Fighting Fatphobia and Embracing ‘Unshrinking’: The Ms. Q&A With Kate Manne

We live in a society obsessed with fatness. Or, perhaps more accurately, obsessed with fighting it.  Fatness has been rendered a disease, and we are inundated with “cures,” which particularly haunt women’s bodies—and their wallets.

Questioning the devotion to anti-fatness usually prompts a “well, being fat is unhealthy!” But according to Kate Manne, feminist philosopher and author of the recently released Unshrinking: How to Face Fatphobia, the connection between weight and health is not so clear cut. What is clear, Manne brilliantly reveals, is that fatphobia, not fatness, is the problem.

Dismantling the Patriarchy in Technicolor

“I opened Girls Garage as a physical space where all girls, especially girls of color, would feel safe and inspired to exercise their personal voice and power. The fact that a space like this exists is in and of itself, a political statement, and the creativity that comes out of it naturally represents our hope, anger and identities.”

Make Some Love: Sexperts on Staying Safe During COVID-19

A global pandemic puts a serious wrench in the plans of any feminist seeking an active sex life. Luckily, there are concrete steps that can be taken to increase safety, without sacrifice. Just in time for our first COVID-era Valentine’s Day, Ms.’s Roxy Szal spoke with three sexperts— Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, Dr. Megan Stubbs and Vanessa Geffrard —about pleasure, self-love and self-care during the pandemic and beyond.