How to Ethically Engage Fat People in HCI Research

Abstract

How we research and represent people and communities that may be marginalized or vulnerable is a highly relevant question for our research practices. One particular group that has received some recent attention from HCI and CSCW researchers is fat people and, relatedly, anti-fatness. However, more work is needed to understand how to ethically engage in research with fat people-for example, in studying online communities or designing technology. Toward this goal, we provide a brief introduction to fat people, fat activism, and fat oppression so researchers may understand the social, political, and historical landscape in which research with and about fat people takes place. Based on empirical findings from an interview study, we then provide recommendations for researchers wishing to engage fat people in future research.