Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls: A Handbook for Unapologetic Living

by Jes Baker

Overview

Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls is a manifesto and call to arms for women of all sizes and ages. With smart and spirited eloquence, veteran blogger Jes Baker calls on women to be proud of their bodies, fight against fat-shaming, and embrace a body-positive worldview to change public perceptions and help women maintain mental health.

With the same straightforward tone that catapulted her to national attention when she wrote a public letter addressing the sexist comments of Abercrombie & Fitch's CEO, Jes shares personal experiences along with in-depth research in a way that is approachable, digestible, and empowering. Featuring notable guest authors, Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls is an invitation for all women to reject fat prejudice, learn to love their bodies, and join the most progressive, and life-changing revolution there is: the movement to change the world by loving their bodies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580055826
Publisher:	Basic Books
Publication date:	10/27/2015
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	237,613
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Jes Baker is a positive, progressive, and magnificently irreverent force to be reckoned with in the realm of self-love advocacy and mental health. She believes in the importance of body autonomy, TYPING IN ALL CAPS, strong coffee, and even stronger language.

Jes is internationally recognized for her writing on her blog, The Militant Baker and for the "Attractive and Fat" campaign. Her extensive body advocacy work has continued to garner attention from hundreds of national and international media networks.

When not blogging, Jes spends her time speaking at universities, taking pictures in her underwear, writing for online publications, working with plus size clothing companies, attempting to convince her cats that they like to wear bow ties and trying to beat her best time when playing The Quiet Game. Jes's record is currently a respectable 15 seconds.

Learn more about Jes at TheMilitantBaker.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

1 What, in the World Is Body Lore, and Why Does It Matter? 9

2 Start Now, GODDAMNIT: Wailing Doesn't Work 18

Guest essay Virgie Tovar 25

3 You Hate Your Body Because Don Draper Told You To: Throw Some Shade at History 28

Guest essay Sonya Renee Taylor 43

4 If You're Happy and You Know It, Cut in Line: Fat Hate Isn't Your Problem 47

Guest essay Andrew Walen 61

5 Fat and Health: Rethink That Shit 64

Guest essay Jen McLellan 82

6 Selfies Aren't Selfish: Narcissism Is Good for You 86

7 Change Your Tumblr, Change Your Life: Diversify Your Media Feed 105

Guest essay Shanna Katz Kattari 116

8 100% of Humans Have Brains: Mental Health Support Is for Everyone 121

Guest essay Kimberly A. Peace, MSW 140

9 Watch Your Language: Words Mailer 144

Guest essay Sam Dylan Finch 166

10 "Fatshion" Is a Form of Political Resistance: Wear What Scares You 170

Guest essay Bruce Sturgell 187

11 Affirmations Aren't Just for People Who Love Sedona: You Can Rewire Your Brain 190

12 Fat Girls Find Love Too: Yes, That Includes You 197

Guest essay Chrystal Bougon 213

13 Loving Your Body Will Change the World 217

Resources 223

Notes 232

Acknowledgments 241

Editorial Reviews

09/07/2015
The first thing readers of this stirring manifesto will notice is that Baker, a blogger and mental health specialist, is very funny. She is also on a mission. As Baker explains, she wants to help women embrace a body-positive view that doesn’t put other people down for their size, color, or self-presentation. The book builds on Baker’s viral Attractive and Fat campaign, which called out Abercrombie & Fitch for fat shaming. Baker recommends websites, blogs, books, and hotlines for anyone—of any gender—who’s intent on living without self-loathing despite the social pressures around body image. Her message is powerful, particularly her suggestions of things “fat people” should insist on doing that others often tell them they can’t (e.g., sitting in a booth, riding a bike, wearing a bikini). Equally strong are the essays from guest authors, including “Body Love and Disabilities: Intersections of Identity” by Shanna Katz Kattari and “The Case for Male Fatshion” by Bruce Sturgell. Readers will be challenged and empowered by Baker’s ideas, inspired by her quest to promote body positivity, and entertained by her candid, witty storytelling. Agent: Sharon Bowers, Miller Bowers Griffin. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

"If only Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls were my bible 25 years ago, it would have surely saved me years of hating my body. This book is a must read for girls and women of all ages and sizes. I believe this book has to power to change the trajectory of self-loathing for countless females. Bless you, Jes Baker."
—Ricki Lake

"The first thing readers of this stirring manifesto will notice is that Baker, a blogger and mental health specialist, is very funny. She is also on a mission. As Baker explains, she wants to help women embrace a body-positive view that doesn’t put other people down for their size, color, or self-presentation. The book builds on Baker’s viral Attractive and Fat campaign, which called out Abercrombie & Fitch for fat shaming. Baker recommends websites, blogs, books, and hotlines for anyone—of any gender—who’s intent on living without self-loathing despite the social pressures around body image. Her message is powerful, particularly her suggestions of things 'fat people' should insist on doing that others often tell them they can’t (e.g., sitting in a booth, riding a bike, wearing a bikini). Equally strong are the essays from guest authors, including 'Body Love and Disabilities: Intersections of Identity' by Shanna Katz Kattari and 'The Case for Male Fatshion' by Bruce Sturgell. Readers will be challenged and empowered by Baker’s ideas, inspired by her quest to promote body positivity, and entertained by her candid, witty storytelling."
—Publishers Weekly

“Thank you, Jes Baker. Thank you from my daughter. Thank you from me . . . . Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls is a cultural game changer.”
—Brittany Gibbons, Bestselling Author of Fat Girl Walking

“Fierce. Funny. Factual....Tackles our most deeply held beliefs about our bodies with razor sharp wit and an unapologetic commitment that we all deserve to love these vessels we live in. Bravo for this piece of body liberation!”
—Sonya Renee Taylor, Founder and Radical Executive Officer of The Body is Not an Apology

"Baker has done it all: A fierce, funny, and rocking manifesto that applies solid science to challenge common body myths, exposes cultural health hypocrisies, and stays true to the politics of social justice. Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls will inspire you to find and flaunt your own brand of awesome."
—Linda Bacon, PhD author of HAES® and Body Respect

From the Publisher