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In Scooby Doo Movie Daphne going from size 2 to size 8
Blog | August 24, 2014
You may have already heard about the controversy around the new movie Scooby-Doo:Frankencreepy. One of the main characters beautiful Daphne is “cursed” and goes from her size 2 to size 8 and basically becomes obese, and is horrified by the curse – which is the reason why is this movie being accused of fat shaming. As the movie goes on, Daphne realizes that she was being shallow and superficial, and that her boyfriend Fred didn’t even notice or cared about the change. This gives the story a deeper meaning, and a positive spin, which is exactly what the authors were aiming for.
I personally believe that non of the authors meant to be insulting and that fat shaming was not their intention. However some critics and viewers still see the negative, because of the fact that the sudden weight gain was a “curse” and for Daphne’s initial reaction. So while the intention was to teach kids not think superficial and that beauty is in the eye of beholder, it is undeniable that the extra weight was perceived as something very negative and unattractive.
It reminds me the french series of 5 popular historical adventure movies about Angelique. She was forced to marry Jeoffrey Comte de Peyrac who was “old” (probably 10 years older than her), had a huge scar across his face, and a limp. She was at first totally disgusted by him, but once she get to know his personality and character, she fell in love with him. If you compare these two movies, there is a similarity. His appearance is like a curse to him, but true love suddenly changes everything and the scar or limp no longer matters to him or the love of his life. Is it considered limp shaming or scar shaming? I don’t think so. Again, the authors wanted to show the power of love and acceptance.
The problem is, that we’re currently dealing with an epidemic of lifestyle diseases that lead to obesity. The numbers of American’s that are overweight or obese skyrocketed in the past decade to 70% of the population. There is so much pain associated with this problem that It became literally a sore subject for the entire society. In my opinion, now is the time to be supportive of each other more then ever and while I truly believe in nothing but good intentions of the authors of Scooby-Doo, I think they could have come up with a curse that had nothing to do with such a sensitive topic. She should have turned into Shrek. I’m just giving an example.
Bottom line is that there is no shame in the size or shape of your body. If you are sabotaging your health by eating crap and sitting by the TV all they long, and being lazy, then yes, shame on you. If you are a mean person, shame on you. Yes, I do judge people by their behaviors. There you go, I admit that. However I also think we should not be judging ourselves and each other by our appearance but rather by our actions and efforts. If you are someone who is actively trying to make a positive change in your life, and the life of your loved ones, you have my respect no matter what size of jeans you’re wearing. I admire everyone that cares and strives for better and healthier lifestyle.
When it comes to attractiveness, there are plenty of curvy women and bigger size men with irresistible charisma, that know how to carry themselves, so it’s really more about, what kind of person you really are? There is no way to tell who is the couch potato and who is a healthy, active and fun loving person, unless you get to know them better. And yes, you can be perfectly healthy even if you are overweight or obese. You can be also sick and unhealthy if you carry around the extra weight in a form of huge muscle mass. There is just no way, you can judge someone by their weight or shape.
You let me know what your opinion is and what you have to say about this subject.
Best,
Z.
Private Member |
Oh well, I think people should stop obsessing with weight and pay more attention to exercise and healthy lifestyle. As in “fit is the new skinny” style of thing.
Private Member |
Upon seeing or meeting someone for the first time, we judge them upon their looks based on whether we want them as a mate or whether they are a threat which is a primal instinct. We can’t help but judge others on their appearance even when we know, deep down inside, their looks don’t make them who they are. Yet, we have this society that markets products to us based on sex, food and danger. It seems very easy to fall into the trap of basing opinions on others based on their appearance.
I think a lot of people are their own worst enemies and their insecurities are reflected on others. For example, I have a much smaller upper torso (size 2) and my lower torso is a lot larger (size 8). I’ve been doing your workouts for 2 years now and I’ve seen a massive change. I’ve also been eating a lot better and taking care of myself. But no matter what I do, my body shape will always be that way. I have all these insane thoughts like “People must think I’m fat, or I have big stocky man legs, or I’m this or that.”. The reality is, whether other people think that or not, I don’t KNOW that they think that. And honestly, it’s none of my business. And if I look the way I look, I wouldn’t even say “God made me this way” because I know ultimately, that’s not true. I just am the way I am. I can’t change what I look like. But I can change my thoughts about myself and stop thinking I’m fat when that’s not the case! Where am I getting this kind of negative reinforcement from? Very subtly, from films such as this, marketing etc.
As you say, Zuzka, whilst the message comes from a place of good will, the ultimate issue here is assuming that someone is disadvantaged because of their physical appearance. Why is that really a problem at all, you know? Everyone has their characteristics but if we’re constantly being told that too fat is a burden, too skinny is “not a real woman” etc, nothing good can come of that.
We can’t change as a whole at the same time, but I think if one person makes a change in their life to work hard and to love themselves, then picking out their “flaws” they see in other people will stop. They will not make their insecurities the next persons insecurities.
The mind is a powerful thing and I believe we are stronger than the ideologies that are a foundation to our society.
Thanks for writing, Z!
Private Member |
Bravo Zuzka! Well spoken and I totally agree with you.
Private Member |
Size 8 is obese?!
Private Member |
I think it is US size 8, which is rather large.
Private Member |
Size 8 US is not large! The average woman wears a US size 14.
Private Member |
Size 8 is NOT obese. Above a size 20 may be obese depending on many things
Private Member |
US size 8 is considered a solid medium. I fluctuate between a 6 and an 8, depending on the brand, but I’m also 5’10 and was gifted with a bubble butt. Robin Lawley is 6’2″ and wears a US 12, and by no means should you consider her overweight.
Private Member |
I agree regarding this movie. However research shows that bias against weight is more prevalent than bias against race, disability and even cultural differences. Overweight people are passed over for promotion and generally paid less than lean people. The bias is real.
Private Member |
Being obese is a Sin.
Private Member |
These days we are taught that our identity and our problems are the same thing: alcoholic, trauma victim, etc. What we have traded for this is the link between our identity and our goals: achiever, successful or world’s best parent. If someone has had cancer and we ask them who they are, it is likely they will say, “I am a cancer survivor” rather than something like “I am someone who has succeeded in family and in business.”
These days we cannot sneeze without getting in trouble for offending someone no matter how innocent our words and intent might have been. More and more, I pity the people who take offense and distance myself from them because that psychology is not healthy.
When we heal our psychology we will define ourselves differently and not take offense when we see someone challenged, especially someone in a make-believe cartoon!
Private Member |
Thank you Zuzka. I appreciate this. I am quite overweight but I hike and do your workouts on a regular basis and just have not been able to lose it. So I have done some research and decided to go vegan. If you watch the movie “earthlings”, you may do the same. That wasn’t the only reason why, but it helped open my eyes. I think there is no way for you to know how the animals you buy to eat were treated unless you visit the places they were raised and slaughtered yourself, and I cannot do that, so I choose to go vegan. There is also a lot of research that meat and dairy can help cause cancer, and eating a vegan diet can reverse it, so at this point it is a no brainer for me. I haven’t eaten any animal products in 4 days and I do not miss it!
Private Member |
Since when is size 8 obese? An average height female who wore a size 8 would still be several sizes than the average female who wears a size 14 at 5’4″ tall. The size 2 is very likely skeltal looking on an average woman.
Private Member |
Since when is size 8 Fat!! Just a way for society to control women. Through starvation. Size 8 is perfectly fine. Most people are not a size 2 and for most it would take a lot of torture to achieve that size. The smallest I’ve ever been is a size 6. I don’t want the body of a child. It’s fine if that’s your natural makeup. For most of us size 2 is really unattainable.