First Advisor

Scott Selberg

Date of Award

3-15-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Communication Studies and University Honors

Department

Communication

Language

English

Subjects

Overweight persons -- Social conditions, Overweight persons -- Recreation, Online social networks, Stigma (Social psychology), Psychic trauma, Outdoor recreation

DOI

10.15760/honors.993

Abstract

This paper examines online virtual communities for fat people within outdoor recreation, and how they provide connection, complex agency, and representation for fat bodies in spaces where their bodies are seen as taboo. Furthermore, it will explore the way fat bodies have been historically viewed, the lack of representation of fat bodies in the outdoors and related communities, and the gate-keeping that occurs to those who do not conform to traditional stereotypes of an outdoorsy person. Close examination of two different Instagram accounts that highlight the fat body in the outdoors will reveal three main representational elements that are an integral part of the act of community building: the body, the location, and the caption. Each element works together to create community for fat bodies in the outdoors. The importance of these communities is discussed along with the future of these virtual spaces. These communities matter because they carve room for needed representation for fat bodies in the outdoors and they allow support for community members who seek to take up space in the outdoors. This thesis will explore how these virtual communities are built, what they look like, and the existing circumstances within society that led to their creation.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/35145

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