My Perspective Watching “Shrill” as a Skinny/Not-Skinny Person
First, I’m late to the party, as “Shrill,” a series starring Aidy Bryant, premiered in 2019. Second, what I mean by skinny/not-skinny person is that a) I used to be skinny, and b) now I’m not. I’m not morbidly obese, but I’m twenty-five pounds above the upper limit of my USDA recommended weight for my height (which is kind of on the generous side, anyway). I’m also two dress sizes and two pants sizes above my historical adult average. And no one would call me skinny.
Watching “Shrill,” I’m learning a lot about the way our culture views fat people, and I am embarrassed for our country. Having moved all around our diverse nation, mostly while an “acceptable” weight, I’m aware of significant regional differences in what people consider optimal weight. New York Chic is the polar opposite of Southwestern standards of womanly curves — and I’m a lot closer to womanly curves than New York Chic. I’m also pretty out of shape due to a post-covid lingering respiratory illness that will not quit, despite my coffee-table full of supplements, native herbal remedies prepared by a fifth generation New Mexican, and my latest tincture, helpfully labeled “Get Over It.” And I really wish my new curves were on my ass and not my stomach, but we can’t all have whatever we want.
