SOCIAL CLASS
Social class is more than just how much money you have. It's also the clothes you wear, the music you like, the school you go to -- and has a strong influence on how you interact with others (Keltner, Kraus, & Piff, 2011). It is a more profound part of who we are than we have typically acknowledged. Lott and Bullock (2007) have argued that psychology as a discipline has neglected social class, and this has impaired our knowledge base and our clinical practice. As an association we might also ask how our lack of understanding of social class impacts our interactions, processes and policies.
Social class refers to hierarchical distinctions between individuals or groups, characterized by differential access to necessary resources. As a critical element impacting the individuals’ lives, it merits increased attention from mental health professionals. In an effort to bring social class and related topics to the fore in AWP, an interest group on social class was convened during the 2006 and 2007 annual conferences, participants of which decided to form the Social Class Caucus.
Some recent research and publications suggest that both researchers and clinicians are developing a better understanding of the impact of social class on human interactions. The Social Class Caucus works for social class consciousness among AWP members and within psychology and mental health practice. At AWP 2013 we had an exciting caucus meeting and workshop. Please help us to expand our presence at AWP and within the field.
This caucus is currently inactive. Please contact Clare Mehta, if you would like to get involved with this caucus.
Clare Mehta
mehtac@emmanuel.edu
SIZE DIVERSITY
Join the movement for Size Acceptance; Challenge the medicalization of fat. As the medical industry continues its war on obesity, the size acceptance movement is gaining momentum. In the past 5 years fat activists and scholars have founded a journal, established blogs, published texts to be used in Fat Studies classrooms, challenged invalid statements regarding obesity, and have offered size acceptance workshops to psychologists in training. The Size Acceptance Caucus is part of an academic and grassroots MOVEMENT.
The AWP Size The Size Acceptance Caucus promotes research, clinical services, and activism advocating size acceptance and ending size discrimination. We recognize the principles of the 1973 Fat Liberation Manifesto, including the rights of people of all sizes to human respect and recognition and equal access to employment, education, public facilities, and health services, recognizing the intersection of size discrimination with other facets of human diversity, and the exploitative nature of the weight-loss and beauty industries.
The Size Diversity Caucus meet at the AWP conferences. Join us there to hear the activities and presentations conducted by members in the past year. We want to challenge the myths about obesity and promote the Health at Every Size perspective, especially among psychologists. Our plan last year was to find a way to share activities and materials between meetings. We did not implement this plan, and we are looking for members who can assist us in setting up an effective network using facebook, a listserv and dropboxstrategy. Under new leadership we can become a network that supports size acceptance on our campus and/or in our community. If you cannot attend AWP this year, contact me, the current Chair to join the Caucus.
Linda Najjar
najjar@innerwisdomcounseling.com
Wendy Dragon and
wendy.dragon@wright.edu