• The state of legal protections for weight, body size, and shape
• The role of resilience, resistance, activism, relationships, and sovereignty for fat Indigenous Peoples
• Necessary intersections, solidarity, and allies in the context of fat Indigeneity (e.g., anti-racist, anti-sexist, etc)
• Art for fat Indigeneity

Abstract deadline: 1st October 2024

Manuscript deadline: 1st March 2025

More information: https://think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issues/indigenously-fat-fatly-indigenous/

Register for the 2024 Weight Stigma Conference today!

Ticket Types

• Online
  • Standard registration: £120.
  • Student/low income: £100.
• In-person
  • Standard registration: £200.
  • Student/low income: £170.

As a reminder, and across all rates, further reductions or hardship requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please use the Bursary Application form on our website and/or email us at stigmaconf@gmail.com. Standard bursary applications will be accepted until noon, the day before the conference, with awards depending on availability of funding.

Help make the WSC more accessible

The Weight Stigma Conference is a not-for-profit event and we have been crowdfunding our Bursary Fund since 2016. This has allowed us to give out 65 bursaries to delegates from around the world. If you are able to provide any assistance to help us increase accessibility, every little is very gratefully received. If you are registering for this year’s conference (early bird rates expire 16 May), you can make a donation to the Bursary Fund at registration. Otherwise, please visit our GoFundMe page.

Check out our Programme

Visit https://weightstigmaconference.com/programme-2024/ to view the programme.

As always, this schedule is subject to change. If there is a substantial change to the schedule that would impact time commitments, affected presenters will be notified.

Meet the 2024 WSC Keynotes

Dr Lily O’Hara, Associate Professor of Public Health, Qatar University. Her research focuses on analyzing oppressive public health approaches to body weight and their inequitable impact on people with larger bodies, and developing ethical, evidence-based, salutogenic public health initiatives for body liberation using social justice oriented approaches.

Caleb Luna is an award-winning educator and scholar, the bestselling author of REVENGE BODY , and co-host of the podcast Unsolicited: Fatties Talk Back. Caleb’s cultural work examines race, size, sexuality and disability in media and culture. Ultimately, they are interested in engaging embodied difference as a generative resource toward fatter understandings of collective freedom.

Stacy Bias is a social justice activist, artist and writer with over 20 years’ experience. Working with academics, researchers, charities, NGOs and other mission-based organisations, she combines research with illustration and animation to create humanising narratives that amplify marginalised voices. Her projects ask questions about social legitimacy, barriers to access and the psychic and material impacts of exclusion.

To learn more about our keynotes, visit https://weightstigmaconference.com/keynotes-2024/

Information for In-Person Delegates

Please visit our website for more information about the venue, location, accommodation, and travel: https://weightstigmaconference.com/wsc-2024-information/

WSC Fringe Events

We are delighted to announce two pre-conference events at Colchester Arts Centre. These events are being run independently by the Fat Performance Network, Jussara Belchior, Magdalena Hutter, and Gillie Kleiman. Ju, Magdalena, and Gillie will be presenting at the conference, but these fringe events are open to all*, whether or not you’ll be at the conference. Both are ‘pay what you can afford’. You MUST register in advance. If you have any queries, please contact them directly.

The Fat Performance Network grew out of a Live Art Development Agency DIY workshop about fat performance initiated by Gillie Kleiman in 2020. Colchester Arts Centre was the partner for this project, but none of us ever went there, holding the activities online instead. This is an exciting opportunity for some of us to meet in person for the first time, do some fat performance stuff, and hang out.

‘Fat Contact’ Workshop

*NOTE: This workshop is appropriate ONLY for people in fat/larger bodies

When and where: Colchester Arts Centre, 2–4pm, Saturday 15th June, 2024

What: Gillie will offer a practical dance workshop, continuing her research into the ways in which meaning is made by fat bodies coming into contact with one another. Inspired by sumo, slow dancing and when you blow a raspberry on a baby’s tummy, we’ll move with our fat flesh pressing, shoving, stroking, and holding another’s.

Click here to book your Workshop ticket

DIY Fat-Centric Dance Party

All body sizes welcome

When and where: Colchester Arts Centre, 6–8.30pm, Saturday 15th June, 2024

What: Bring yourself a snack and a drink and we’ll put some music on. No pressure, just a way to hang out with other fat people, and move around if you feel like it!

Click here to book your Dance Party ticket

For delegates going to both AM10 and WSC10

Getting from Bristol to Colchester

If you’re attending the Appearance Matters conference in Bristol before coming to the Weight Stigma Conference, the simplest way to get from there to here is by train. First, take the train from Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington. Then, from Paddington, switch to the Elizabeth Line (underground) to London Liverpool Street – four stops. From there, trains run several times an hour to Colchester. Depending on whether you get express trains or not, this will take between 3 and 3 1/2 hours, including transfer times. Although it sounds complicated, the London travel system is extremely well-signposted and trains run frequently. Just take your time and don’t panic!

