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Why Representation Matters

Examples

Solutions

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“The Bachelor.” ”Love Island USA.” “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.” “Real Housewives.” It’s escapism at its finest, jaw-dropping, attention-grabbing, mindless forms of entertainment that I can’t stop watching. But as much as I love streaming these shows, I can’t help but get upset at howunrealisticthey are. And sure, marrying someone you met through a pod isn’t something your everyday person is doing, but you know what is? Living in a plus-sized body.

OK, But Why Does Plus-Size Representation Matter?

Seeing yourself representedon-screen helps with self-esteem, confidence, and a sense of belonging. “We are bombarded with messages coming from everywhere and weinternalize those messages,”Rachel Goldman, PhD, a licensed psychologist, explains. “If individuals see people who look like them, or act like them, they can relate more to the individual, or the character, and feel a sense of belonging.”

“It reinforces this idea that your body is only good, desirable, and beautiful if it’s small, and for a lot of people, that contributes todisordered eating, self-hatred, andbody dysphoriaand things like that,” she says. “If you’re a size 16 watching the show and someone who’s a size 8 is being treated like the fat girl who’s just too big for love, who’s totally going to be eliminated on the first night, that can be harmful to your own self-image and how you relate to your body.”

Otherness, Stigmas, and Discrimination

Feeling othered has psychological effects, too. One study found thatweight stigma and body discriminationincrease therisk factors for depression, low self-esteem, and lower body satisfaction.Another study reported similar results, noting that perceived weight discrimination was associated with diagnoses ofmood and anxiety-related disorders.

It’s a ‘those are the beautiful people, and those people aren’t me’ mentality. This reinforces the perception that people who are in small bodies are the only ones worth watching or lusting after.—HANNAH OWENS, LMSW

It’s a ‘those are the beautiful people, and those people aren’t me’ mentality. This reinforces the perception that people who are in small bodies are the only ones worth watching or lusting after.

—HANNAH OWENS, LMSW

Recap

Representation Teaches Empathy & Understanding

Not only does representation make us feel better about ourselves, but it also helps others understand that there’s no such thing as a “normal” or a “standard” body shape/type.  Dr. Goldman explains that we learnempathy and understandingthrough the media messages we take in. Watching positive, diverse, and accurate representations of different body sizes can destigmatize preconceived notions about body homogeneity including the idea that there is a “right” size.

But if the media we’re consuming shows little to no representation or bad representation, we continue believing messages that openly other and discriminate against those in larger bodies.

“Being consistently confronted with this [anti-body diversity] message can teach someone in a larger body that they are disgusting and wrong—which, of course, can lead to anything from lower self-esteem to self-hatred to diagnosable mental health issues like depression and anxiety,” notes Owens.

Body Issues and Eating Disorders

Did You Know?Dr. Goldman adds that individuals who don’t feel represented may believe they’re not worthy enough. In response, they’lltry to emulate celebritiesand reality stars' bodies through weight loss and other dieting measures to improve their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Did You Know?

Dr. Goldman adds that individuals who don’t feel represented may believe they’re not worthy enough. In response, they’lltry to emulate celebritiesand reality stars' bodies through weight loss and other dieting measures to improve their self-confidence and self-esteem.

“For instance, individuals want to look like their favorite influencers or other celebrities, and sometimes they will do anything they can to make themselves look like that, even if it is participating in unhealthy behaviors, such asdisordered eating behaviors,” she says.

The Connection Between Body Image and Eating Disorders

“It was so nice to be able to just completely be myself and not feel like I had to ‘perform’ or put on a character,” she adds. “Since it was about dating and being plus-sized, I also was happy that it wasn’t weight loss-focused. I stayed true to myself and I’ve been told that’s pretty rare for a reality show.”

It was so nice to be able to just completely be myself and not feel like I had to ‘perform’ or put on a character.—SABRINA SERVANCE, FORMER CAST MEMBER OF “BIG WOMEN: BIG LOVE”

It was so nice to be able to just completely be myself and not feel like I had to ‘perform’ or put on a character.

