Your Body Isn’t Broken: How White Supremacy Taught Us to Hate Ourselves

Send us Fan MailIn this raw and emotional episode of White Women Wake Up, Karen and Jonelle tackle the hidden biases white women carry about their own bodies—and the deep roots of those biases in white supremacy and patriarchy. From public apologies around ableism to unflinching reflections on internalized fatphobia, they unpack the inherited cycles of shame around body image, thinness ideals, and health stigma. Sharing personal stories about family systems, medical bias, and eating disorders, they highlight how these internalized standards disconnect us not only from ourselves but also from others. This conversation challenges listeners to recognize that overcoming bias requires more than loving others—it demands truly loving ourselves. Together, Karen and Jonelle call for a different kind of unlearning, one rooted in breaking free from the "master’s tools" and reimagining how we see worth, health, and thriving.Call to Action:Reflect on inherited body ideals: Journal about messages you received growing up about weight, beauty, and health—and who those messages really served.Challenge internalized fatphobia: Notice when harsh judgments toward your own body arise. Ask yourself: “Whose standards am I trying to meet?”Foster radical self-love: Choose one small, tangible way this week to affirm your body’s worth outside of appearance—through rest, movement, gratitude, or gentle self-talk.We would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected] the show