On allyship and my role as a thin, white provider
When it comes to allyship, what does actual change look like?
I have personally benefitted from the Health at Every Size® framework, and seen it change the lives of so many of my clients, in all sized bodies. But, that is not in the least bit the point here; as a thin, white, cis woman, my voice is far from the most important one.
If you aren't aware, Health at Every Size (HAES)® is a radical self-care framework that shifts the way we care for ourselves and others from the stigmatizing and damaging weight centric model, to one that offers truly improved quality of life, especially for people in larger bodies. HAES® is trademarked by the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH), and was developed over many years by fat activists. Its benefits to mental and physical well-being are supported by research, in part by one particular researcher named Lindo Bacon.
Here is where I step back. Your next steps are to read the interactions between fat liberation researcher Marquisele (Mikey) Mercedes, a fat black woman and Lindo Bacon, a thin white non-binary person.
Now go read the response from ASDAH.
Truly I don’t feel like I have a place to contribute further to this conversation besides to say that I am disgusted with the way that Lindo, someone who is supposed to be building up the fat liberation movement with their work, is in every way tearing it down. It is a disgusting display of performative allyship, that I am unfortunately not at all surprised to see. As an empath who feels DEEPLY, it is hard for me to comprehend such blatant disregard for the voices of marginalized folks. It makes me very, very angry.
This is an issue I have seen play out in academia many times. It’s probably a reason I decided to stick to clinical work and not go into research, despite my interest. As a graduate student in the School of Public Health at UNC Chapel Hill, I saw over and over again how thin, white health researchers displayed airs of empathy and compassion that were in reality virtue signaling that acted as a guise for their grasps at clout and power. I saw how my BIPOC classmates tried over and over again to have discussions of the impact of racism integrated into the public health curriculum be completely dismissed. I saw how easy it was for my voice to be heard when I helped lead a training on HAES® with another thin, white dietitian. The disparity there is unjust.
So, let me propose something here in answer to my original question: When it comes to allyship, what does actual change look like?
It looks like me, a thin, white provider not staying silent for one. This blog post is probably a full week late, and I apologize for my late response. “Busy” is no excuse when the community I claim to be an ally to is asking for support.
It looks like me truly LISTENING to my fat and BIPOC friends, patients and colleagues.
It looks like me accepting feedback graciously, and making real changes.
It looks like me stepping back and letting the voices of my fat colleagues take the spotlight.
It looks like me holding accountable and educating other thin, white providers.
It looks like me putting my time and money where my mouth is, and investing in anti racist, fat liberation work in any way I can.
Some ways you can do this if you’d so like to:
If you’d like to continue this conversation with me personally in any way, you are welcome to comment below, or send me an email through the contact form on this website.