Transfat Representation

Abstract

This study defines and analyzes representation of transfats, those who are both transgender and fat, through the examination of two popular media texts, Jabba the Hutt from The Return of the Jedi and Pat from the Saturday Night Live tv program in the 1990’s. I analyze these two texts using a queer feminist media studies lens to reveal the media construction of a transfat representation that is rooted in racism, transnormativity, and fatphobia and that positions the transfat body as non-normative and grotesque through the use of abject horror and fear. My analysis reveals how racism, transnormativity, and fatphobia shape the unique position of transfat subjects and then seeks to create more affirmative spaces for this unique and often overlooked or ignored subject position. By calling attention to the forces that have shaped transfat representation, we can work to create better, more inclusive representations that are not rooted in racism, transnormativity, and fatphobia