Sizeism, Fatphobia, and Violence: What's the Connection?

Oppression and power imbalances are the root of sexual and intimate partner violence. As such, historically marginalized communities are often targeted at higher rates for violence and are frequently met with barriers to access support services. Sizeism and fatphobia are forms of oppression that must be dismantled in order to successfully uproot sexual and intimate partner violence and other forms of power-based violence. This training will explore sizeism and fatphobia, their connection to oppression, and strategies for strengthening inclusive practices that allow everyone, regardless of size, to heal from violence.

Presenter: Sarah Bear, MPH, Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Sarah Bear, MPH (she/her) is the Prevention Director for the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She is responsible for supporting all things prevention at the Coalition and always jumps at a chance to bring prevention into the conversation. With nearly a decade of experience, Sarah has held numerous positions in both intervention and prevention capacities, and has spoken at multiple national conferences, including the National Sexual Assault Conference (2017, 2018, and 2019) and the National Sex Ed Conference (2017 and 2019). She received her Master of Public Health from George Washington University and a Bachelor of the Arts from Albright College in Women & Gender Studies and Digital Media. In her spare time, she enjoys smashing diet culture and lounging with her two black cats while playing video games or reading a book.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Define fatphobia, sizeism, and diet culture, and describe their connection to oppression
• Demonstrate the importance of integrating anti-fatphobic concepts into their practice
• Reflect and assess their own perpetuation of fatphobia and how it influences their treatment of others.

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