Media, including the film industry, is recognized for having a powerful role in shaping social attitudes and beliefs. Regardless of the genre, films can influence public opinion and change attitudes in their portrayal of different narratives and characters. With this power, films would, ideally, give voice to different stories and help every demographic feel seen. Unfortunately, films are notoriously lackluster in this regard.
Up until a few years ago, actors who did not fit traditional standards were rarely featured on the silver screen. Even if they were chosen to be part of the cast, actors who didn’t fit into conventionally attractive boxes were often portrayed as jokes, sidekicks, or victims. This trend is slowly changing, though, as different forms of on-screen representation can be observed in movies today. For instance, there are now films that celebrate neurodiversity, shed positive light on LGBTQ identities, and make ample space for cultural experiences. That said, there is still a long way to go in terms of fair representation, especially for plus-size individuals.
History of plus-size representation in film
Since film is a medium that can mirror our reality, it is capable of capturing some of the harsh societal norms. One such norm is concerned with physical appearance. The mainstream rigid beauty standards transfer over to film, where there is a noticeable lack of body diversity. For the most part, this is due to a bias against plus-sized bodies and a subconscious form of fatphobia.
A lot of cultures associate higher weight with physical and mental inferiority, often believing that plus-sized individuals do not care enough about their health to introduce change. As a result, many plus-size characters who manage to be included in a film do not usually star in the lead role. They are often designated as “funny” characters who use their weight as a crutch for jokes and comedic relief.
In recent years, more films have become size-inclusive, although the way this is executed has had its highs and lows.
Negative portrayals of plus-sized bodies
Often, films only include “fat” characters to subject them to a body transformation, which is framed as their only way to a happy ending. They can also be portrayed as “gross” or less than because of their appearance, such as how Thor was portrayed in Avengers: End Game (2019) when he gained weight after losing a loved one. This is harmful messaging within the media since it implies that plus-sized people can only find satisfaction in life if they conform to conventional beauty standards.
Furthermore, a lot of films misuse some words when discussing the appearance of plus-size characters. Characters are often insulted by being called fat, obese, or overweight—terms that are used carelessly by scriptwriters. In reality, there is a lot of nuance behind excess weight. To illustrate, contrary to how films like to interchangeably mix terms, there is a big difference between overweight and obesity. Both terms indicate having an excess of body fat, but obesity is determined by a high body mass index (BMI) of 30 and above. It is also recognized as a chronic disease that can lead to other health issues and should be tackled with more grace if included in films. Recently, The Whale (2022) tried to do this, but it felt short in representing obesity past a morbid diagnosis.
Positive growth for body diversity and representation
While some films are unable to portray plus-sized characters properly, works like Dumplin’ (2018) are helping to reimagine stories with proper representation. For one thing, it discusses the turbulence of being a plus-sized teenage girl who is faced with a lot of societal pressure to change her appearance. The film does show its lead character having difficulty with her body but redirects her story to focus on showing what self-acceptance means beyond physical appearance.
Additionally, Hairspray (2007) has a plus-sized main character who is unapologetic about taking up space and being herself. Not only that, but she broke stereotypes by being able to keep up with dance numbers without breaking a sweat and showed that plus-sized characters can have fun just like everybody else without putting their weight at the center of their character arc. Sadly, the lead star of the film, Nikki Blonsky, relayed a body shaming experience during filming, which underscores how diversity has yet to be fully accepted.
Ultimately, there has been decent progress in films, but it would be good if the industry could do more. Being that films have the ability to set the societal tone, they should be actively used as a tool to normalize body positivity, both on and off the screen.
