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University of Maryland offers 'fat studies' course on how 'fatness' and 'Blackness' intersect

The course description says it "examines fatness as an area of human difference subject to privilege and discrimination that intersects with other systems of oppression based on gender, race, class, sexual orientation, and ability."

"Though we will look at fatness as intersectional, this course will particularly highlight the relationship between fatness and Blackness," the description continues. "We approach this area of study through an interdisciplinary humanities and social-science lens which emphasizes fatness as a social justice issue. The course closes with an examination of fat liberation as liberation for all bodies with a particular emphasis on performing arts and activism as a vehicle for liberation and challenging fatmisia." 

The University of Maryland is offering a "Fat Studies" course for students this semester. (iStock)

All 20 spots for the class are full, with eight students on the waitlist.

"I don't think if you went into a job interview and the interviewer said 'what have you taken recently?' and the respondent said, 'Well, I'm taking a course in fat studies, but the intersection of a Blackness and fatness,' that this would put you in a position to get much of a job, so the utility of this and the job market is probably pretty questionable," Vatz said.

"I have to be honest with you, this is kind of a laughable, laughable subject," he continued. "This stuff is just ludicrous."

A University of Maryland course claims that "fatness" and "Blackness" intersect and can be viewed through a social justice lens. (iStock)