Fat Talk

Women have unintentionally become their own worst enemies through their engagement in “fat talk”—critical dialogue about one’s own physical appearance, and “body snarking” or criticism towards other women’s bodies. Not only does this harsh judgment pervade our psyches and societies, it also contributes to the glass ceiling in a variety of professions, including politics representing feminist activism. This book reviews and analyzes the origins and effects of fat talk and body snarking, and provides potential solutions that include evidence-based personal therapies and community interventions.

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Denise Martz is a clinical health psychologist in the Kulynych/Cline Distinguished Professorship at Appalachian State University. She has been publishing her scientific work on fat talk with colleagues and students for the past twelve years. She also has a small private practice in her community.

Denise Martz

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 204
Bibliographic Info: bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2019
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7304-2
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3584-2
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Preface 1
1. The Evolution of Fat Talk 9
2. The Culture of Fat Talk 30
3. When Fat Talk Got a Name 52
4. What Are the Known Consequences of Fat Talk? 60
5. Who Are the Fat Talkers? 65
6. Invasion of Body Snarking: Our Culture, Healthcare, and Feminist Politics 85
7. “Other Women Like Fat Talk, But I Don’t!” 115
8. Feminism and the Personal Effects of Fat Talk 126
9. Feminism Targeting the Feminine Enemies in Our Culture 153
Bibliography 175
Index 195

“Martz has written an engaging exploration into the inner and outer conversations women have about their bodies and physical appearance…. This book is an important read for women, as it discusses how and why we tear ourselves, and each other, down when it comes to our bodies. The author makes a case for the damaging effects of fat talk and body snarking in the hopes that readers will recognize when they are engaging in these conversations so that they can make an active decision to change the dialogue into something productive and positive…recommended”—Choice

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