AR-News: Fat Oppression and Animal Rights

[Animal Voices]

***Animal Voices, Toronto’s only animal rights/liberation radio program, airs live every Tuesday 11 am –12 pm EST at CIUT 89.5 FM or www.ciut.fm. Tune in for a weekly update and editorial on animal-related news, as well as engaging interviews with activists and academics.***

This week’s Animal Voices will look at fat oppression and animal rights.  The animal rights movement has at times attempted to promote vegetarianism and veganism on the basis of losing weight and becoming healthy.  The strategy closely ties health with weight, and often denies the possibility that one could both be fat and healthy.  Some vegetarians and vegans who are committed to animal rights and who would be considered fat by mainstream society have felt frustrated by this association. So have their allies.  It is often assumed that someone who is fat could not be vegetarian or vegan, and therefore the visibility and legitimacy of these activists is obscured.  The promotion of veganism on the basis of losing weight occurs within a larger cultural context that vilifies fat and associates fat with negative qualities. This approach does not challenge cultural assumptions about what bodies are acceptable and beautiful, and does not celebrate those who do not fit within the ideal mould. Within our society, fat people continue to be acceptable targets of public scrutiny and disapproval.  

Is it ever okay to oppress humans to advocate for animals? Are pro-vegetarian campaigns fat phobic?

Tune in this week 11am-12pm EST on CIUT 89.5 FM for a conversation about these ideas with Lamia, veteran fat activist and vegan.  Lamia writes, “With a deep commitment to challenge oppression in all of its forms, I have been involved in active resistance for most of my life.  I believe in beauty, passion, true justice, and the power of one which is the power of many.” 

Hope you can join us!