Fat Politics

Everything is political

Fatness is political. Heck, even fat—the lipid molecule—is political, with how MAHA are waging war against food. What do I mean?

Well, first it’s important to define what I mean by political. In my book More of You: The Fat Girl’s Field Guide to the Modern World, I define it as “what happens when you take up space near someone else.” So, basically, any interaction we have with another person or group of people is political.

So when I say that fatness is political, I mean that inherent in being a human is political action. And thus, especially if you’re fat and taking up more space than someone else. Trust me, when you’re fat, you hear all the time about how unfair it is that you take up more space.

I’m talking about politics this week because of Cory Booker’s amazing physical, emotional, spiritual, and political feat—25 hours and 5 minutes of political protest on the Senate floor, filling more than a day spanning March 31 and April 1. My first thought when I heard of his feat-in-action was, “I could never…” because I quite literally could never stand for an hour, much less 25. Physical disability has limited my body from performing a task like Booker’s. At first, I was wary—glad to hear anyone standing up to Trump’s illegal and immoral actions—but suspicious of such a physical undertaking. Very quickly, though, I started to hear him reading letters from his disabled constituents. It was so moving to hear one of his disabled constituents say, “Please don’t let them erase us.” I have literal tears in my eyes as I type this, because I’m just now feeling the weight of the possibility…probability?….that the stories of people like me will be erased from the national scene.

With MAHA and its champion in RFK, Jr at the helm of HHS, and Dr. Oz in charge of Medicare and Medicaid…this world is not safe for fat people to just exist. Much like it’s not safe for trans people, immigrants, and children.

So what am I going to do? Feel, first of all. I am going to be intentional in connecting with my physical and emotional being, checking in regularly and taking care of myself. Then I’m going to speak out, calling my congresspeople and being vocal in my spheres of influence about the dangers of MAHA and the Trump Administration to people like me.

Writing The Fat Dispatch is one of those spheres, and I appreciate every one of you who subscribe, comment, and share the work that I’m doing here. So, thank you.

If you have a story that you want to share about how the present administration is hurting you as a disabled person or as a fat person, I want to help you and amplify your voice. Please reach out via email: amanda.martinez.beck@gmail.com.

Taking up the space you need is a political act. Do it boldly.

Peace and solidarity to you,

Amanda Martinez Beck