Fat Studies in Canada: (Re)Mapping the Field

This compelling collection captures multidimensional experiences of being fat in Canada.

Edited by Allison Taylor, Kelsey Ioannoni, Ramanpreet Annie Bahra, Calla Evans, Amanda Scriver, & May Friedman

Fat Studies in Canada: (Re)Mapping the Field re-envisions what it means to be fat in the colonial project known as Canada, exploring the unique ways that fat studies theorists, academics, artists, and activists are troubling and thickening existing fat studies literature. Weaving together academic articles and alternative forms of narration, including visual art and poetry, this edited collection captures multidimensional experiences of being fat in Canada. Together, the chapters explore the subject of fat oppression as it acts upon individuals and collectives, unpacking how fat bodies at various intersections of gender, sexuality, racialization, disability, neurodivergence, and other axes of embodiment have been understood, both historically and within contemporary Canada. Taking a critical approach to dominant framings of fatness, particularly those linked to an "obesity epidemic," Fat Studies in Canada aims to interrogate and dismantle systemic fat oppression by (re)centering and (re)valuing fat voices and epistemologies. Ultimately, the volume introduces new ways of celebrating fatness and fat life in Northern Turtle Island.

"This is an excellent and timely collection of essays and artwork exploring and (re)mapping the field of Fat Studies in Canada. It was an honour to engage with these critical works. The multiple points of knowledge contribution from creative to traditional academic essay compliments this growing field. The weight of these various kinds of contributions make for an incredibly insightful read."--Allyson Mitchell, Artist, Professor of Gender Studies, and Founder of Pretty Porky and Pissed Off

"These chapters weave a tapestry of theoretical, personal, and embodied responses to the provocation of what it means to be fat in Canada. Most (perhaps all) of the contributions could stand alone as articles or poems; together, they generate an intensity of thought and feeling that I've rarely observed in volumes of this kind. This volume stands to make a critical contribution across teaching and learning contexts, as well as to kickstart further theorizing around fatness, particularly situated, localized, and intersectional experiences of fatness. I find myself writing these general thoughts with mostly a round of applause running through my head as I meditate on the words so generously offered herein."--Andrea LaMarre, PhD

Literary Nonfiction. Essays. Poetry. LGBTQ+ Studies. Women's Studies.

Allison Taylor, PhD, is a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at ReVision: The Centre for Art and Social Justice. Her research interests include fat studies, critical disability studies, queer theory, and critical femininities.

Kelsey Ioannoni, Ph.D., is a fat solo mom whose research focuses on the power dynamics between primary care physicians and patients (fat women), and how their conceptualizations of health ? based on BMI ? negatively affects the lives of fat Canadian women.

Ramanpreet Annie Bahra is an intersectional South Asian fat femme PhD (Sociology) student at York University. She explores the discourse of the body, affect and embodiment from a fat studies and critical disability lens.

Calla Evans (she/her) is a PhD student in Communication and Culture at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her research explores visual social media platforms, embodied identity performance and fat activism.

Amanda (Ama) Scriver is a freelance journalist and social media strategist. She is best known for being fat, loud, and shouty on the internet.

May Friedman is a faculty member at Toronto Metropolitan University. Much of May?s work explores issues of fat activism and weight stigma in many different settings.