Fat Studies and Body Politics

Catalog description

The purpose of this course is to explore the social construction, medicalization, and pathologization of fat in the United States. Fat is examined as a social justice issue that intersects with race, class, gender, sexuality, and ability status. This course explores the body politics behind attempts to redefine fat identity, including body positive and fat positive movements. This course also examines fat activism as a means of addressing fatphobia and size discrimination. Emphasis is placed on the use of historical and empirical evidence to evaluate common myths about fat bodies. Prerequisite: one of the following: CRIM 115 , RGS/ SOC 105 , SOC 110 , SOC 120 , RGS/ SOC 150 , ANT 103 , ANT 195 , PSY 100 , or RGS 100 . Offered Occasionally.