Fat Girls in Black Bodies: Creating a New Space of Belonging

(Paperback)

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Combatting fatphobia and racism to reclaim a space of belonging at the intersection of fat, Black, and female. Even if Black bodies were thin bodies, we'd still be considered ugly and unacceptable. Even if we were slender, we'd be criticized about our wide hips, noses, and lips. Our fatness exacerbates America's already anxious views against race and further demonizes our existence by relegating our roles in society. We're good enough to be mammies, but never to have a family of our own. We can work in the office, but never as the receptionist. We can be the girlfriend...in the dark...that no one sees. Ever. To live in a body at the intersection of fat, Black, and female is to be on the margins. From concern-trolling--"I just want you to be healthy"--to outright attacks, fat Black bodies that fall outside dominant constructs of beauty and wellness are subjected to healthism, racism, and misogynoir. The spaces carved out by third-wave feminism and the fat liberation movement fail at true inclusivity and intersectionality; fat Black women need to create their own safe spaces and community, instead of tirelessly giving labor to educate, chastise, and strive against dominant groups. Structured into three sections--"belonging," "resistance," and "acceptance"--and informed by personal history, community stories, and deep research, Fat Girls in Black Bodies breaks down the myths, stereotypes, tropes, and outright lies we've been sold about race, body size, belonging, and health. Cox's razor-sharp cultural commentary exposes the racist roots of diet culture, healthism, and the ways we erroneously conflate body size with personal responsibility. She explores how to reclaim space and create belonging in a hostile world, pushing back against tired pressures of "going along just to get along," and dismantles the institutionally ingrained myths about race, size, gender, and worth that deny fat Black women their selfhood.

Reviews

Fat Girls in Black Bodies is essential reading for anyone interested in body liberation. Weaving together memoir and scholarship, Joy Cox shines a light on the intersecting oppressions faced by fat Black womxn in contemporary culture, and the power of community to help heal the wounds of injustice. Im grateful to have this important book informing my work as a Health at Every Size healthcare provider and activist.
Christy Harrison, MPH, RD, CDN, author of Anti-Diet

For my fat Black sisters who have ever felt invisible or been mistreated by the world, or even your own people, you will find both healing and inspiration in this book. Joy Cox speaks to the complexity of our pain while reminding us of the vastness of our power. By sharing her wisdom, insight, and lived experience, she delivers a compelling charge for fat Black women to reclaim our personal autonomy and actualize social and communal change that will bring about liberation for us all.
Ivy Felicia, The Body Relationship CoachTM, founder of Fat Women of ColorTM

Fat Girls in Black Bodies is a must-read for fat Black girls and those who seek to uplift our humanity in a sizeist, racist, and sexist society. Both a love letter and a call to action, Joy brilliantly weaves together the latest research, pop culture, and personal narratives of some of the most radical fat Black influencers, healers, entrepreneurs, academics, and activists, herself included. I laughed, I cried, and I felt seen. Im honored to be mentioned in this work and cannot wait to share it with the world!
Makia Green, creator of Dear Fat Girls

There is an enduring myth, especially amongst non-Black body positivity advocates, that fat Black women are somehow immune to the impacts of anti-fat stigma. Dr. Joy Cox knows better. Her examination of fatphobia within the Black community, as well as her insights on the cumulative impact of the stress of dealing with that in-community bias while also enduring external judgment on top of racism and sexism, is an important contribution to the dialogue on body liberation. The inclusion of additional voices from her popular podcast adds to the richness of this debut. I look forward to so much more from Dr. Joy.
Tigress Osborn, NAAFA Director of Community Outreach and Co-Founder of PHX Fat Force

Author Bio

DR. JOY COX is a body justice advocate, researcher, and leader who addresses the intersections of race, body size, accessibility, and "health" She earned her master's in interpersonal communication at the University of Missouri-Columbia after completing a thesis on the perceptions of fat women in media and earned her doctorate at Rutgers University after completing her dissertation on the fat liberation movement, identity, and political action. Dr. Cox currently serves as the Chair of Diversity and Inclusion for the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH). She is also the owner and operator of the Black and fat-positive podcast and product-line, both called Fresh Out the Cocoon, and a supportive force behind the scenes for organizations looking to incorporate diversity and inclusion into their practices. Her newest venture, "Jabbie," is an app that seeks to redefine fitness standards and provide users with a weight-neutral platform full of support and inclusivity.