tone-deaf, fatphobic content is alive in mainstream media
Vogue's Hairspray dumpster fire, TikTok's AI filter, Tradwife content
We are taking multiple steps back from the body positivity movement, and unfortunately, it’s gripping social media. Coupled with the Y2K aesthetic making a comeback that brought back diet culture with the current normalisation of Ozempic culture — I’ll say it: fatphobia is alive.
It feels like the media is recycling harmful beauty practices, trying to tell us what body is best and what is more valuable by societal pressure and exclusionary tactics. How? Here’s a small portion of what’s been online that’s made me a little… puzzled:
Vogue’s parody of Hairspray
You can’t stop the beat, and neither can we stop the fatphobia from the fashion industry, apparently. The erasure of that plus-size spotlight leaves a sour taste, as does the amount of production and money that went into this project without anyone stopping and saying, “Wait, I think something is missing from this...”
Hairspray is only one of the few movies that brought plus-sized bodies into the spotlight as a main role. Yet, as many say, this parody is like if Amber von Tussle won the Miss Teenage Hairspray pageant.
Fashion already has a reputation for not having diverse body types and a lack of inclusivity; most recently, Witchery, who removed size 20 completely, now capping their range to size 18.
Plus, It’s not like skinny, white women have run out of media to “pay homage to”, as Vogue puts it, either.
Tradwife content
There’s a lot of tradwife content on social media. While there is nothing wrong with undertaking domestic duties if one chooses to, it’s another thing to promote what it means to be the perfect housewife.
How does this relate to body standards? Because there’s an ideal being pushed on social media. Perpetuated by the male gaze, there’s an impossible mould rooted in perfectionism. (More on the male gaze here).
But, isn’t it funny that although it’s attuned to the male gaze, most of this content is made by women? Presented in a Pinterest-like perfect kitchen and beautiful clothes, it’s almost like we’re trying to be sold an idea of how a woman should act, how a woman should look. It’s glazing over the reinforcement that a woman's worth is defined by conformity over the conservative men’s idea of a woman.
Plus, given the current climate and cost-of-living crisis, not every family can stay at home, cook food from scratch, have good-quality ingredients, and even afford groceries. It’s tone-deaf.
TikTok’s ‘chubby filter AI’
Look, it’s another inappropriate use of AI! Like a shitty 90’s movie, this makes plus-sized women the butt of the joke. It’s so backward to think that the worst thing that could happen to a woman is not to be skinny. Reinforcing a disturbing standard to finding yourself valuable at a certain body size.
Honestly, I’m quite puzzled, if anything. I’m unsure of the idea behind creating this filter. What’s the goal of using this filter and then posting it? What purpose does this serve? Is it supposed to make the user “happy” that they’re not plus-sized? Is it supposed to make them laugh at the idea of being plus-sized? I don’t get it.
I’ll say what it is: messed up. These unrealistic, tone-deaf standards are seeping into mainstream media more rapidly than ever. But that doesn’t mean we need to put up with this. Keep challenging the bullshit. Keep talking, keep being angry, and keep writing.