—SABRINA SERVANCE, FORMER CAST MEMBER OF “BIG WOMEN: BIG LOVE”

Servance says “The Circle” is another reality show that presents plus-size people authentically, noting that the series “shows the struggle and the nuances that come with being a human being in our current society.” Chiwaya lists “RuPaul’s Drag Race” as one of the only shows to feature bigger bodies, but she also warns that though there are plus-size contestants, they have a bigger challenge than their straight-size counterparts.

There are other shows like “The Circle” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” that have plus-sized contestants where their body and size aren’t incidental. Notable examples include Alexa Lemieux from season two of “Love is Blind” and Amber Riley from “Dancing With the Stars.”

Ultimately, there’s just not enough body diversity in reality television. So, how do we get more? Well, it starts with production and casting. “I think this is because the writers, directors, producers, etc. don’t think it’s what the general public wants to see,” Dr. Goldman says.

Servance agrees, adding that “networks need to let go of their archaic casting choices. We want to be seen! It won’t hurt to change the narrative around how these shows are cast.”

Dr. Rachel GoldmanIf all body types are going to be represented then we also need to make sure that it is done so with sensitivity.

Dr. Rachel Goldman

If all body types are going to be represented then we also need to make sure that it is done so with sensitivity.

Bottom Line

Representation is important, and unfortunately, reality television has failed to accurately and positively depict body diversity. And seeing yourself negatively depicted on-screen—or, in worst cases, not at all—affects your mental health and well-being. “Being represented in the media can sometimes seem like the world’s way of saying, ‘We see you and we appreciate you!’ And who doesn’t want to hear that?” Owens adds.

“Seeing more body diversity can break weight stigma and body shaming,” Dr. Goldman explains. And breaking the stigma of being plus-sized has so many mental benefits for both plus-size people and non. It says that everyone is deserving of space and love, no matter their weight or body size, which, according to Owens, “increases your self-esteemand changes the way you occupy space in the world—with confidence and self-respect.”

There’s no reason why we don’t see larger bodies on screen. Just like race, gender, and sexuality, body diversity is needed, too.

10 Types of Discrimination to Be Aware Of

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Christel DA, Dunn SC.Average american women’s clothing size: comparing national health and nutritional examination surveys (1988–2010) to astm international misses & women’s plus size clothing.International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education. 2017;10(2):129-136.Puhl RM, Heuer CA.Obesity stigma: important considerations for public health.American Journal of Public Health. 2010;100(6):1019.Hatzenbuehler ML, Keyes KM, Hasin DS.Associations between perceived weight discrimination and the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the general population.Obesity (Silver Spring, Md). 2009;17(11):2033.

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Christel DA, Dunn SC.Average american women’s clothing size: comparing national health and nutritional examination surveys (1988–2010) to astm international misses & women’s plus size clothing.International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education. 2017;10(2):129-136.Puhl RM, Heuer CA.Obesity stigma: important considerations for public health.American Journal of Public Health. 2010;100(6):1019.Hatzenbuehler ML, Keyes KM, Hasin DS.Associations between perceived weight discrimination and the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the general population.Obesity (Silver Spring, Md). 2009;17(11):2033.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Christel DA, Dunn SC.Average american women’s clothing size: comparing national health and nutritional examination surveys (1988–2010) to astm international misses & women’s plus size clothing.International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education. 2017;10(2):129-136.Puhl RM, Heuer CA.Obesity stigma: important considerations for public health.American Journal of Public Health. 2010;100(6):1019.Hatzenbuehler ML, Keyes KM, Hasin DS.Associations between perceived weight discrimination and the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the general population.Obesity (Silver Spring, Md). 2009;17(11):2033.

Christel DA, Dunn SC.Average american women’s clothing size: comparing national health and nutritional examination surveys (1988–2010) to astm international misses & women’s plus size clothing.International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education. 2017;10(2):129-136.

Puhl RM, Heuer CA.Obesity stigma: important considerations for public health.American Journal of Public Health. 2010;100(6):1019.

Hatzenbuehler ML, Keyes KM, Hasin DS.Associations between perceived weight discrimination and the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the general population.Obesity (Silver Spring, Md). 2009;17(11):2033.

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