Voices of Women Who Have Overcome Internalized Weight Bias Through Transformative Learning

Tingle, Elizabeth Low

Voices of Women Who Have Overcome Internalized Weight Bias Through Transformative Learning

dc.contributor.advisor	Groen, Janet Elizabeth
dc.contributor.author	Tingle, Elizabeth Low
dc.contributor.committeemember	Simmons, Marlon
dc.contributor.committeemember	Russell-Mayhew, Shelly K.
dc.date	2020-11
dc.date.accessioned	2020-06-16T22:59:42Z
dc.date.available	2020-06-16T22:59:42Z
dc.date.issued	2020-06-13
dc.description.abstract	This narrative inquiry seeks to understand potential solutions to the problem of internalized weight bias, which has negative repercussions for both physical and psychological well-being. As weight bias is learned, various learning theories can help explain how an individual may come to internalize weight bias. The theory of transformative learning from the adult learning field is a helpful framework for appreciating how someone can challenge and reject learned beliefs and biases. This study explores how one can change from experiencing internalized weight bias to instead embody size acceptance. Six women who identified as having rejected diet culture after once worrying about weight were invited to share their body stories. In keeping with the life history approach to narrative inquiry, participants were encouraged to recall significant moments from throughout their life, in multiple contexts, to understand their journey from weight concern to size acceptance. Participants shared how weight bias was learned incrementally, often in small comments overheard in family and peer contexts. During puberty, these implicit lessons on weight bias became personalized and activated. Eventually, the accumulated harms and frustrations of weight control prompted my research partners to embark on various transformative learning journeys to challenge their beliefs on weight and reframe the purpose of their bodies. These women slowly learned to relate to their bodies differently through multiple domains of learning, and expect continual engagement in this counter-cultural work. Their empowering stories speak to the dramatic and positive impact transformative learning can have in adult lives and have implications for those seeking to help others reduce internalized weight bias and prevent its dissemination to future generations.	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Tingle, E. L. (2020). Voices of Women Who Have Overcome Internalized Weight Bias Through Transformative Learning (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.	en_US
dc.identifier.doi	http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/37933
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/1880/112199
dc.language.iso	eng	en_US
dc.publisher.faculty	Werklund School of Education	en_US
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary	en
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.	en_US
dc.subject	weight bias	en_US
dc.subject	weight bias internalization	en_US
dc.subject	size acceptance	en_US
dc.subject	transformative learning	en_US
dc.subject	narrative inquiry	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Education--Adult and Continuing	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Education--Health	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Education--Sociology of	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Public Health	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Psychology--Social	en_US
dc.title	Voices of Women Who Have Overcome Internalized Weight Bias Through Transformative Learning	en_US
dc.type	master thesis	en_US
thesis.degree.discipline	Education Graduate Program – Educational Research	en_US
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary	en_US
thesis.degree.name	Master of Arts (MA)	en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopy	true	en_US