Marilyn Wann
Encyclopedia
Marilyn Wann is an American
author
and an activist in the Fat acceptance movement
. She lives in San Francisco, California
, and identifies herself as a member of the "fat pride" community. “Basically,” she says, “we want to be treated with respect, the same as everyone else.”
At 5'4" and about 285 pounds, she proudly identifies as a fat person. With her magazine Fat!So?, first released in summer of 1994, and the publication of a book of the same name in 1998, she has played a role in trying to convince the public that fat people deserve equal opportunity in society, regardless of size. She has served on the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance
(NAAFA) board; has swum with the Padded Lilies fat synchronized swim team; has performed with Big Moves modern ensemble and its hiphop troupe the Phat Fly Girls; and has done street actions with the Bod Squad fat pride cheerleaders. She promotes the idea that it is possible to be "fat and fit."
Wann attended Stanford University
, earning a bachelor's degree in linguistics and a master's degree in modern thought and literature. As an undergraduate she wrote for the Stanford Daily. About five years after graduation she was roused to activism after being denied health insurance due to her weight. She began to speak up for overweight people and created a "sassy, hard-to-overlook ’zine, which instantly took off."
Wann became a go-to source for opinions on the Fat Liberation movement. She has continued her activism with the creation of items such as the Yay! Scale (gives you compliments instead of a number), speeches at multiple conferences and symposia as well as continued involvement with the online 'fatosphere'. She has appeared on national media like ABC
, CBS
, and CNN
.
Her book Fat!So? Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size
was published in 1999. She writes of inequalities suffered by fat people in health care
and health insurance
, earning potential, and antifat mentality by some companies. The crux of the issue is summed up by the Fat!so? Manifesto:
In 2007, Wann interviewed Leonard Nimoy
of Star Trek fame, about his work in photography of nude fat models. She participated in a lecture series given at the University of Oklahoma
on "Food, Culture & Society" in November 2007. In addition to her scheduled lecture, Marilyn Wann took time to decorate bathroom scales with students in order to promote the idea that one's weight at any size should be celebrated.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and an activist in the Fat acceptance movement
Fat acceptance movement
The fat acceptance movement is an effort to change societal attitudes towards fat, obese, and overweight people.- Background :...
. She lives in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and identifies herself as a member of the "fat pride" community. “Basically,” she says, “we want to be treated with respect, the same as everyone else.”
At 5'4" and about 285 pounds, she proudly identifies as a fat person. With her magazine Fat!So?, first released in summer of 1994, and the publication of a book of the same name in 1998, she has played a role in trying to convince the public that fat people deserve equal opportunity in society, regardless of size. She has served on the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance
National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance
The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is a non-profit civil-rights organization in the US dedicated to improving the quality of life for the obese...
(NAAFA) board; has swum with the Padded Lilies fat synchronized swim team; has performed with Big Moves modern ensemble and its hiphop troupe the Phat Fly Girls; and has done street actions with the Bod Squad fat pride cheerleaders. She promotes the idea that it is possible to be "fat and fit."
Wann attended Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, earning a bachelor's degree in linguistics and a master's degree in modern thought and literature. As an undergraduate she wrote for the Stanford Daily. About five years after graduation she was roused to activism after being denied health insurance due to her weight. She began to speak up for overweight people and created a "sassy, hard-to-overlook ’zine, which instantly took off."
Wann became a go-to source for opinions on the Fat Liberation movement. She has continued her activism with the creation of items such as the Yay! Scale (gives you compliments instead of a number), speeches at multiple conferences and symposia as well as continued involvement with the online 'fatosphere'. She has appeared on national media like ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
.
Her book Fat!So? Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size
FAT!SO?
FAT!SO? is a book by fat activist Marilyn Wann, published in 1999 by Ten Speed Press. It is subtitled Because You Don't Have To Apologize For Your Size!.It followed a web zine of the same name by Wann.The ISBN for this book is 0898159954...
was published in 1999. She writes of inequalities suffered by fat people in health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
and health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
, earning potential, and antifat mentality by some companies. The crux of the issue is summed up by the Fat!so? Manifesto:
So there's nothing wrong with being fat. Just like there's nothing wrong with being short or tall, or black or brown. These are facts of identity that cannot and should not be changed. They are birthright. They're beyond aesthetics. They provide the diversity we need to survive.
In 2007, Wann interviewed Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Simon Nimoy is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series , multiple films, television and video game sequels....
of Star Trek fame, about his work in photography of nude fat models. She participated in a lecture series given at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
on "Food, Culture & Society" in November 2007. In addition to her scheduled lecture, Marilyn Wann took time to decorate bathroom scales with students in order to promote the idea that one's weight at any size should be celebrated.
External links
- http://www.fatso.com/