Episode #80: Feminism and Body Image with Melanie Klein

On the podcast, Melanie Klein, writer, speaker and professor of Sociology and Gender/Women’s Studies, shares how understanding systems and constructs like sexism, diet culture, the patriarchy and white supremacy were pivotal in helping her move from blaming herself for how she felt about her body and not seeing any other choice but pursue a thinner body, to palpable relief. Now, Melanie answers the call to share her knowledge and expertise to help folks come to a place of body neutrality and acceptance so they can feel empowered. 

Melanie recommended reading: 

Feminism is for Everybody by bell hooks

Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center by bell hooks

Learn more about Melanie and the books she’s published here: 

http://www.melaniecklein.com/

Connect with Melanie here: 

IG: @melmelklein @ybicoalition

Episode #76: Uncovering the Truth with Noom, the “Obesity Epidemic” and White Feminism with Virginia Sole-Smith

Virginia Sole-Smith woke up to the impact of diet culture when her daughter had a significant health crisis that drove her to not eat when she was 2 months old because she didn’t feel safe. This was the catalyst for Virginia to examine her own relationship with food and to decide that she needed to make food joyful and her home a safe space for her family. 

On the podcast, Virginia and I discussed what it’s like to not believe we’re dieting, but are.  Virginia talked about the Noom app, which is essentially a diet for smart people in different packaging. She wrote an informative and insightful article here.

We talked about the so-called obesity epidemic and how the Body Mass Index, politics and the pharmaceutical industry have played a pivotal role in how we look at obesity. And we talked about white feminism and its origins with equal pay and abortion rights. 

Connect with Virginia on Instagram and Twitter @v_solesmith

Virginia Sole-Smith is the author of The Eating Instinct: Food Culture, Body Image and Guilt in America and the forthcoming Fat Kid Phobia.

Check out Burnt Toast, which explores questions (and some answers) around diet culture, fatphobia, health and parenting.

Episode #72: Surviving and Thriving Despite Weight Stigma with Krista Handfield

Krista Handfield, LICSW is a health equity and justice-oriented social worker rooted in Health At Every Size.

On the podcast, Krista shares why everyone is impacted by weight stigma, and how important it is to understand the poor health outcomes that folks in larger bodies experience because of this form of oppression.

She shares the importance of living with the body we have, instead of putting our life on hold for the body we’re told we should have.

We also talked about why breaking up with exercise may be a necessary step in healing because for some it’s been a form of punishment for living in a larger body.

Krista shares where we typically experience weight stigma, among our family, in health systems and in schools. 

Learn more about Krista and the work she’s doing at SHAPE. https://www.shapecenterri.com/