Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression, & Ethical Statements
“Guilt is not a response to anger; it is a response to one’s own actions or lack of action. If it leads to change then it can be useful, since it is then no longer guilt but the beginning of knowledge.
Yet all too often, guilt is just another name for impotence, for defensiveness destructive of communication; it becomes a device to protect ignorance and the continuation of things the way they are, the ultimate protection for changelessness.”
Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression Commitment
My journey in understanding the systemic oppression of marginalized people/bodies in the United States and around the world began a decade ago. Like many white people having their glass-shattering moment, I was defensive and angry in an effort to shield myself from confronting the unearned privileges I hold and the guilt that came along with this realization. But through an expanded knowledge and curiosity about the experiences of those different from my own, guilt has since turned to humility, self-reflection, and attempts to understand others’ experiences, which I know is a lifelong commitment and never-ending journey.
While the bulk of my work centers around fat liberation and combatting fatphobia in our diet-centric culture, I recognize that this is only a very small piece of the puzzle and ending all oppression outright is important for liberation to be truly achieved. More than that, liberation in general is dependent on the liberation of Black bodies specifically. As such, I am committed to examining my practices, both personally and professionally, to recognize my privilege, unlearn the engrained lessons of white supremacy and work toward stopping its perpetuation, learn from and amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color speaking out against oppression, and take personal steps to achieve liberation for all.
I recognize I have A LOT of privilege. I am a straight, white, cis-gendered, able-bodied, straight-sized, middle-class woman with a Master’s level education. I am aware of the myriad of unearned privileges that come with these identities and I am constantly challenging my perspective. I am committed to divesting from white supremacy and diet culture as these structures are exploitative at best and deadly at worst.
With eyes now open, I can no longer be a bystander that supports this system of violence through inaction.
I am committed to anti-racism and anti-oppression work and will do this through:
Continued education about the history of oppressed people in the United States and around the world.
My education about the real history of the United States began when I was assigned a book my Multicultural Competency class in graduate school: A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America by Ronald Takaki. While I had a cursory knowledge of the atrocities committed in the name of America, this book painted a vivid picture that left me with heartache chapter after chapter. This led to an avalanche of books added to my reading list, which I am slowly working my way through. See my reading list here.
In May 2020, I began working with Be Nourished, a Portland, Oregon-based organization, to earn a Body Trust® Certification that focuses on problematic eating and healing a difficult relationship to one’s body from a social justice lens. The focus of this training has largely centered on fat liberation, but the curriculum is increasingly recognizing the importance of Black feminist theory in liberatory movements. I plan to finish this certification in 2021.
Beginning in 2021, I will engage in the year-long Freedom School curriculum offered through The Adaway Group to further enhance the book knowledge mentioned above. This is a program with readings and monthly conversations between participants and facilitators intended to take a deep dive into exploring, navigating, and understanding the social and political landscape and ways to become involved in social movements from a Black feminist perspective.
Working toward incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusivity into my business practices and personal life.
Engage in one-on-one coaching with a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) expert intended to ensure policies and practices both within my business and in my personal life are consistent with my values and the objectives of liberatory movements.
Support and partner with local, minority-owned businesses: healthcare providers, coaches, fitness trainers, restaurants, etc.
Support liberatory activist groups through volunteering, financial contributions, and working with those advocating for reparations.
Divest from institutions that are actively harming communities of color through exploitative practices.
Ethical Statement
I help untangle the very sticky, pervasive web of diet culture that has deeply harmed society’s perception of food and bodies. I work to liberate people from the oppressive beliefs and actions of diet culture and white supremacy.
I believe in self-reverence.
Healing happens when we return to ourselves and learn to no longer distract from what is happening around us. I aim to validate difficult experiences and cultivate restorative, healing practices.
I believe in security.
Everyone has the right to feel safe, whether it is physically, emotionally, spiritually, or financially. I aim to create a transparent and predictable environment that allows clients the security to embark on their healing journey.
I believe in strong communities.
We are all interconnected and individuals thrive when supported in their communities. I aim to foster a community that takes care of each and every member, whether or not we know each other, because everyone thrives in a supportive community.
I believe in liberation.
Autonomy is essential to living free of external, oppressive forces that go against our best interest and those of the common good. I aim to provide an honest, trusting environment for clients to make their own decisions based on their needs and those of their community.