Eating the Other Yogi:  Kathryn Budig, the Yoga Industrial Complex, and the Appropriation of Body Positivity

Miller, Amara

doi:10.5070/r311028507

Cited by 22 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Mainstream media attention to body neutrality demonstrates its cultural significance as an alternative to body positivity (Haupt, 2022;Cowles, 2022;Khan, 2022). Although body positivity is adaptive for some (Rodgers et al, 2022), it has faced criticism as a movement for deviating from its roots in uplifting marginalized communities and instead centering white cisgender women who are relatively thin and able-bodied (Miller, 2016;Darwin & Miller, 2021;Cwynar-Horta, 2016). Moreover, body positivity typically emphasizes loving one's physical appearance regardless of its adherence to socially constructed body ideals (Cohen et al, 2019), but this appearance-centered focus can be counterproductive.…”

Section: Body Neutralitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Project Body Neutrality: Piloting a digital single-session intervention for adolescent body image and depression

Smith¹,

Ahuvia²,

Ito³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Objective: Eating disorders (EDs) and depression are impacting youth at alarming rates, yet most adolescents do not access treatment. Single-session interventions (SSIs) can reach youth in need. This pilot examines the acceptability and short-term utility of an SSI designed to help adolescents adopt a body neutrality mindset. Method: Pre- to post-intervention data was collected, and within-group effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals were computed, to evaluate the immediate effects of the SSI on hopelessness, functionality appreciation, and body dissatisfaction. Patterns of use, demographics, program feedback, and responses from within the SSI were also collected. Results: The SSI and all questionnaires were completed by 75 adolescents (ages 13-17, 74.70% White/Caucasian, 48.00% woman/girl) who reported elevated body image and mood problems. Analyses detected significant pre-post improvements in hopelessness (dav = 0.60, 95% CI 0.35, 0.84; dz = 0.77, 95% CI 0.51, 1.02), functionality appreciation (dav = 0.72, 95% CI 0.46, 0.97; dz = 0.94, 95% CI 0.67, 1.21), and body dissatisfaction (dav = 0.61, 95% CI 0.36, 0.86; dz = 0.76, 95% CI 0.50, 1.02). The SSI was rated as highly acceptable, with a mean overall score of 4.34/5 (SD = 0.54). Qualitative feedback suggested adolescents' endorsement of body neutrality as a personally-relevant, helpful target for intervention. Discussion: This evaluation supports the acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of a body neutrality-focused SSI for adolescents with body image and mood concerns.

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Section: Body Neutralitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Project Body Neutrality: Piloting a digital single-session intervention for adolescent body image and depression

Smith¹,

Ahuvia²,

Ito³

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…For example, the body positivity movement is a social justice movement with roots in the ‘Black is beautiful’ Black feminist movements of the 1960s (Miller 2016: 12). In its early days, the body positivity movement was created to push back against the forces of structural racism and other intersecting forms of oppression that worked to denigrate and devalue Black and Brown women's bodies (Miller 2016: 12). Marquiesele Mercedes (2020) writes about the co-opting of these ‘body positivity’ and ‘anti-diet’ movements.…”

Section: The Moral Harms Of Synecdoche Epistemic Arrogancementioning

confidence: 99%

‘I Know What It's Like’: Epistemic Arrogance, Disability, and Race

Liebow

Ades

2022

J. of the Am. Philos. Assoc.

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Understanding and empathy on the part of those in privileged positions are often cited as powerful tools in the fight against oppression. Too often, however, those in positions of power assume they know what it is like to be less well off when, in actuality, they do not. This kind of assumption represents a thinking vice we dub synecdoche epistemic arrogance. In instances of synecdoche epistemic arrogance, a person who has privilege wrongly assumes, based on limited experiences, that she can know what it is like to experience a particular form of oppression. We argue two main points. First, synecdoche epistemic arrogance can lead to a variety of moral harms. Second, synecdoche epistemic arrogance is often tied to other troubling epistemic patterns, which we discuss in the context of disability and race simulations. Overall, the essay helps demonstrate how synecdoche epistemic arrogance can contribute to injustice.

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“…Our resulting program, "Project Body Neutrality," is a digital, self-guided SSI designed to alleviate body dissatisfaction through encouraging users to adopt a "body neutrality" mindset, whereby youth are encouraged to value their body based on the functions it performs, even if they are not always satisfied with its physical appearance (Smith et al, in preparation). Body neutrality diverges from the popular "body positivity" movement, which has faced criticism for failing to center the needs of marginalized communities (Cwynar-Horta, 2016;Darwin & Miller, 2021;Miller, 2016) and for its appearance-centered message, which may not resonate with those who feel unable to love the way their body looks (e.g., gender-diverse young adults experiencing gender dysphoria linked to their physicality; Hartman-Munick et al, 2021;Legault & Sago, 2022;Rodgers et al, 2022;Lazuka et al, 2020;McGuire et al, 2016). The body neutrality concept draws from the academic literature on functionality appreciation research (Alleva & Tylka, 2021), and holds a culturally relevant, inclusive framing that explicitly rejects using appearance satisfaction to inform self-worth.…”

Section: Creating New Ssis To Reduce Ed Symptomsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Realizing the Untapped Promise of Single-Session Interventions for Eating Disorders

Schleider¹,

Smith²,

Ahuvia³

2022

Preprint

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Objective. Multi-level treatment barriers prevent up to 80% of individuals experiencing eating disorders (EDs) from accessing care. This treatment gap creates a critical need to identify interventions that are accessible, easily completable, and optimized for effectiveness by targeting core mechanisms linked to ED onset and maintenance. We propose single-session interventions (SSIs) as a promising path toward catalyzing innovation in the development of accessible, effective ED interventions. SSIs are structured programs that intentionally involve one encounter with a program or provider; they may serve as stand-alone or adjunctive clinical supports. Regardless of their form and function, SSIs are built to acknowledge that any session might be someone’s last—and that any single session can nonetheless yield meaningful clinical benefit. Method. We define SSIs, outline how they are thought to effect clinically-meaningful change, summarize the research supporting their utility for ED symptoms and other mental health problems, and share recommendations developing, testing, and implementing SSIs for ED symptoms and disorders. Results. Theory and emerging evidence suggest the potential of SSIs to reduce and prevent EDs. Steps toward realizing this promise include (1) testing whether existing evidence-based SSIs (e.g., for depression) can also reduce EDs; (2) developing novel SSIs that target modifiable ED risk factors; (3) studying diverse implementation opportunities; (4) capitalizing on SSIs’ transdiagnostic utility to broaden funding opportunities; and (5) educating ED researchers and clinicians about SSIs. Discussion. Systematically studying the strengths and limits of mechanism-targeted SSIs for EDs could be a low-risk, potentially high-reward avenue towards reducing EDs at scale.

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Eating the Other Yogi: Kathryn Budig, the Yoga Industrial Complex, and the Appropriation of Body Positivity

Cited by 22 publications

References 34 publications

Project Body Neutrality: Piloting a digital single-session intervention for adolescent body image and depression

Project Body Neutrality: Piloting a digital single-session intervention for adolescent body image and depression

‘I Know What It's Like’: Epistemic Arrogance, Disability, and Race

Realizing the Untapped Promise of Single-Session Interventions for Eating Disorders

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