An acupuncture student practices taking the Chinese pulse of another woman. Both women seated at the large wooden table are Caucasian; both the student and volunteer are in their 30s. The low-key lighting and their comfortable positions indicate a casual environment. Lighting: low key, neutral colors, natural light, artificial light Environment: indoors, coffee shop, coffeehouse, cloudy, day, daytime, autumn, October, fall Themes: Chinese medicine, acupuncture, alternative medicine, holistic medicine, graduate students, practice, pulse diagnosis, experiments, cooperation, two women, plus size women Ethnicities, genders and abilities of note: Caucasian, female, woman, 30s, 40s Location: Washington State, Pacific Northwest, United States
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Good fatties in a pandemic

ByLindley Ashline

Hi friend, I’ll be honest. I’m grieving. For everyone ill with the coronavirus. For fat folks sick with fear over the weight stigma they know they’ll encounter if and when they catch it. For those who’ve lost their jobs and businesses. And for my beloved cat Tansy, who passed away a few days ago. I’m…

A fat woman with pale skin sits on a chair in a dark room, body facing forward and face turned to the right. She is wearing a black bikini with a floral design.
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I don’t know how to make you care about fat people.

ByLindley Ashline

I didn’t want to write this today. My emotional strategy in this time of pandemic has consisted of three parts: Stay informed of every news update, stay home as much as possible, and distract myself. I’m reviving my love of jigsaw puzzles. I’m texting my relatives, who live far away from me. I’m re-reading the…