Appearance Matters conference

If you’re not familiar with Appearance Matters, it is one of the largest conferences on body image, run by the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England and happening every 2 years. This year, it is running 11–13 June, in Bristol, UK. For more information, visit their website: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/research/centres-and-groups/appearance/news-and-events/am-conference

WSC accommodation update

If you are attending this year’s WSC in-person and were hoping to stay at the conference venue, please note, the hotel has set aside a small room block for us – these rooms will NOT show up on their website. There are still rooms available. To book, please email the hotel directly at reservations@wivenhoehouse.co.uk and mention the Weight Stigma Conference. From Friday 24th May, any unsold rooms will be returned to the publicly available pool.

For more information about accommodation options, please see the In-Person Information page on our website

Other key information:

Programme

Registration

Poster abstract submission (until 9th July)

Donate to the Bursary Fund

FYI.

University of Vermont Post-Doctoral Position in Weight-Inclusive Nutrition

The Weight-Inclusive Nutrition (WIN) Research Group located at the University of Vermont (UVM) invites applicants for a postdoctoral fellow to work collaboratively with our research team to facilitate the adoption of weight-inclusive practices in school environments.

Click to download more information

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The preliminary agenda for #WSC10 is now available!

We are pleased to present a preliminary schedule for the 2024 Weight Stigma Conference in Colchester, UK and online. As always, this schedule is subject to change. If there is a substantial change to the schedule that would impact time commitments, affected presenters will be notified.

Visit https://weightstigmaconference.com/programme-2024/ to view the programme.

One week left to register at early-bird rates

The last day for early-bird registration is May 16th. Don’t miss out! Visit our website or click the Registration button below to register.

Ticket Types

• Online
  • Standard registration: Early bird rate (until 16th May, 2024) is £100. From 17th May, standard rate will be £120.
  • Student/low income: Early bird rate (until 16th May, 2024) is £80. From 17th May, student/low income rate will be £100.
• In-person
  • Standard registration: Early bird rate (until 16th May, 2024) is £175. From 17th May, standard rate will be £200.
  • Student/low income: Early bird rate (until 16th May, 2024) is £150. From 17th May, student/low income rate will be £170.

As a reminder, and across all rates, further reductions or hardship requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please use the Bursary Application form on our website and/or email us at stigmaconf@gmail.com. Standard bursary applications will be accepted until noon, the day before the conference, with awards depending on availability of funding. A single Dr Cat Pausé Travel Bursary will be awarded. The deadline for applications is 16th May 2024. Application is via the same form.

Meet the 2024 WSC Keynotes!

Dr Lily O’Hara, Associate Professor of Public Health, Qatar University. Her research focuses on analyzing oppressive public health approaches to body weight and their inequitable impact on people with larger bodies, and developing ethical, evidence-based, salutogenic public health initiatives for body liberation using social justice oriented approaches.

Caleb Luna is an award-winning educator and scholar, the bestselling author of REVENGE BODY , and co-host of the podcast Unsolicited: Fatties Talk Back. Caleb’s cultural work examines race, size, sexuality and disability in media and culture. Ultimately, they are interested in engaging embodied difference as a generative resource toward fatter understandings of collective freedom.

Stacy Bias is a social justice activist, artist and writer with over 20 years’ experience. Working with academics, researchers, charities, NGOs and other mission-based organisations, she combines research with illustration and animation to create humanising narratives that amplify marginalised voices. Her projects ask questions about social legitimacy, barriers to access and the psychic and material impacts of exclusion.

To learn more about our keynotes, visit https://weightstigmaconference.com/keynotes-2024/

Information for In-Person Delegates

Please visit our website for more information about the venue, location, accommodation, and travel: https://weightstigmaconference.com/wsc-2024-information/

Poster abstracts still open for submission

If you would like to present a poster, please submit your abstract using the form on our website: https://weightstigmaconference.com/abstract-submission/. Deadlines for submission is 9th June, 2024. Poster decisions will be made on a rolling basis, within a few days of your submission.

1. Weight Stigma Conference Bursary Fund

The Weight Stigma Conference is a not-for-profit event and we have been crowdfunding our Bursary Fund since 2016. This has allowed us to give out 65 bursaries to delegates from around the world. If you are able to provide any assistance to help us increase accessibility, every little is very gratefully received. If you are registering for this year’s conference (early bird rates expire 16 May), you can make a donation to the Bursary Fund at registration. Otherwise, please visit our GoFundMe page.

