Thin is NOT always Healthy
I think that in this interview, that it is most crucial to compare Wilson’s and Holliday’s comments to Emme’s. Emme is clearly very comfortable with her natural body and the other two represent the counter emotions of embarrassment and extreme self-consciousness about their bodies. However, I think all three of them make strong points—especially when considering their concepts of their own self images. As these women express their reactions, I think it is crucial that Jennifer Holliday explains that the film reminded her of past harassments and pain. As an actress she is constantly judged; she is told to fit into this impossibly slim beautiful mold—yet her most famous role as Effie in Dreamgirls called for a woman of her size to play that role! To me this demonstrates that in real life there exist women of all sizes, yet we are rarely shown that in the world of Hollywod film. Emme insightfully remarks that fatness is the “last acceptable prejudice.� I believe this statement is exemplified quite well when Wilson offers the idea of Rosemary being black rather than fat. Her point is that these prejudices hurt people to such an extent that they often try to become a second self that will not be rejected by society. However, no one would dare tell a black person to try to become white, but this is essentially what our culture does to fat people. However, it is interesting that the one woman who does not respond to this comment is Holliday—who has actually experienced what it is like to be both black and fat.
However she does chime in when the women begin to expand on this idea of society forcing fat people to become what they are not. They mention the huge diet industry and all talk about their own battles with weight. It is important to note that both Wilson and Holliday seem more hurt by and sensitive to their treatment than Emme even though they are no longer fat. I believe this demonstrates that they are, in fact, not themselves, and therefore remain less confident in themselves. This brings up the most crucial misrepresentation, I believe, of fat people by media and society: fat=unhealthy. I personally find having to “staple� one’s stomach and constantly battle with the food one eats as far more unhealthy than the healthy diet and exercise regime that Emme describes. I believe that society as a whole must look at how its representations of fat people is causing fat women not only emotional scarring and creating widespread prejudice against these women—but that it is actually the cause of dangerous unhealthy habits; habits which prevent a person from embracing her natural, healthy size!