RUTH ANNA PHILLIPS
Body Acceptance & Inclusion
Ruth is currently developing inclusive practice around body shape and size. This is funded by an Arts Council England 'Developing Your Creative Practice Grant' and builds on her own previous personal research.
Summary
Ruth is currently working on inclusive training for the theatre industry to make rooms more inclusive of diverse body types and push an understanding of the complexities around body image and societal body standards.
This research began in 2018 with her MA Dissertation "One size fits all: Inclusivity Of Body Shape In Movement Fundamentals". She continued to question and develop her practice through her work as a movement director and teacher and is now able to solidify and archive her work via this DYCP Grant.
Ruth is a plus-sized director, movement director and choreographer. She has been building her personal practice of inclusivity via her work in conservatoires, rehearsal processes and specialist workshops. She also teaches dance open classes with School of SOS and The Curve Catwalk.
Previous work on this topic
"Body Acceptance within Movement" Workshop, Flourish Festival.
Body Image Workshops and Residency with Norwich Theatre. With SpeakUp Theatre
"Tackling Body Issues with Creative Practice" Interview, Norwich Theatre
Leeds Conservatoire Talks, "Unlocking Inclusive Practice: Dyslexia/Dyspraxia and Body Diversity in the Acting Studio" Leeds Conservatoire in collaboration with Christina Fulcher
Body Acceptance Training for Students, premiered at Academy of Live Recording Arts.
Co-founder Inclusion Collective www.inclusioncollective.org
Ivor Guest Research Grant recipient: "Research Project investigating inclusive movement within the intersection of neurodiversity and fat activism", in collaboration with Christina Fulcher, Society for Dance Research
‘Inclusion Optional?’ Discussion & Presentation at Why Movement Matters in collaboration with Christina Fulcher, RADA Movement Symposium, postponed due to COVID-19
Choreographer, Ripples, Body Acceptance Dance Film Greenwich Dance, Online
2023
2022
2022
2022
2021
2020
2020
2020
2020
Here are some resources Ruth has found useful around the topics of body acceptance, fat activism and inclusivity
Useful Resources
Body Image: How a person sees and feels about their own body, influenced by societal standards and personal experiences.
Body Acceptance: Embracing and respecting bodies without judgment, regardless of societal standards.
Anti-Fat Bias: Also known as Anti-Fat. Refers to the negative attitudes, stereotypes, and discriminatory behaviours directed towards individuals who are perceived to be overweight or obese.
Fat Activism: Advocacy for the rights and dignity of fat people, combating discrimination.
Weight Stigma: Negative attitudes and discrimination based on body size, causing harm to affected individuals.
Discrimination: Unfair treatment based on specific characteristics, such as body size, leading to negative consequences.
Books
-
Happy Fat by Sofie Hagen
-
Health at Every Size by Linda Bacon
-
Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Sabrina Strings
-
The Fat Studies Reader by Esther Rothblum, Sondra Solovay
-
Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls by Jes Baker
-
Your body is not an apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
Plays & Podcasts
-
Beach Body Ready by Roaring Girls
-
Fatty Fat Fat by Katie Greenall
-
She's All Fat: A Positive Podcast
-
Maintenance Phase - Podcast
Articles
"The Bizarre and Racist History of the BMI" Your Fat Friend, 2018.
"Weight stigma kept me out of the doctors offices for almost a decade"
Your Fat Friend, 2019.
Prior, R. W., Maxwell, I., Szabo, M. and Seton, M. 2015
"‘Proud to say I am a fat person’: Calgary actors draw attention to weight bias" Carolyn Kury de Castillo
‘Being fat’: a conceptual analysis using three models of disability Toby Brandon & Gary Pritchard, 2011.