The University of Pittsburgh recently added a one-day online crash course that promises to confront “anti-fat biases” and highlight the works of “fat activists” to its list of fall semester continuing education offerings.
It fulfills state requirements in New York and Pennsylvania for licensed social workers to stay current.
“This course will explore the history of anti-fat bias and fat phobia, connecting its roots to racism and misogyny,” the course description states. “It will teach participants tools for healthy pride, whatever their size, in order to escape the toxic consequences of this form of prejudice.”
The instructor, Tory Butterworth, is a therapist who offers private counseling and webinars through a private practice.
The course listing doesn’t go into detail regarding which “fat activists” students will learn about, but it’s probably a safe bet that Lizzo will come up at some point.
Pitt’s addition of this course to its catalog comes just one week after MSNBC released a bizarre article calling personal fitness “far right.”
Neither Ms. Butterworth nor the university immediately responded to the New Guard’s request for comment. This article will be updated accordingly.
