Emily Marshall
Body Liberation Books
Are you interested in improving your body image and changing how you think about health? Are you wanting to challenge and unlearn any implicit bias you have to help make our world a more equitable place? Are you also hoping to learn more about body liberation and fat positivity?
I’ve learned that doing this is an ongoing practice. One of the ways we can do this is by learning from and listening to the voices and experiences of people with marginalized identities.
I’m happy to share with you the books I’ve been learning from as part of a series I’m calling book roundup. The authors of the books I’m sharing will be individuals with marginalized identities- Fat, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA and Disabled People. The movements of Health at Every Size® and Body Liberation were originally created by and for people with marginalized identities. As these movements gain momentum and recognition, it’s important that their voices are centered and deferred to.
Photo above is by Tom Hermans on Unsplash
by Aubrey Gordon
An excellent read for debunking deeply held beliefs surrounding being fat. Aubrey weaves together personal anecdotes of experiencing fatphobia, a breakdown of the research behind weight and health and commentary on social and cultural cases that influence behavior and attitudes. Available in audiobook.
by Sophie Hagen
Sofie is a standup comedian and fat activist. She shares her personal experiences of living in a fat body and how she changed the way she felt about her body. Her personality shines through in this book and it's an enjoyable read. I appreciated that she interviewed other individuals in the book to share more perspectives. Available in audiobook.
by Mariana den Hollander
Mariana set out to write this book to not only discuss her personal experience with having 2 bariatric surgeries, but also to share important information regarding the long term consequences of having weight loss surgery- something that is lacking in the scientific literature. Those who are considering weight loss surgery may want to read this book to help receive informed consent regarding all the short and long term effects. Those who have undergone weight loss surgery may find this book to be validating and insightful.
by Mikki Kendall
When we think about health, we must think about how Race intersects with gender, poverty, education, sexual orientation, ability and more. Mikki discusses how food insecurity, racism, domestic violence, access to education and more impact the health and well-being of Women of Color. Part of her book is centered around how eating disorders are not commonly discussed or treated among Black women and that disordered eating develops as a way to cope with trauma. To be a feminist is to focus on the needs of all women and people, not just the needs of a few. Available in audiobook.
by Lexie and Lindsay Kite
Body image researchers and twins, Lexi and Lindsay, have a unique perspective on female body image. Their work that centers on the truth that positive body image isn’t believing your body looks good, it’s knowing your body is good, regardless of how it looks. In the book they share personal antidotes about growing up as twins and always having their body's compared, the research they conducted to better understand how women and young girls view their body and a commentary on the effects of living in a body-obsessed society. Read this book for yourself and for the women and young girls in your life. Available in audiobook.
