The Fat Studies Reader

Acknowledgments

xxvii Acknowledgments We, the editors, would like to thank Marilyn Wann for her leadership in the field of fat studies, and the members of the Fat Studies Listserv for their dedication. In addition , we had an amazing literary agent in Ellen Geiger of the Frances Goldin Literary Agency. We thank our tremendous trio at New York University Press for their enthusiasm about this book project: assistant director and editor-in-chief Eric Zinner, assistant editor Ciara McLaughlin, and managing editor Despina Papazoglou Gimbel. Also special thanks to our ace copyeditor, Nicholas P. Taylor. Both Sheana Director and Josie Leimbach, graduate students in Women’s Studies at San Diego State University , assisted with the editorial work of this book. Sondra is greatly appreciative of the work of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, NoLose, the Council on Size and Weight Discrimination, the International Size Acceptance Association, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the National Organization for Women. Thanks to the following for bravery in the quest to make the world a better place: Larry Brinkin, Claudia Center, Kim Gandy, Mo Kalman , Elizabeth Kristen, Lynn Lieber, Debrenia Madison, and the students of New College of California School of Law. For supporting and inspiring Sondra in so many ways over the years, her profound appreciation goes to: Carole Cullum, Jennifer Portnick , her darling Joe, Nancy Dunbar, Kathy Solovay, and Marilyn Wann. Deep gratitude goes to: Audey, Beth, Charlotte, Chris, Christie, Cian, David, Deva, Dylan, Ed, Elena, Esther, Frances, Giorgio, Jake, Jim, Judy, Julie, Kathy, Ky, Leah, Linda, Mary, Matthew, Max, Nomy, Ora, Pat, Rae, Sabrina, Sharon, Tanisha, and all the LoveTroopers . Also, thanks go to Deb Burgard and Lene Whitley-Putz, who helped vision this project. Most important, this project would not have happened without the influence of Sondra’s mother, Alice Solovay, a superb motivator and an incredible writer who graduated from law school, passed the bar, and turned fifty all in the same year. This book is in memory of Sondra’s father and grandfather, both of whom saw the start, but not the end, of The Fat Studies Reader. EstherwouldliketocredittheFatLipReadersTheatreforamind-alteringperformance in 1983 in Seattle that inspired her to begin research on weight and stigma. The Fat Think Tank of the Bay Area, the ShowMeTheData Listserv, and the FatStudies Listserv provided a supportive background at a time when it was hard to get fat-affirmative research published .Mostofall,shewouldliketothankthefollowingfriendsforinspiringconversations and creative ideas about fat studies: Laura Brown, Deb Burgard, Elana Dykewomon, Judy Freespirit, Nanette Gartrell, Marny Hall, Marcia Hill, Beth Mintz, and Penny Sablove. ...