New Zealand: Massey University's Queer Fat Studies Lecturer and 'Fatlicious Feminist' Dies Suddenly in Her Sleep at 42

New Zealand – Dr. Cat Pausé, a Massey University ‘fat studies’ lecturer died suddenly in her sleep this weekend.

Cat Pausé’s work focused on the impacts of “fat stigma” and made it her life’s mission to spread ‘body positivity’ and health at every size.

Dr. Pausé, 42, described herself and her mission in her Twitter bio: “Fatlicious. Feminist. Glorifying obesity since ’09. Tearing down white supremacy w/my fat fingers. Friend of Marilyn pod. Sociology, Public Health, Fat Studies”

Stuff.co.nz reported:

Cat Pause, an academic whose research explored the impacts of “fat stigma”, has died.

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A fat studies researcher, Pause’s work focused on the wellbeing of overweight people and “the effects of spoiled identities” on their health.

Pause spoke to Stuff in January about the discrimination fat people face in their everyday lives, especially in regard to healthcare. Moral panic over obesity levels perpetuate this.

“Everyone has anti-fat attitudes. We find them in kids as young as three. We’re not born hating fat people, we’re not born finding fat people disgusting, or that fat people are lazy or lacking discipline or willpower,” Pause said.

“We learned these attitudes, we can absolutely unlearn them.”

Labour MP Deborah Russell and others reacted to Dr. Pausé’s sudden death.

Some deeply sad news for all the friends and admirers of Dr Cat Pausé @FOMNZ. I know very few details except that our darling friend died in her sleep last night. I am so very sad, and I know that many in academic and union circles will be shocked and saddened too.

— Deborah Russell MP 🐝 (@BeeFaerie) March 26, 2022

Truly heartbreaking to hear the news of the passing of the amazing Dr Cat Pausé. She really was an incredible human. A pioneer for Fat liberation and a great accomplice to BBIPOC people. pic.twitter.com/gMFWknGSd3

— Ana McAllister (@nope_thank_u) March 26, 2022