I have been thinking a lot lately about body shaming. I've never been small, and while I wouldn't say that I struggle with my weight, I would say that I don't let my size stop me from doing most of the things that I want to do and wearing most of the things that I want to wear. Sure, I might enjoy being thin and having more clothing options, but I feel pretty good in a well fitted dress and I ride my bike almost every day.
That said, can we just shut the fuck up about the current president's weight, hair, and skin color? It doesn't matter and to those of us who have bad hair (check), extra weight (check), and bad skin (check), it's berating. There are enough things to complain about, we don't have to talk about his body.
During game 7 of the 2016 World Series, I was watching the game in a Sox bar with some other Cubs fans. Some of the angry Sox fans started yelling that Joe Maddon should go back to Boys Town and started calling the Cubs players and fans fags. I didn't get it. There were so many mistakes being made in that game there was no reason they needed to go there. I mean, they didn't need to go there anyway, but come on. Criticize Maddon's decision to put Chapman in the game. Question the umpires, they were making some terrible calls. There is enough baseball to complain about without needing to resort to offensive slurs.
(Note - calling someone gay is not an insult, insinuating that there is something wrong with being gay is the problem).
Anyway, that is how I feel about people body shaming the president. His policies are going to kill people and even some progressive folks seem to think that chants referencing his "scary hair" are appropriate. They are not. Ever. Complain about his policies. Complain about his behavior in meetings with other world leaders. Complain about how he gives too much attention to ratings and celebrity BS and not enough to, ya know, running the country. But leave his body alone.
Another personal anecdote: this weekend an older man in church asked me to speak to one of our homeless neighbors about wearing a bra. Apparently her decision not to wear one was offensive to him. Now, we've all noticed that she does not wear a bra and assumed that it was uncomfortable, so we got her bras. She didn't want them so as far as I am concerned, that is the end of the story. I am not going to tell another woman what to do with her body. I explained that to the older man and he seemed surprised that I refused. Apparently I am not the first person he has asked. I still won't do it.
