UCLA Racism and Colorism in The Beauty Industry Discussion

Today’s Lively Conversation is on racism and colorism in the beauty industry and on fat-shaming and discrimination against fat people, especially fat women.

Five of these six readings aim to correct the common misperception that being smaller and skinnier means that someone is healthier. These readings are written by fat activists, people who are not just “body positive” (Links to an external site.) but who are part of a social justice movement aimed at ending anti-fat discrimination and promoting the idea of Health At Every Size) (Links to an external site.).

You’re writing about:

• Maisha Johnson, “10 Ways the Beauty Industry Tells You Being Beautiful Means Being White (Links to an external site.)
• Lesley Kinzel, “What’s Wrong with Fat-Shaming?” (Links to an external site.) (2012)
• Melissa Fabello and Dr. Lindo Bacon, “11 Reasons Your ‘Concern’ for Fat People’s Health Isn’t Helping Anyone” (Links to an external site.) (2017)
• CHOOSE ONE:
  • Virgie Tovar, “I Fight for This Fat Brown Feminine Body (Links to an external site.)” (2018)
  • Virgie Tovar, “Fat Liberation Isn’t About Whether Fat People Are Healthy” (Links to an external site.) (2018)
  • Michael Hobbes, “Everything You Know About Obesity Is Wrong”

For a deeper dive into this topic, I highly recommend Lindo Bacon’s new book, Radical Belonging (Links to an external site.), which I am currently reading. It’s about the intersections of fat activism, trans justice, and health.