Fat Shaming: Real Life versus Television

Fat-shaming is a commonality in today’s society, and especially on our social media platforms. We may advocate for body positivity, but at the end of the day there will always be those in the background who shoot down the positive comments for unwanted body biases. So, what does that say when fat-shaming is presented in our night-time cable television? Do we give them the benefit of doubt and call it a needed plot point, or is it counterintuitive to tear down the show for their disappointing inclusion of negative body images?

In a recent episode of the award-winning Showtime series, “Shameless,” controversy arose as an already problematic, and quite ignorant, Ian Gallagher and his ex-boyfriend, Trevor, attend Trevor’s preferred bar: Bear Back.  In the show, Bear Back attracts mostly chubbier gay men, which Ian abruptly questions his ex’s recurring attendance. Outside and inside the Showtime series, the term ‘chub’ is used for various reasons in the LGBT community.

The complication that some see with the inclusion of chubs and the Bear Back bar could be because of the way “Shameless” had delivered and executed the scene, including its dialogue between Ian and Trevor.

An article that was written by Refinery29’s Ariana Romero describes her thoughts on the scene, which she describes as “disappointing” in her caption.

“At Bear Back, Ian criticizes the clientele, asking why this is Trevor’s type. ‘They like to please. They’re tender,’ Trevor says, emphasizing he’s only interested in bigger men sometimes,” Romero wrote. “Trevor’s entire outlook on larger men proves he only sees them as self-gratifying objects.”

According to Romero’s view point, she believes that Trevor is using his privilege, attractive appearance, and size against the chubs he fraternizes with at the bar. The scene presented happens quite frequently among the LGBT community, especially among gay men.

Now, quite like Romero’s article, viewers have discussed their own opinions about the Shameless episode and shared them among other viewers.

“I believe that the inclusion of the scene was a good choice,” senior Ivory Ford said. “In earlier seasons of the show, dialogue pertaining to the LGBT community was very vague and wasn’t as educated as it obviously is now, in its later seasons. The inclusion of the chubs and other features of gay cultures is obviously a step in the right direction for the show.”

As presented in the show, preference seems to hold no exception whether you are a transgender gay man or cisgender man (people whose gender identity matches the sex that they were assigned at birth), and in the queer community preferences are a common occurrence and something that many people have advocated to be wrong.

“I think for a community that’s supposed to be accepting, we don’t have a lot of representation of every race, body, type, etc.” freshman Jaxon Andrews said. “I feel like it forces people to change their bodies and hate themselves because of this preference.”

“Shameless” has been known and criticized for many things that have occurred across its current eight seasons. It has showcased the lives and struggles of South Chicago families, sexual assault on multiple occasions, and even ignorance and transphobia within the LGBT communities.

Although fat shaming is an issue that should not be taken lightheartedly, it’s something that “Shameless” barely has any grounds in, and as for the scene that took place in its recent episode, it’s simply a mishap. If you don’t understand the terminology being used, you can easily mistake it as what it’s been said to be: fat-shaming.