Campus Rec is a leader in college campuses nationwide for fat positive programming and size inclusion. As a staff member, you are a part of this work. There are two primary ways Campus Rec is working to foster size inclusion: challenging individual anti-fat bias, and creating fat positive programming and spaces.
Challenge anti-fat bias
As an employee of Campus Rec, you are on the frontline of helping us create a fat positive environment in the Rec Center. Still, anti-fat bias is pervasive. Even when we have a desire to be inclusive, many of us will still experience this unwanted prejudice. This is a normal part of dismantling our biases - don’t hide from your own mind, instead confront your own biases head on. When you are working and with friends, begin to use weight-neutral language. Focus on holistic wellbeing and prioritize fun, both of these foster a more size inclusive environment and support all patrons. If you are ready to take it a step further, begin to notice and then challenge the assumptions you make when observing a fat patron in the Rec Center. This is the first step in addressing internal anti-fat bias that we all have as a byproduct of the society we live in. You have the power to make a difference!
Fat positive programming and facilities
Many of the facilities and programs at Campus Rec are already fat positive if you are looking at it with an inclusive mindset. The outdoor activity space is important to consider in the fat positive movement as it often has built in barriers (lack of representation, equipment size, weight stigma/anti-fat bias, etc.) that make it inaccessible and/or unsafe for fat participants. Campus Rec’s Fat Positive Climb Night is one example of taking an outdoor activity that may feel inaccessible for fat people and making it welcoming and inclusive.
Regardless of your size, walking into a climbing gym for the first time can be nerve wracking. It’s a new environment, and there can be lots of different interactions and expectations. It can feel really vulnerable to try something new that has a lot of technical language surrounding it. Here is a list of ways that climbing can be made accessible and welcoming.
- Campus Rec provides a video overview of the gym that is required to participate. This helps people see the climbing space before even walking in the door which can reduce anxiety about starting.
- Campus Rec provides all the gear you need: shoes and harnesses for all sizes (XS-3X)
- The climbing center staff are friendly and available to support all patrons who enter the space. Everyone and every body type is welcome and celebrated for their abilities in this space. The staff are trained to help any ability level.
- Patrons are encouraged to show up in this space in any way, wearing whatever feels comfortable, which could include a chest binder, fun socks, or sweatpants.
- There is never pressure to climb the set routes and problems on the wall; climbing for fun is encouraged.
- The climbing center hosts belay classes to help build comfort and skills for top rope climbing. They also host community events, like BIPOC, Womens+, and Queer Climb Night. These events usually begin with introductions and an overview of the space and climbing tips.
As you can see, most of the elements of a fat-positive climbing experience are the same things we do to make any of our spaces welcoming and inclusive for patrons. Most activities can be made fat positive with the right guidance and resources.
The fat positive movement takes all kinds of forms. Fat positive yoga, dance classes, hiking, biking, running groups, and more exist across the country. Campus Rec is excited to be part of this work and has created a list of fat positive IG accounts and other resources from people doing fat positive movement work that aligns with our size inclusive values. If you’d like to learn more or increase fat representation in your social media feeds, consider following some of them!