Today In F Words: Fat and Fandoms

Confession: I’m a card-carrying member of several fandoms. Okay, so there aren’t actually cards to carry (that I know of), but I’m proud to be one of those possibly crazy people who loves something pop-culture related so much that we actually have names for ourselves. Are you a Superwholockian, a Whedonite, an Arrowhead, a Gleek, a Fannibal, a Cortexifan, a Trekkie, an X-Phile? (Feel free to guess which of these I am.)

Seriously, it's a thing.
Seriously, it’s a thing.

While those are television examples, there are also fandoms for books, movies… even professional wrestling. Being part of a fandom can be a wonderful experience. Communicating, commiserating, and collaborating with like-minded people all over the world is, to quote someone you may or may not know, fantastic. Being part of something makes us feel good.

Yes, we do.
Right behind you, Doctor.

Now, let’s say you’re an out and proud member of your fandom, and want to wear your love on your proverbial literal sleeve. You’re in luck! There are a host of sites that make t-shirts that cater to fans. Here’s the thing, though: Don’t bother ordering one if you’re fat.

#truth
#truth

From Qwertee to ThinkGeek, pop-culture t-shirt manufacturers seem to have that same problem that so many other clothing makers have: They don’t want my money. I’m not sure why. I mean, there are theories out there that certain brands won’t make clothes for fat people because fat people don’t fit their “target demographic,” which I guess they think is a polite way of saying they only want to be associated with thin (read: attractive) people. If fat people are out wandering around in Lululemon or Abercrombie & Fitchor, god forbid, designer brandsthen… bad things happen like they get more money and more exposure. Oh, the horror, I guess? I haven’t quite worked this out yet, forgive me.

But this is how it makes me feel.
But this is how it makes me feel.

And now we have the custom-made-for-a-cause t-shirt trend. Celebrities like Stephen Amell and some of the cast of MTV’s Teen Wolf are jumping on the bandwagon, offering up limited-quantity, limited-time, custom shirts that support a cause, like cancer or cystic fibrosis. Nothing wrong with raising money for those causesor even for an up-and-coming artist who sells their designs this way. The problem is that they’re using represent.com to sell these shirts. And the manufacturer behind represent.com? That would be American Apparel.

Pay attention, Oliver.
Pay attention, Oliver.

Now, there are a host of problematic things about American Apparel. But what I want to talk about today is the fact that AA really only wants you to wear their stuff if you’re small.  Check out their sizes for women and for men. I love how men get up to 3XL, but women only get 2XL (and, at a 16-18, that’s hardly double extra large). What that means is that if I want to support causes that use represent.com, I have to buy a men’s shirt. Which means the sleeves are going to come down past my elbows and the chest is going to be enormous. I hate men’s t-shirts. I have a drawer full of them that I never wear. I really dislike you, American Apparel, and your sizest crap that prevents me from flying my pop-culture geek flag proudly and comfortably.

Apparently.
No, everyone else has.

And here’s a related thought: It’s pretty commonly known that the average American woman is a size 14. (Read this for an interesting look at clothing sizes.) In a sensible world, doesn’t that mean clothing manufacturers should make a size 14 their medium (meaning “about halfway between two extremes of size or another quality; average”)? But no, most shops make 14 an XL. That doesn’t make sense, but honestly, at the end of the day, I don’t care what the number is on the shirt. I don’t care if it says XL or 4XL or Fat Fatty McFatterson. I just want it to fit well and look good.

Well, it's a terrible one and it doesn't fit!
Well, it’s a terrible one and it doesn’t fit!

Seems to me that TV shows, movies, bands, and, yeah, professional wrestlers all want more fans. After all, more fans equals more money. So, are the decision-makers behind these brands all body snobs like American Apparel? Do they think money from fat pockets is tainted? Or are they all thin themselves, so they never even think about fat people? Or do we just not fit their “target demographic”? Seems to me, their target demographic should be anyone with money. Full stop.

Walter Bishop, ladies and gentlemen.
Walter Bishop, ladies and gentlemen.

I’ll wrap things up with an image that I’ve used before, and, sadly, will likely use many more times.

This, always.
I hope I can retire this someday.

Are you a member of a fandom? How do you show your fandom pride? Share in the comments!

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