EXPLORING THE INTERSECTION OF RACE AND WEIGHT IN THE EVERYDAY LIVES OF BLACK CANADIANS

Abstract

Despite perceptions of Canada as an inclusive nation, hegemony is enacted through institutions of the nation state and serves to oppress specific populations. For Black populations in Canada, oppression is often operationalized as anti-Black racism. Despite growing recognition of systemic racism and identity-based discrimination endured by Black populations, there is a dearth of literature that explores weight oppression among Black Canadians. The purpose of this study was to explore how weight and race, as identities, intersect to impact the everyday lives of Black Canadians living in Nova Scotia. A hybrid socioecological and intersectional framework was employed, allowing in-depth exploration the intersecting impacts of identity in the everyday lives of Black Canadians. Three themes were developed from the data: multifaceted and complex identities, the two things that people remind you of, and social support and its impacts on sense of self. Findings from this study identify avenues for change through social support to better provide for Black Canadians living with overweight or obesity.