In today’s culture,
there is finally a push back against the hegemonic beauty ideals that are still
highly apparent. In the media, from TV shows’ cast to magazine covers the
conventional beauty ideals are broadcasted. In the recent
Women’s
Media Center article, Margaret Mandeya writes upon the importance of plus
size women and body sizes that are not stereotypically “attractive” being
included in the media. The recent cosmopolitan cover that includes the plus
size model, Tess Holiday, challenges the symbolic annihilation that has removed
plus size women from the media. As we have discussed at great lengths in class
discussion, when social groups are not being represented in media platforms they
are being removed from society. Margaret Mandeya concludes her article by
explaining the work that still needs to be done in the media for better representation
of plus size women. She discusses the two major points: that these women need
to continue to be featured on future magazine covers, while also these women
who are non-conforming of beauty ideals that are in high positions additionally
need to be more frequently shown in the media. As Mandeya points out in her
article, media representation is indicative of being valued in society and also
a tool to further acceptance of varying images of beauty.
Plus size representation in the television and film industry also connects to this point. In my Race, Gender and Sexuality in the media class, we have talked about how plus size women in movies or on TV often serve as comedic relief. If we look at Rebel Wilson and Melissa McCarthy, they essentially always play the role of the big and funny girl. This plays into the fact that even when plus size women are shown in the media, they are type-cast to always play the same type of role.
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