“The Bigger, the Better”: Challenges in Portraying a Positive Fat Character in Weeds

Abstract

The author examines the presence of fat stigmatization as well as body acceptance in the hit television Showtime program, Weeds. Through exploring the construction of the character Isabelle Hodes, it is apparent that Weeds works to create a fat-positive character. However, the show's writers also depict several fat-shaming elements when constructing the narrative; fat stigmatization is made most apparent through the dynamic between Isabelle and her mother, Celia. Using textual analysis, the author focuses on the success and failures of fat-positive imagery employed by the television show.

Keywords:

• fat stigmatization
• fat studies
• popular culture
• television
• textual analysis