The presentation slides used at the 2018 ARTeries Undergraduate Research Conference at Ryerson University - March 26, 2018.

1. “Why can’t we have her story”:
Plus-size women’s opinions of
plus-size women’s representation in
film and television
Report by Quincy Clarke, Saura
Haggart-Smith, Nicole Ireland, Melody
McMullan & Julia White
Presentation by Melody McMullan

2. QUICK! Who are the first
three plus-size actresses
you can think of?

3. Problem Definition
● We knew the representation issue was a problem from the personal
experience of the researchers
● When we engaged in our preliminary research for our literature
review we began to see gaps in current research
● Research often looked at the impact of plus-size representation on
children, or looked at discrimination levels in straight-size folks
● The biggest gap came in asking plus women their opinion on plus
representation

4. Research Question
How does seeing plus-size
actresses in scripted film
and television affect
viewing habits of plus-size
women?

5. Research Strategy
Digital Survey
● Reach a wide audience
● Collect a variety of
responses
● Focus on quantitative data
Focus Group
● Insights into specific
emotions and reactions
● Allows for broader
discussions
● Focus on qualitative data

6. Results - Surveys

7. Stories mostly about weight:
74% said it ‘somewhat’ or ‘greatly’
reduced enjoyment
Stories mostly about weight loss:
87% said it ‘somewhat’ or
‘greatly’ reduced enjoyment

8. Two most common:
“Funny sidekick”
“Supportive sidekick”
Two least common:
“Romantic lead”
“Dramatic lead”

9. 9% 1.5%
Check all the ways you feel plus-size women in relationships
are most commonly portrayed in film and television
“Cute or Romantic” “Hot or Sexy”

10. Three most common: Melissa McCarthy (80%),
Chrissy Metz (42%), Rebel Wilson (37%)

11. 41%
Of respondents said the representation of a plus-size character in a TV
show had made them so uncomfortable they stopped watching.

12. HOWEVER
44% of respondents said whether or
not a film had plus-size characters
had no effect on whether they
would go see a film in theatres
Most respondents pick content
based on other factors, top choices
included ‘genre’ or ‘interesting
storylines’

13. Results - Focus Group

14. “I’m just over the funny BFF [trope]”
When discussing the current representation of plus size women the most
commonly cited character roles and/or characteristics are:
● the funny best friend
● the butt of the joke
● the secondary character or wingwoman to the slender lead character
● characters entirely focused on losing weight and unhappy with her life

15. 2
The number of characters that all seven
focus group participants, working
together, could come up with whose weight
was not a main character trait or storyline

16. Most participants supported
actress Chrissy Metz, but did not
like the program. Only 1 of 7 had
watched it.
Many participants were visibly
upset upon discussion of Metz’
contract, which requires her to lose
weight for the show.
If there was more representation
and varied storylines, Kate’s story
would be ok. However, as there is
not, it is a poor use of the platform.

17. Most participants liked the
character, and particularly
appreciated the moments of
comedy that did not stem
from her size.
Both Rebel Wilson and
Melissa McCarthy’s roles
often come with a
metatextual narrative that
has them involved in the
creation of their
characters/comedy.

18. ADDITIONALLY
Focus group participants
mentioned desire for even
more intersectionality. They
brought up the need for more
plus-size queer/trans
characters as well as plus-size
characters who aren’t white.
They also emphasized that
anti-fat bias impacts male
characters as well.

19. “I would like to see a fat character
just be a fat character without it
being a topic of discussion”
“She’s confident, she’s stylish, she’s
kickass, she’s personable, she’s
funny. She’s all of these things that
just happen to be housed in a fat
body” - on Melissa McCarthy’s
character in the film Spy

20. Limitations
● This was a small-scale
undergraduate research
paper
● 181 usable survey responses
and 7 focus group members
● Due to scope and length,
key dimensions including
race, class and ability were
not addressed

21. Plus size women do not enjoy
negative representations of plus-size
women in media.
They really want more content with
positive representations of all sorts.

22. Research Conclusions
● While many plus-size women do watch content that involves problematic
representations, this is mainly due to lack of any other option
● When representations are particularly bad, it can lose plus-size audiences
● Plus-size audiences across all our research platforms have expressed
extreme interest in watching content with plus-size characters, particularly
in ways they haven’t been typically seen (fantasy/sci-fi, Olivia Pope-esque,
action, romantic leads)

23. Further Research
● Topic covered with more
scientific rigour
● Study run with notice of
additional dimensions such
as race, ability, class, sexual
orientation and gender
identity
● ‘Money where your mouth
is’ financial data on
spending habits

24. Why Does This Matter
● The plus-size clothing market is US $21.4 billion in 2016, this is a big
market with money to spend
● Average US woman is clothing size 16-18, this is a lot of people who
are being badly represented
● As our content increasingly diversifies, this is a group that should
not be ignored
● Media representation matters. STORIES matter, and so do the ways
we tell them