Shrill is busting the myth of fat women being "unf*ckable"

The New Republic

"A big part of representing fat women on TV involves busting myths about their desirability," says Josephine Livingstone. She adds: "Casting fat women as 'The Unf*ckables' does not reflect the actual experiences of fat women in the world. It just reflects the way that movies and television are produced—the same ideology that made mass media so hellish for tween girls at the turn of the century. Which brings us back to Shrill, and its radical potential. If there’s one target it hits right at the bullseye, it’s the taboo around desiring fat women in public. (Aidy) Bryant looks good, all the time. In the best episode, where Annie attends a pool party full of other fat women, Shrill shows beauty and abundance. It’s about spontaneous revelation, the mists of Hollywood delusion suddenly clearing to show a paradise of fat joy. If the show is to be a charming meander through the life of one fat woman realizing that she is allowed to be happy, then it is a total success."

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