I have a scholarly background and am now allied with the Para-Academy. I use qualitative methodologies for research justice in my work around fat because I believe that standpoint, process and ethics are important. I focus on fat queer feminist culture.
Scholarship
I earned a Master’s degree in 1994 and a PhD in 2012. Versions of my dissertation and thesis were published as Fat & Proud: The Politics of Size and Fat Activism: A Radical Social Movement respectively. Find out more about my books, blogs and articles on fat.
Methodological interests
The Para-Academy is a critical approach to higher education and scholarship within and beyond the bounds of the university system. I am one of the contributors to The Para-Academic Handbook.
Wardrop, A. and Withers, D. M., eds. (2014) The Para-Academic Handbook: A Toolkit for making-learning-creating-acting, Bristol: HammerOn Press. Open Access Download Available online: http://hammeronpress.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/PHA_Final.pdf (.pdf, 5.1mb)
Research Justice is a methodological model that has emerged in recent years and builds on Participatory Action Research principles. The premise is that research is political and can be used as a tool for liberating communities.
Cooper, C. (2013) Nothing About Us Without Us: Fat People and Research Justice. Birmingham University: Weight Stigma. 16 May. Read a report of the day.
I am starting to use more embodied research methodologies as a result of my work in dance.
Research Projects
Tantalising Glimpses: A LADA Study Room Guide on Fat (2020)
This guide, commissioned and published by the Live Art Development Agency, explores the organisation’s holdings on fat and Live Art. It’s also about what it’s like to be in the space whilst fat and about finding hidden knowledge.
https://www.thisisliveart.co.uk/resources/tantalising-glimpses-2020/
A Queer and Trans Fat Activist Timeline (2010-present)
Most people are unaware that there are long and rich traditions associated with fat activism. This multi-dimensional project records and develops community-based fat activist histories. Find out more: A Queer and Trans Fat Activist Timeline
No More Stitch-Ups! Developing Media Literacy Through Fat Activist Community Research (2014)
This is a piece of independent research that builds on the expertise of fat activist community to develop strategies for handling media fatphobia. It is very common for fat activists to get stitched-up, or manipulated negatively, by the media in the West. Media makers use a number of unethical techniques to undermine people. The effect of this can be traumatising, and people get burned out and stop engaging with media. Activists have some strategies for resisting media abuse but generally have low expectations about anything good coming from it. Many social repercussions arise from widespread media dismissal of alternative voices concerning fat, and this paper proposes some potential tactics for change. This work draws on Research Justice values, is free and available to anyone who wants to read it or make use of it via its Creative Commons licence. Download it for free.
Rainbow Health Ontario (2012-2013)
I was the lead writer and researcher for a series of fact sheets about body weight, eating and exercise for a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans community health organisation based in Toronto. I used a Health At Every Size framework. These fact sheets are shared with thousands of health and service providers, researchers and policy makers across Ontario.
Economic and Social Research Council: Fat Studies and HAES Seminars (2009-2011)
I was part of a group of people who applied for and were awarded a grant by the ESRC, a government funding body in the UK. We produced a series of scholarly mini-conferences, the first major ongoing expression of Fat Studies in the UK, that were free to attend and open to all. I was responsible for the third event, which focused on fat activism.
ESRC Fat Studies and HAES Seminars
Disseminating research
I have been invited to speak about my fat research at many national and international conferences, institutions and events including: Allied Media Conference, Antiuniversity Now, Canterbury Christ Church University, Concordia University, DaDaFest, ESRC at Glasgow University, Goldsmiths University of London, The Herbert Museum and Art Gallery, International Association of Size Diversity and Health, King’s College London, London School of Economics, Macquarie University, National Portrait Gallery, NOLOSE, Pop Culture Association/American Culture Association, Queen’s University Belfast, Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, The School of the Damned, Soggettiva, Warwick University, Women of the World Festival on the South Bank.
Selected talks
Cooper, C. (2016) Fat Activism is Dangerous. Birkbeck University of London. 25 April. Listen to this talk.
Cooper, C. (2014) Chins Up: Fat and Performance. ScotteeInc and Arts Council England. The Hospital Club. 31 March. Listen to this talk.
Cooper, C. (2013) Fat Activism. LaDIYfest Sheffield. 30 November. Read a report of the session.
Cooper, C. (2013) Dr Fat’s Show and Tell. Rainbow House: L-Fest/Fat Positivity Belgium. 26 November. Read a report of the event.
Cooper, C. (2013) Fat Sexualities. Gender and Sexuality Talks. 19 November. Read a report of the event.
Cooper, C. (2013) Community Panel: Confidence. Plus London. 3 November. Read a report of the session.
Cooper, C. (2013) Fat Talks Back. Women of the World Festival (WOW). London: Southbank Centre. 10 March. Read a report of the event.
Cooper, C. (2013) Women’s Center International Women’s Day Hangout. Oshkosh: University of Wisconsin. 8 March.
Cooper, C. (2012) The Queerness of Fat Activism. The Queerness of Fat Activism With Charlotte Cooper. Ryerson University at The Gladstone Hotel, Toronto. 26 June. (Read an account of this amazing event!)
Cooper, C. (2011) Plenary: Fightin’ Dirty With The Chubsters. A Carnival of Feminist Cultural Activism. Centre for Women’s Studies, University of York. 5 March. (Read about it)
Interviews about Fat
Carolin, L. (2009) Queer Tribe: The Girls In The Gang. DIVA. June. 20-21. Page spread (.pdf, 4.8mb)
Estrad, T. (2011). Charlotte Cooper. Una Buena Barba 3. Madrid. Available online: http://www.unabuenabarba.com/numeros-anteriores Unedited English version (.pdf, 96kb)
Hagen, S. (2017) 65. Charlotte Cooper – People want to see fat bodies dancing. Made of Human. 15 November. Available: https://whohurtyoupodcast.com/episodes/2017/11/15/fat-activist-charlotte-cooper-fat-feminism-in-the-60s-and-70s-haes-and-the-fattylympics
Harjunen, H. (2011). Normality is Overrated. NormiHomoLehti. Finland. Available online: http://www.lehtiluukku.fi/pub?id=8694 Unedited English version (.pdf 88kb)
Kennedy, G. (2020) Dr. Charlotte Cooper – A Fat Femme Tomato Lady Doing a High-Kick – 001. Queers & Co. Available online: https://player.captivate.fm/ef8d0730-7f92-4669-915a-732320f9a08c
McAleer, P. (2005) ‘Three Quick Questions: Charlotte Cooper,’ Big Fat Blog [online], available: https://web.archive.org/web/20130914205745/http://www.bigfatblog.com:80/node/987
Thomas, L. (2018) ‘EP71 – But is it healthy to be fat? w/ Dr. Charlotte Cooper,’ Don’t Salt My Game [online], available: http://www.laurathomasphd.co.uk/podcast/charlottecooper/.
Smith, C. (2012) ‘Under the radar: Fat activism and the London 2012 Olympics, an interview with Charlotte Cooper’, Games Monitor [online], available: http://www.gamesmonitor.org.uk/node/1647
Voigts, I., Claus, G. & Schulz, N. (2009) ‘The Chubsters: Interview mit Charlotte Cooper’, Hugs and Kisses: tender to all gender. 5, 52-55. Available online: http://www.hugsandkissesonline.de/?p=1019 Reprinted: Voigts, I. & Claus, G. (2010) ‘Invasion of The Chubsters’, an.schläge, December/January: 20-21. Unedited English version (.pdf, 56kb)