Fat Bubble: Chaya Milchtein
Hi friends! Welcome to our Fat Bubble, where each week I invite you to settle into a space that priorities fat dignity, fat joy and fat futures.
I've been thinking a lot of fat futures, following my newsletter last week, in which I spoke about the intersection of queerness and fatness, and focused on Jodyann Morgan. I was thinking of another line in this piece by Carlie Pendleton, in which she wrote that both fatness and queerness were are often and usually presented as failure, but also have historically and currently been presented as options without futures. And I've been thinking of how much the phrase 'fat futures' means to me in my activism.
Fat futures is a term I often use to describe our limitless potential. Personally, it stems largely from my favourite Virgie Tovar quote:
'In the dreams I have of my future, I am fat'
For me, dreaming fat futures means allowing myself to imagine everything I want for myself and my future, in the body I have right now. That, in my fantasies and aspirations, I look like me, and I don't have to wait to lose weight before I am allowed to dream of exciting futures. It's a special concept to me, because I see so often how fat people are held back from enjoying a rich fantasy life for themselves, because they have been taught that any future accomplishments will only be possible if they divert through intentional weight loss first.
In my more sobering and darker thoughts, I'm reminded of fat futures, and queer futures, as also being rooted in survival, and how under threat and at risk those with marginalised identities are under capitalism (white supremacist, heteronormative, anti-fat, anti-trans, anti-SW, genocidal capitalism). Of how these forces are deadly, reinforced in a multitude of harmful ways, and perpetuated endlessly. Survival, and thriving, is resistance.
I will, for example, never ever forget this grave marker in Palestine. Over the grave, the marker reads, 'the martyr is unknown. Fat and tall, wearing a beret and navy blue skirt'. How many fat people in Palestine have been denied their future, as they continue to have a genocide enacted upon them? How many fat people have been denied their names as they become one of the thousands and thousands of dead? Whilst I don't know their names, they rest in my heart and always will.
Since the latest siege of Gaza, from last October, I have sought to centre fat accounts that are actively pro-Palestinian in their worldview and their content, and today is no exception. Palestine is holding up our humanity, and our queerness and our fatness intersects with Palestine every single day:
“Queer' not as being about who you're having sex with (that can be a dimension of it); but 'queer' as being about the self that is at odds with everything around it and that has to invent and create and find a place to speak and to thrive and to live.”
That describes queer sexuality. That describes fatness. That describes Palestine. If you would like to check out the recent archive of pro-Palestinian fatties, do please check out the Substack files.
Today, my focus is connected to my focus on Jodyann last week, because I am spotlighting on the work of their wife, Chaya Michtein! Chaya is Mechanic Shop Femme on both Instagram and Tiktok, and is an auto educator and far travel journalist. She uses her platforms to educate car owners, and to inspire fat folks to travel. I have loved their videos for some time, and certainly do find them inspiring, and empowering!
Like Jodyann, Chaya has also used her platform to prioritise values led support of community and mutual aid. I also just love it when people share their passions and make it into a whole life for themselves! Auto repair can feel like such a rarefied world, and fat, femme, queer influence and representation is scarce; I cherish Chaya's content as an insight into a world that can feel exclusionary and intimidating - I've learned so much!
Chaya has also written a book, which is available in the UK as well, which I imagine would be such a good gift for a new driver (or any driver!!).
I'm so grateful, at the moment particularly, for any opportunities to feel solidarity, so I truly hope this week and every week you appreciate this new opportunity to make a fat connection here in the Bubble!
FAT SNACKS
🖌️ This beautiful piece from Maud Madsen, and all the work in her new collection!
🕶️ This front cover with Kim Russell!
📖 Congratulations to Bethany Rutter who's new book, Slowcoach, came out this week!
🎭 Loved a great moment of fat connection this week, seeing Sofie Hagen's new show!
FROM THE ARCHIVES:
Fat Bubble: Wael el-Dahdouh
"Train yourself toward solidarity and not charity. You are no one’s savior. You are a mutual partner in the pursuit of freedom. Lilla Watson, an Aboriginal activist and artist, once said: “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” Click here to read more.
Until next time, friends, wishing you safety and joy.
Vicky
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