Fat Kinship

Fat Kinship examines the transformative power of self-selected relationships among fat people, exploring how fatness intersects with identity, intimacy, and community to challenge societal stigma and foster belonging. Through diverse pieces, the book highlights the resilience and solidarity found in fat-positive connections across personal, cultural, and political landscapes.

The chapters in this volume examine how fatness intersects with race, gender, sexuality, and disability to shape experiences of intimacy, community, and selfhood. Through essays spanning topics such as fat-forward sexuality, fat representation in media, and the unique dynamics of fat therapist-client relationships, contributors illuminate the complexities and possibilities of self-selected kinship as a form of resistance and resilience. Drawing on critical race theory, queer theory, and fat studies, Fat Kinship underscores the importance of relationships that nurture and affirm fat identities in the face of societal stigma. From romantic fiction to digital spaces, the book reveals how fat communities reimagine intimacy and belonging, fostering solidarity and healing.

This book is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the radical potential of human connection in defiance of a world that often devalues fat bodies. It was originally published as a special issue of Fat Studies.

Cindy Baker - Canadian artist Cindy Baker’s interdisciplinary, research-based practice engages with queer, gender, race, disability, fat, and art discourses. She has exhibited internationally, co-founded important advocacy organizations, and received awards for her community-driven work, including the Body Confidence Canada Award and South Asian Visual Arts Collective’s Collaborator of the Year Award.