The Word “Fat” Still Holds Weight
The new Hulu original show Shrill, based on the book by Lindy West, is reclaiming the word “fat” by adding to the conversation of body positivity with fat empowerment. However, it may take more than a recent positive shift in the media for the word to completely change it’s meaning. In multiple conversations with New Yorkers and tourists alike in Washington Square Park, many felt empowered by the word “fat” themselves, while others still thought it held negative connotations.
Saturday Night Live star Aidy Bryant co-created, co-executive produced and starred in Shrill as the leading role “Annie”, “a fat young woman who wants to change her life, but not her body.” Recently renewed for a second season, the show satirizes the fat experience to extremes, but it’s inclusive cast of age, gender, race and confidence in body image, portrayed a more equitable form of representation on television. Nicole, a graduate student at New York University commented on the show, and her relationship with the word fat,
“I watched Shrill and I loved it but I guess it is still entering my consciousness, I am still programed to think of the word negatively.” She said.
When asked if there was a way to overcome the negativity, Nicole emphasized that watching shows like Shrill keep us moving in the right direction, “it’s how we understand body positivity and overcome fat-phobia globally.” She said.
Outside of By CHLOE., a vegan NYC hot spot near the park, two young women sat on the patio with identical avocado toasts on hearty grain bread, topped with tofu feta and almond parmesan, accompanied by steaming black coffee. The smell of freshly made quinoa burgers and baked sweet potato fries escaped onto the street from the open doors, swaying in the wind. Brightly colored, pop-art, food animations lined the “healthy fast food” menu, perfectly placed by Instagram standards. Rachel Powers, a 20 year old student at Colorado College visiting on her spring break, took a final bite of crumbling toast before commenting on fat identity as a source of empowerment instead of negativity. “As a society I believe we are extremely fat-phobic but I feel like in my life it’s a neutral phrase, not good or bad but just a descriptor.” She went on to cite pop sensation Lizzo, a Black, full-bodied, singer-songwriter advocating for body positivity and self-love in her lyrics: “Black femme women are taking the word back and using it as a source of empowerment”. She adds, with a sly smile.
Some were not as optimistic as Powers, Jason Wang, a digital strategist from California, believed that the perception of fat has changed slightly but not when it comes to body positivity. “No one wants to be fat for their own self image, and you definitely don’t want to use it towards your own self, that can be damaging to your psyche” he says. “I think people should just be healthy and happy”. When asked how he felt about the word “fat” being used confidently by full-figured women, he couldn’t see past a stereotype of fatness, “To sort of blanket say I love myself no matter what, even though I’m eating all of this crazy stuff that’s going to shorten my lifespan? I’m not sure I agree with that.” According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
“Obesity results from a combination of causes and contributing factors…such as genetics, dietary patterns, physical activity, inactivity, medication use, and other societal exposures.” Expelling the misconception that fatness is solely attributed to eating foods with high caloric values but is based on a multitude of factors, including behavior, genetics, medication and class.
Two well adjusted 18 year olds, Sam Her and Katerina Poulos, sat on a bench in Washington Square Park, beneath a blooming cherry blossom tree. Sam picked up her spoon to take another bite of the bountiful green smoothie bowl balancing on her lap and wondered aloud,
“I feel like the word fat has negative connotations when really it’s just an adjective. It doesn’t have to be anything derogatory.” both girls nodded their heads in agreement.
“Even just being bigger in general, I have broad shoulders and it’s just who I am. It makes me kinda feel badass. I’m not really skinny…i’m built and I feel more empowered by that.” Katerina joined in. The two went on to discuss diet culture on social media with targeted ads of supplements and skinny teas constantly inundating their feed. “Unfortunately fat has become it’s meaning through advertisements…” Sam said. “…all over Instagram are those supplements on how to lose weight, that makes everyone feel so insecure.” She acknowledged.
NYU student Jessica Vasquez commented on her own insecurities and how she overcame them, “I haven’t always liked the word fat because i wasn’t secure with my body at one point…in high school… but I love my body now. I’m thick and I’m proud of that.” Sitting across the way, an older couple from New Jersey who wished to remain anonymous hadn’t thought of the word fat having positive connotations before, but laughed and nodded their heads, agreeing that “They could get down with that.”