In March, in an Instagram interview with Jameela Jamil, British pop star Sam Smith announced being non-binary in both gender and sexuality, stating “I’m not male or female. I think I float somewhere in between – it’s all on a spectrum” (timestamp 21:50 to 22.10). Smith had made a similar declaration to the Sunday Times in October, 2017, but did not suggest that the media use non-binary gender pronouns at the time. During the interview, Smith also revealed that “the basis of all my sadness” has been body shaming.

This instance of “biography and history” producing a non-binary person haunted by fat-shaming is important to the sociological understanding of gender. It reminds us that gender is lived in the body, not just as an idea but as a “looking-glass self” in which multiple kinds of stigma can simultaneously reduce a person to a “tainted, discounted one”. As culture shapes the way we see ourselves, it can produce an overpowering feeling of what Cooley called “mortification,” because “we always imagine, and in imagining share, the judgments of the other mind.” In Mead’s terms, culture produces this in the “generalized other”; how we imagine ourselves as an object in the eyes of the whole society.
The intersection of body-shaming and transphobia shows us how bullying turns the body into an object. Jamil recounted in the interview that a photographer had called her a “fat c-word.” This can be compared with C.J. Pascoe’s famous study of how the word “fag” is used in bullying to police the gender of boys. Smith concludes the interview with a vow to promote self-forgiveness and the love of the body. This struggle against the gender binary fits within the mission of Jamil’s “I Weigh” instagram series seeking to resist all forms of cultural bullying and policing of bodies, gender expression and sexuality.
Jonathan Harrison, PhD, is an adjunct Professor in Sociology at Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida SouthWestern State College and Hodges University whose PhD was in the field of racism and antisemitism.
Comments 12
Terry Hill, PhD — April 8, 2019
My interest over the past 40 years has been in the nude body, and its social acceptance. Also, the efforts of nudists/naturists to promote body acceptance inherently as "normal". Social policies, discrimination, deviance norms, sex/gender issues, religion influences, stigma/sanctions/legal issues, social movement theory, fashion industries, clothes as a major pollution fator, etc., have been part of my university teachings and writings.
Gabby Walley — April 17, 2019
I think celebrities today have so much power over how “normal” people like us. Especially with topics like gender or sexual orientation, if someone prominent, like Sam Smith, comes out about his gender on social media, it encourages other people to also come out. If people are scared to come out and talk about such sensitive topics like these but they see someone famous talks about their similar situation, it can sway people and give them the confidence to also come out and express themselves. Media is a powerful tool in this way; since everyone has access to the internet and everyone can watch things like Sam Smith discussing his gender in an interview, everyone can now feel empowered to also embrace their gender. This is one of the best uses for media, in my opinion. Media should be used to help people and empower people, not to tear people down if their beliefs are not what society sees as “normal”. I think that we could definitely change the way people talk to and about others on social media, but it will definitely not be an easy task.
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Sugae — August 6, 2021
Smith had made a similar declaration to the Sunday Times in October, 2017 and but did not suggest that the media use non-binary gender pronouns at the time.
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Robin — September 3, 2021
I really hate it when people body shame others. We are all built and shaped differently and some people just can't help it if they are a certain size. And you're absolutely right because there are some people who do have a problem with weight gain because some people may have thyroid hormone problems, PCOS, and Cushing syndrome. And there are some people who are just naturally thin and can't do anything to gain weight. So before you judge people, think about the things people might be going through.
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Franco Murphy — October 13, 2021
I agree that the influence of culture and society has an impact on the formation of a person's personality. A non-binary personality is a normal manifestation of one's opinion, I respect people who dared to declare this to the whole country.
Brycen Wilson — October 27, 2021
People face problems in any society. Emotional and physical. But I think the main thing is the awareness of your self, you need to discard the fear of being rejected by society.
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jimmy — December 1, 2021
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