The weight of Expectations

THERE WAS THIS REALLY FAT GIRL

By: Carla M. Pacis

This text is a journey of self-acceptance, the search for peace and the impact of societal expectations. This centers around a young woman, Ana, who only sees herself as her weight. This affects her perception of herself and how people treat her. This story shows how it is to live a life of one who is undervalued and judged for their appearance. This story's narratives delve into the subtleties of self-worth, body image, and judgment. We follow along on her journey as she confronts her insecurities and criticism. This story highlights issues of body-shaming and self-esteem. This underlines interiority, to be able to stand for oneself and be content in a society that values superficial attributes. The text challenges you to reassess your views on self-confidence, beauty and acceptance. 

 

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” -1 Samuel 16:7

Summary: 

“There Was This Really Fat Girl” revolves around Ana who is worried about her weight as prom approaches. She feels anxious about finding a nice dress and getting a date, and she struggles with how she looks compared to her best friend, Kat, who is a model. When a boy shows no interest in Ana, she becomes desperate to lose weight. She hears about diet pills that are not safe and decides to take them, thinking they will help her fit into her dream dress. As Ana loses weight, she starts to feel sick and eventually faints at school. When her mother finds out about the pills, the doctor tells Ana she needs to rest and gain back the weight she lost too quickly, which means she can't go to prom. In the end, Ana learns that being healthy is more important than trying to look perfect. The story displays the pressure of societal standards and the lengths it can take us to, it also underlines the need for self-acceptance and interiority. 

Interpretation and Analysis

Biographical Context:

This text is an excellent example of society's fixation on unrealistic standards, which prompts the question: what value does society find in appearance? Why chase after and desire superficialities? Ana’s story shows us how these pressures like this can drive us to extremes. A good example is her family's remarks about her weight such as “perfectly pump” and “baby fats”, rejection faced from her prom date, and her own doubt and comparing herself to her friends. This was enough to push her to make unhealthy decisions, not only hurting herself physically but mentally. Will the pursuit of the “ideal body” really lead to happiness and contentment? Or more pain? This raises questions that explain the effects of these standards on one’s choices. Are these standards worth the pain that Ana endures? What she goes through challenges us to re-evaluate societal norms and what we truly value in people, and whether chasing this standard is worth the sacrifice we all do to fit in. 

Linguistic context: 

Examining the linguistic context of the story it is apparent that the author's use of the dialogue and internal monologue show the themes of body-image, pressure and adolescent identity. Examples of these are interactions with her family and friends with phrases such as “baby fat” and “perfectly plump” mentioned. An inner monologue where she compares herself to her friends mentioning her “model-thin best friend” and “betraying mirror” which reveals her insecurities. This further conveys the text's themes about how societal expectations can impact an individual. This text's narratives are also used to promote Sustainable Development Goals, such as Goal 3 that addresses good health and well-being and Goal 10 that promotes a safer, supportive and healthier environment for us to grow in without fear of judgment. We can also relate this text to Augustian teachings that accentuates the intrinsic value of individuals mirrored in principles such as being made in God's image. A good example of this is in Genesis 1:27 that mentions valuing inner beauty over external beauty. The text calls for the self-acceptance God wishes for us and for the equitable attitudes towards body image, that relates to Augustinian value that is worth in humbleness and dignity rather than the standards that society raises. 

Sociocultural context:

This text sheds light on the pressure that people who are considered undervalued in society struggle with. This story highlights how these unrealistic standards drain us and push us to let us chase unreal standards that leave us drained. Instead of being able to accept ourselves, society normalizes these standards and that bars us from being who we truly are. These standards can drive us desperate and push us to achieve this in means that will only contribute to health problems. This story scrutinizes these standards and challenges us to rethink our views. This story conveys the need for contentment in oneself and to challenge harmful stereotypes to create an environment where we can be ourselves. 

Conclusion:

To summarize this analysis, “There Was This Really Fat Girl” is a text that highlights societal standards and its impact. The experiences of the main-character display how this can warp our self-worth and destroy our self-image. This story tells us that self-acceptance and contentment is a way to challenge these cultural norms. To break down these standards and to value well-being over superficial attributes, which aligns with Sustainable Development Goals and Augustian teachings on inner-worth. 

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." -Romans 2:12