Contrasting Narratives of Race and Fatness in COVID-19
November 2021
in “
History & Philosophy of the Life Sciences
”
Studysummary This article explores how narratives around racial and ethnic minorities versus fat individuals during the Covid-19 pandemic influenced the framing of these groups as "at-risk," with disparities in blame and responsibility linked to structural racism and anti-obesity rhetoric.
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The document discussed the disparities in Covid-19 infection, hospitalization, and death rates among racial or ethnic minorities and fat people, highlighting how narratives around these groups differed. While structural racism was recognized as a key factor in racial disparities, discussions about fatness were dominated by individualizing and stigmatizing narratives. This stigmatisation disproportionately affected racial or ethnic minorities, as anti-fatness was historically racialized. The document suggested that despite acknowledging structural racism's role in racial inequalities, anti-obesity rhetoric allowed for individual blame to be placed on racial minorities for their increased Covid-19 burden.
