I'm in my first year as a graduate student in the Humanities, and I am very interested in bringing my experiences as a fat woman to bear on my studies. Trouble is, fat appears to remain somewhat a tabboo, even inside the famously liberal walls of academia. I've brought it up in conversation with colleagues and professors a couple of times, and nobody seems to want to touch it with a ten foot pole. So I'm not finding much support for the work that I'd like to be able to do. Without an audience of peers, what is there to do with one's ideas?
I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has any ideas about how I can find support for my interest in studying fat. I am feeling increasingly isolated, and I'd like to be able to change that. If you're an academic or are close to one, do you have any words of encouragement, or can you make any specific suggestions as to how to find support as a fat person interested in promoting dialogue about fat in the academy? If you're not an academic, perhaps you have some commonsense advice to offer?
Your comments are appreciated.
I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has any ideas about how I can find support for my interest in studying fat. I am feeling increasingly isolated, and I'd like to be able to change that. If you're an academic or are close to one, do you have any words of encouragement, or can you make any specific suggestions as to how to find support as a fat person interested in promoting dialogue about fat in the academy? If you're not an academic, perhaps you have some commonsense advice to offer?
Your comments are appreciated.
