Three Tips for Better Fat Representation

Museum objects which depict fat people are often difficult and challenging representations, including caricatures, morality lessons and medical heritage. It is unusual to find objects which dig deeper into the meaning of these objects, instead choosing to reflect without comment the fat phobia of modern western society.  Often these representations of fatness contribute to feelings of shame, fear and guilt around fat bodies. The meaning in these objects is placed onto the real humans who enter the museum space to visit them. 

Museums have an opportunity to reconsider their labeling of objects which represent fatness and consider what the language they use may mean for fat people. They can also promote fat voices to examine the experience of fatness and improve physical access for fat visitors. Objects have potential to act as form of way finding for fat people to find themselves in museum spaces, and in a broader sense, history itself.  In doing so, museums can contribute to better representation of fatness, humanizing fat people and combating discrimination. 

1. Think about language

The term fat has evolved in our language and become for many people a painful word used to cause harm against our bodies. This has left many fat people without neutral language to describe themselves. Reclamation of the word fat is therefore a vital tool to help fat people find community and themselves. Museums should not be afraid to use the fat! There is already fantastic work done around the language used in collections particularly in relation to race - not choosing to erase it but rather acknowledging the harmful language and making a conscious choice to explore it. Terms commonly found in museum collections include corpulent and obese, the first being archaic and the second considered slur in fat communities. Using same method applied to fatness, it can offer ample opportunity for museums to explore their collections relationship to fatness. 

2. Use the voices of fat people

Many fat people find themselves on the margins of society, finding it difficult to access public spaces, employment and medical assistance. The stories told about fat people are often that we are lazy, unhealthy and a risk to the social fabric of society. Museums have the opportunity to help bring fat people back into the fold by using their images, stories and experiences to help integrate fat people into our historical record. When using objects which represent fatness, consider reaching out to fat people to ensure their voice is not ignored within their own representation.

3. Think about your physical space

Physical access is another issue which museums are increasingly conscientious of. This includes the use of ramps, lifts, large print text and neurodivergent-friendly quiet hours. Many fat people also have access requirements and all human beings should have the right to visit and use public spaces. These access needs include adequate space in toilet cubicles, seating which can hold larger weights and clear walkways. The best thing is that these access requirements will help all visitors to the museum, not just fat people.

Objects in collections can be used to examine and explore fatness in museum settings in ways which challenge fatphobia and affirm fat people’s lived experiences. Museums must be inclusive and conscious of fat people throughout all aspects of their practice.