Yes Nancy Pelosi Was Fat-Shaming, No It Wasn’t Ok

By Danceswithfat @danceswithfat

Yesterday donald claimed that he is taking hydroxychloroquine - a drug that he has been touting from quite some time. Of course, there's no telling if he's actually taking it since he lies as easily as he breathes.

Nancy Pelosi jumped on the opportunity to make a comment. She didn't mention that there might be a financial reason he's pushing this so hard. She didn't mention that his pushing of this drug can cause shortages for people who legitimately need it. No, she took a stab at donald's body size...

"He's our president, and I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists, especially in his age group and his, shall we say, weight group ... m*rbidly ob*se, they say," she said.

Plenty of people pointed out that this is fat-shaming bullshit, but in a burst of "they tried it" others immediately jumped in to try to claim some form of the following three arguments:

  1. It wasn't fat-shaming
  2. It was fat-shaming, but it's ok because it's donald and he's a garbage human
  3. But it's science

Let's take these one-by-one:

It wasn't fat-shaming

It for damn sure was. Look at the phrasing of it "his, shall we say, weight group...m*rbidly ob*se they say"

Nobody frames a physical description that way unless they think it's something to shame someone about. Nobody is out there going "her, shall we say, hair color...brunette they say."

Note that she was able to say "age group" without engaging in ageism.

It was fat-shaming, but it's ok because it's donald and he's a garbage human

Donald is a garbage human. Fat-shaming him is still wrong, because his size has nothing to do with his being a proud racist, misogynist, xenophobe, sexual predator, and white supremacist. When you fat-shame, your victim is every fat-person person you perpetuate the idea that fat-shaming is ok.

I covered this in detail the post Your Justification For Fat-Shaming Donald is Bullshit, Here's Why.

But it's science!

These people seem to break into two camps.

The first insists that since the term "m*rbidly ob*se" is a medical term, it must be ok to say. That ignores an extensive history of "medical terminology" being used to perpetuate oppression. It ignores the fact that the term is used as a way to pathologize a body size in a way that is neither research-based nor helpful. And it ignores the s taggering amount of medical weight stigma that fat people have to deal with, which harms us in a myriad of ways.

The second camp insists that it's ok because she was telling the truth about the risks. Except she wasn't. There is no evidence that being fat creates more risk when taking (or lying about taking) Hydroxychloroquine. Even if she mispoke and was trying to make a claim about COVID-19, the evidence around body size and COVID-19 risk is dubious at best.

This was fat-shaming and there is absolutely no justification for it. Nancy Pelosi should apologize and do better in the future.

Did you find this helpful? If you appreciate the work that I do, you can support my ability to do more of it with a one-time tip or by becoming a member. (Members get special deals on fat-positive stuff, a monthly e-mail keeping them up to date on the work their membership supports, and the ability to ask me questions that I answer in a members-only monthly Q&A Video!)

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Talking Back To Fatphobia

We'll discuss options for dealing with the fatphobia that we face as we navigate the world - from responses that encourage a dialog, to responses that encourage people to leave us TF alone, with lots of time for Q&A and a pay-what-you-can option.
Details and Registration: https://danceswithfat.org/workshop-talking-back-to-fatphobia/

Like this blog? Here's more stuff you might like:

Wellness for All Bodies Program:A simple, step-by-step, super efficient guide to setting and reaching your health goals from a weight-neutral perspective. This program can be used by individuals, or by groups, including as a workplace wellness program!

Price: $25.00 ($10 for DancesWithFat members - register on the member page)

Non-members Click here for all the details and to register!


Body Love Obstacle Course

This e-course that includes coaching videos, a study guide, and an ebook with the tools you need to create a rock-solid relationship with your body. Our relationships with our bodies don't happen in a vacuum, so just learning to see our beauty isn't going to cut it. The world throws obstacles in our way - obstacles that aren't our fault, but become our problem. Over the course of this program, Ragen Chastain, Jeanette DePatie, and six incredible guest coaches will teach you practical, realistic, proven strategies to go above, around, and through the obstacles that the world puts in front of you when it comes to living an amazing life in the body you have now.
Price: $99.00 Click here to register
($79.00 for DancesWithFat members - register on the member page)

Love It! 234 Inspirations And Activities to Help You Love Your Body
This is filled with thoughtful advice from the authors Jeanette DePatie, Ragen Chastain, and Pia Sciavo-Campo as well as dozens of other notable names from the body love movement, the book is lovingly illustrated with diverse drawings from size-positive artist Toni Tails.
Price: $9.99 softcover, $7.99 Kindle, ($6.95 + free shipping for DancesWithFat Members)

Book Me! I'd love to speak to your organization (and I can do it remotely!) You can get more information here or just e-mail me at ragen at danceswithfat dot org!

I'm (still!) training for an Iron-distance triathlon! You can follow my journey at www.IronFat.com .

Published by Ragen Chastain

Hi, I'm Ragen Chastain. Speaker, Writer, Dancer, Choreographer, Marathoner, Soon to be Iron-distance triathlete, Activist, Fat Person. View all posts by Ragen Chastain