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Today I got a random email from someone asking for me to weigh in (haha
) on how the body size of one of my colleagues might keep them from being cast, and I just want to say:
THE LACK OF BODY DIVERSITY ON STAGE IS A DIRECT RESULT OF WHITE PATRIARCHAL IDEALS. WHICH IS BULLSHIT.
) on how the body size of one of my colleagues might keep them from being cast, and I just want to say:THE LACK OF BODY DIVERSITY ON STAGE IS A DIRECT RESULT OF WHITE PATRIARCHAL IDEALS. WHICH IS BULLSHIT.
The white patriarchal filter dictates that performers on stage must be the "ideal" and little variation is tolerated. They must be "HD-ready"... which just goes to mean that if they are lead characters with romantic storylines, they should be white and thin.
It's funny how diet culture has strikingly similar ideals, and how diet culture also has a LOT of racist roots. Take a listen below for some solid education on that.
(*ahem*SMASH THE PATRIARCHY*ahem*) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/food-psych-podcast-with-christy-harrison/id700512884?i=1000476397498
(*ahem*SMASH THE PATRIARCHY*ahem*) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/food-psych-podcast-with-christy-harrison/id700512884?i=1000476397498
I listened to that episode of @FoodPsychPod when it came out last summer, and the lessons learned stuck with me. The origins of fat phobia are incredibly racist, and have led to a NUMBER of issues, one of which I wholeheartedly believe is diversity onstage.
Here are some thoughts I've had lately...
What if we no longer subscribed to the notion that only white, thin people deserve to be represented on stage?
What if we challenged the idea that romantic leads can't be fat, or black, or not the typical age, or differently abled?
What if we no longer subscribed to the notion that only white, thin people deserve to be represented on stage?
What if we challenged the idea that romantic leads can't be fat, or black, or not the typical age, or differently abled?
What if we told stories that made far more people feel *seen*?
Unpack that patriarchal bullshit, sweeties. Sift through it and see it for what it is & then tear it all down.
The same system that tells us that larger bodied performers are unacceptable simultaneously tells us that ideal performers lily-white.
I call bullshit.
The same system that tells us that larger bodied performers are unacceptable simultaneously tells us that ideal performers lily-white.
I call bullshit.
ONE more tweet to add: @nonstandardrep helped me understand why "differently abled" is not the preferred term for disabled people, and I really appreciate the lesson!