2. Help Shilo get her wheels

2023 WSC keynote speaker Shilo George needs some help raising money to fund a mobility device. One of her friends started the fundraiser. You can read more about it and donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/join-shilos-joy-ride-help-shilo-get-her-wheels

To learn more about Shilo, visit her website: https://www.shilogeorge.com/

3. Help NAAFA founder Bill Fabrey

Another fundraiser started by a friend. Bill Fabrey founded NAAFA back in 1969. It is the longest running civil rights organisation fighting for fat rights in the world, celebrating it’s 50th anniversary in 2019 (amazing party!!). Bill is a fantastic ally and has done so much for the fat community over the years, but things are tough for him at the moment. You can read more and donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-help-needed-for-my-elderly-friend

To learn more about NAAFA, visit their website: https://naafa.org/

Early-Bird Rates Expire in Two Weeks

Register for the 2024 Weight Stigma Conference today!

Due to a technical issue, tickets will now be available through TicketTailor. Please click on the button to go to the Registration page. We apologise for any inconvenience.

The last day for early-bird rates will be 16th May.

Ticket Types

• Online
  • Standard registration: Early bird rate (until 16th May, 2024) is £100. From 17th May, standard rate will be £120.
  • Student/low income: Early bird rate (until 16th May, 2024) is £80. From 17th May, student/low income rate will be £100.
• In-person
  • Standard registration: Early bird rate (until 16th May, 2024) is £175. From 17th May, standard rate will be £200.
  • Student/low income: Early bird rate (until 16th May, 2024) is £150. From 17th May, student/low income rate will be £170.

As a reminder, and across all rates, further reductions or hardship requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please use the Bursary Application form on our website and/or email us at stigmaconf@gmail.com. Standard bursary applications will be accepted until noon, the day before the conference, with awards depending on availability of funding. A single Dr Cat Pausé Travel Bursary will be awarded. The deadline for applications is 16th May 2024. Application is via the same form.

Meet the 2024 WSC Keynotes!

Dr Lily O’Hara, Associate Professor of Public Health, Qatar University. Her research focuses on analyzing oppressive public health approaches to body weight and their inequitable impact on people with larger bodies, and developing ethical, evidence-based, salutogenic public health initiatives for body liberation using social justice oriented approaches.

Caleb Luna is an award-winning educator and scholar, the bestselling author of REVENGE BODY , and co-host of the podcast Unsolicited: Fatties Talk Back. Caleb’s cultural work examines race, size, sexuality and disability in media and culture. Ultimately, they are interested in engaging embodied difference as a generative resource toward fatter understandings of collective freedom.

Stacy Bias is a social justice activist, artist and writer with over 20 years’ experience. Working with academics, researchers, charities, NGOs and other mission-based organisations, she combines research with illustration and animation to create humanising narratives that amplify marginalised voices. Her projects ask questions about social legitimacy, barriers to access and the psychic and material impacts of exclusion.

To learn more about our keynotes, visit https://weightstigmaconference.com/keynotes-2024/

Information for In-Person Delegates

Please visit our website for more information about the venue, location, accommodation, and travel: https://weightstigmaconference.com/wsc-2024-information/

Poster abstracts still open for submission

If you would like to present a poster, please submit your abstract using the form on our website: https://weightstigmaconference.com/abstract-submission/. Deadlines for submission is 9th June, 2024. Poster decisions will be made on a rolling basis, within a few days of your submission.

FYI.

Call for Papers: Bodies, Arts, and Media: (Re)Configurations in the Digital Era

December 5-6, 2024, Paris, France

Submission deadline: 1st June

The IRMÉCCEN (Sorbonne Nouvelle University) and LabSIC (Sorbonne Paris Nord University) laboratories,research committees 14 (Sociology of Communication, Knowledge, and Culture), 37 (Sociology of the Arts), and 54 (The Body in Social Sciences) of the International Sociological Association (ISA), as well as researchcommittees 38 (Socioanthropologie Politique: Médias et Cultures) and 33 (Sociologie de la Communication et duNumérique) of the Association Internationale des Sociologues de Langue Française (AISLF), the Cité du Genre, and the Groupe de Travail “Genre et Espace Numérique” of the Centre Internet et Société (CNRS), are jointly organizing the bilingual (French and English) international conference entitled “Bodies, Arts, andMedia: (Re)Configurations in the Digital Era”.

From an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspective, this conference aims to bring together researchers from diverse disciplines such as sociology, information and communication sciences, gender studies, cultural studies, anthropology, history, computational sciences, political science, and others. It seeks to explore reflections on bodies in the arts and media in the digital age. We strongly encourage research that adopts an intersectional perspective and intersects various social relations of oppression (e.g., gender, sexuality, class, race, ableism, ageism). Papers may focus on (but are not limited to) the following themes:

• Representations and discourses
• Reception/uses
• Platform design and the co-construction dynamics of bodily norms
• Performance in the digital age
• Epistemology, methods, and ethics

Submission guidelines:

Paper proposals should not exceed 500 words (excluding bibliography) and should be submitted in English or French by June 1st, 2024 to bodiesartsandmedia@gmail.com

Responses to paper proposals will be sent by e-mail on July 1st, 2024

For more information and to apply, Download the full Call for Papers