Creatively Re-Defining Fat: Identification Predicts Strategic Responses to Stigma, Ingroup Attitudes, and Well-Being

Abstract

Antifat stigma is pervasive, often incurring deleterious effects on well-being among fat women. Based on predictions from Social Identity Theory, we examined the relationship between fat group identification, individual and collective responses to stigma, body satisfaction and self-esteem among a community-based sample of fat women. Fat group identification was found to predict collective social change and body affirmation endorsement along with reduced support for individual change through weight loss. Fat identification also predicted a preference for affiliation with other fat people, stronger perceptions of size discrimination, and less antifat prejudice. Implications of creatively redefining fat to affirm self-worth are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• antifat attitudes
• collective coping strategies
• fat stigma
• individual coping strategies
• social identity
• well-being

Notes

1. 1. The term fat is descriptively and non-pejoratively used throughout this article in concordance with similar research (Crandall, 1994) and recommendations from the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (2010). The term fat has been positively reclaimed to describe individuals historically labeled as “overweight” or “obese” as part of the Fat Acceptance Movement that began in the 1960s.

2. 2. The internal consistencies reported for each of the indices computed reflect reliability analyses run on the present study’s sample.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Olivia J. Lindly

Olivia J. Lindly was a student at Reed College at the time of data collection. She has since joined the staff of the School of Medicine at OHSU and is a doctoral student in public health at Oregon State University.

Michelle R. Nario-Redmond

Dr. Michelle R. Nario-Redmond was a visiting professor at Reed College at the time of data collection. She has since joined the faculty of Hiram College.

Jeffrey G. Noel

Dr. Jeffrey G. Noel is a Research Assistant Professor at the Missouri Institute of Mental Health, a center for research, evaluation and policy at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. His research and program evaluation work has focused on substance abuse and HIV prevention, cognitive underpinnings of alcohol use, stigma associated with mental illness and disability, and social identity.