For Amy, Ashley and I’s podcast, we touched on many facets of body image representation and the problematic “normal” female image. In an article in Eating Weight Disord, Vol 10 titled “Thin is ‘in’ and stout is ‘out’: What animated cartoons tell viewers about body weight,” H. Klein and K.S. Shiffman provide insightful research and commentary covering three points: how prevalent is weight-related content in animated cartoons, has this prevalence changed over time, and what “types” of characteristics tend to be associated with being thinner-than normal or heavier-than-normal.
The results state that 88% of characters fell within the “normal” body range. Characters outside of the “normal” were more than twice as likely to be overweight than underweight (8.6%, and 3.4%, respectively). Females were more than four times as likely to be shown as underweight than men. Overweight characters were far less likely to be depicted as physically attractive than their normal-weight or underweight counterparts. Overweight characters were more than twice as apt to be shown as unintelligent as their normal-weight and underweight counterparts. Heavy characters were more likely to be shown to suffer from some type of physical disability when compared to their average-weight or thinner than-average counterparts. (113)
“The adverse effects of internalizing such messages about body weight have been shown in numerous studies that have linked them to problems like low self-esteem (23, 24), poor body image (25, 26), eating disorders (5, 27-29), and depression (25, 30), among others.” (114)
The study was incredibly thorough and provided much more information than I can discuss in one blog post, though the results speak for themselves. The positive representation, not just the inclusion, of overweight and underweight characters is incredibly important to the self esteem of younger viewers, which most cartoons are made for. Even cartoons not made for children usually end up being consumed by younger-than-intended audiences. Things like this are important to keep in mind, even when it’s easier to reach for a trope or stereotype.
Klein, H., & Shiffman, K. (2004). Thin is “in” and stout is “out”: What animated cartoons tell viewers about body weight. Eating Weight Disorders,10, 107-116.