The critical social issue that this video will examine is fat bias in outdoor, nature-based education. I want to provide a trigger and content warning as some of the ideas and images may trigger some who have experienced repeated discrimination and hatred because of their body.
Throughout this program, there has been an absent voice, that is, the voice of those living in fat bodies. When those who are fat are mentioned in outdoor nature education, it is for the overwhelming reason to have people engage in nature to become a smaller size. This video will explain what weight bias is, how it affects others, and how it can be addressed to prevent long-lasting damage from continuing to occur against those who embody a fat body.
You will hear many terms such as plus-sized, obesity, fat, and overweight. These terms are evident within the research, and the term fat is beginning to be reclaimed by those who are fat to remove the shame long associated with this word and reclaim it as the adjective is neither good nor bad.
I want to thank the 35 folks that reached out to me to share their stories. There was significant overlap within their experiences, yet each person was unique and deeply affected by the fatphobic bias within weight stigma. Of the 35 people who told their stories, 31 were female, two males and 2 non-binary folks. I truly appreciate their trust and willingness to be vulnerable and share their experiences.
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