The Fat Experience Project

Ok, I know I'm late posting this, but yesterday (when I got this email) was a pisser of a day and I had all I could do to just get things done around the house after dealing with DH's blood sugar tanking at 2 a.m. (if you don't like dealing with drunks, you wouldn't like dealing with someone who's hypo, trust me on this one). Then we had to get up at 5:30 so we could do a 45 minute drive to his doctor's appt at the VA (one of the reasons he went low, it was a 12-hour fasting lab work appt, along with seeing his doctor for his twice-a-year check-up). Then a 45 minute drive home again and he was off to work the rest of the day (I got to do the dishes and clean the cat box and figure out what we were going to have for supper, no time for a nap). But anyway, better late than never, I suppose. Check it out, looks like an awesome project to me (and others have said it better than I could anyway, I'm sure y'all have read what they have to say already).

Hi there -

I wanted to let you know, in hopes that you might let your audience know,
that I've recently launched a new project that I'm very excited about!

The new project is called "The Fat Experience Project." and you can view
it here:

http://thefatexperience.com

The goal of the Fat Experience Project is to map the global experience of
fat in a way that is human, has a face, a heart, a mind, a body and a
voice. The Fat Experience Project is an oral, visual and written history
project which seeks to be a humanizing force in body image activism. By
collecting and sharing the many and varied stories of individuals of size,
the Fat Experience Project seeks to engage with, educate, empower and
enrich the lives of people of size, our allies and the world at large.

As the project grows, it will be filled with first-person, non-fiction
narratives (in text, video or mp3 format) that speak to the many and
varied aspects of the life lived large. Some of the content will come from
interviews already gathered on an extensive 2-month road trip (with the
lovely Val Garrison) in both audio and video format. Some content will
come from trips on the horizon. Most content will be submitted via the
website by readers such as yourself.

It is my hope that the project will be a community tool to combat
prejudice/stereotype/discrimination as well as to help externalize shame
so it can discussed and dissipated. The things we keep silent about are
the things that do us the most harm. Shared burden is lighter. I am
hoping, as well, that the project may eventually be used as a humanizing
resource for fat studies and social anthropology courses.

I am writing to ask for your help in both the promotion of and the
participation in this project. It is my fondest hope that, ultimately,
with time and resources, this project will grow beyond a specific and
exclusive fat focus and move toward addressing the many intersections of
shame.

In the meantime, I would love your help in the form of passing this along
to your readers/mailing lists/friends/family/anyone you feel may benefit
from hearing about this project.

I also welcome comments, constructive criticism and volunteers.

Thanks for your time and energy!
Big BIG love,

Stacy Bias
http://thefatexperience.com
http://www.stacybias.net