Those Fat-Hating Postcards
Oh, the postcards. The postcards with awful puns and “jokes” on them that feature very large models and often show them in the process of eating something. We’ve all seen them, right? I saw this one last month, while I was on vacation in Ohio, and I was like, “oh god, these. I remember these.”
When I was a kid, they didn’t annoy me (like they do now) they just made me uncomfortable. And why? Because they sent me the message that fat people are meant to be laughed at. Or maybe that fat people shouldn’t put on bathing suits. And my mom was not a skinny woman, and she wore a bathing suit. It made me feel protective and sad. Were people laughing at her? Was she funny, the way the postcards were funny?
I also used to wonder about the models who pose for these pictures. And I guess I still wonder about them, the same way I wonder about actors who are cast in parts where they don’t have a name, are just listed as “Fat Girl #3” or whatever.
So, these postcards. Harmless kitsch or fatism in the wild? And is it just my imagination or are we, at least, seeing fewer of them?
Posted by mo pie
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I suspect you’ve self-selected out of the Hilarious Postcard Shopper cohort of vacationers.
I think my issue with them- there are also usually some geeky guy postcards, but the geeky guys are extremely exaggerated, while the fat woman post cards look like someone I know (or am!). Most of the other postcards in the genre are styled to such an extreme that they are no resemblance to real people, then the fat woman is just standing there in a bathing suit.
I can say that I haven’t seen many of these post cards, but definitely plenty of roles in TV and movies where fat people are cast as a fat person for the purpose of ridicule. I have always wondered, “Why did that person audition for such a role? Are they that self hating or just in need of a paycheck?”
OK, piping in again as a former actress; when you get an agent (which in and of itself is extremely hard to do), that agent doesn’t get paid until you book a job. It’s impossible to get a decent audition without an agent. So there is a LOT of pressure to take ANY job that comes along, otherwise your agent will drop you and you’re back at square one. If you’re fat, pretty much the ONLY roles you’ll be up for are “Fat Girl/Guy #3.” So if you want to work, whether it’s on film, TV, stage, or in print, you feel have to take those jobs.
Add to that the fact that actors and models are bleedingly insecure to begin with, and seek validation through their work, and you have a perfect set-up. Thousands of actors are more than willing to humiliate themselves for a chance at a job, even a crummy one.
That does make sense. Thank you for your insight because I have always wondered about that.
@ Alyssa–that makes a lot of sense. I used to be in a different performing arts discipline where most people agreed that our working conditions would never improve because even if *you* weren’t willing to work for low pay or in bad working conditions, lots of other people were. Totally depressing to hear it’s the same for actors.
On topic–I’ve always wondered who buys those postcards? Does anyone send them? It’s odd to imagine there’s a big enough market for them that they’d still be produced.
I do see less and less of them around. When I was a kid and went on vacations to Florida, they were everywhere. Very weird phenomena. I think that being large was more anomalous than it is now. I am blond and was also vaguely aware of those dumb blond postcards that upset me a lot. I thought that I had to prove to people that I was smart.
I don’t know if I live under a rock or what, but I have never seen that kind of postcard before. Whenever I looked at postcards in shops I only saw the normal ones of city shots, sunsets, local scenery, and nature.
You’re not alone; I’m in my mid-twenties and today was the first day I’ve ever seen a postcard like that. The closest I’d come before was seeing a birthday card one of my uncles got of a plus-size woman in lingerie, but that card was clearly meant to show the woman as attractive.
I’ve seen a lot of those here in California. There’s usually at least one fat hating postcard per postcard rack in the touristy type of shops.
I’m another one living under a rock, I guess — I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of these awful things. And for that, I am extremely grateful!
Yep- still out there!
I travel to different cities every week on business. I see PAhlenty of these out there, still. Yes, in the touristy shops, but also in areas without obvious tourist icons.
I’d like a fat re-working of some of the classic icons as a way of reclaiming these.
Fat Statue of Liberty, anybody?
OK, just a thought…..
Marginally related: I kind of want a fat pin-up girl tattoo.
Alyssa, I know this is somewhat off topic, but I’m wondering what are your thoughts on the upcoming show Mike & Molly as a former actress? Do you think it’s good because fat people are getting starring roles, or that the fact the show is made almost entirely of fat jokes, ruin any positive that could come from the actor and actress with a lead role?
Can you research the company that produced the post card and write a letter?
I was at a drugstore this weekend and spied a rack of postcards. My informal survey was that 3 out of 20 were fat-hating postcards and one “appealing” thin woman in a bikini. The rest were scenic.