Representation in novels is vastly underdone. So underdone, in fact, that discussing it in just one article would be a disservice to the topic. So begins a chain of articles bringing awareness to the overwhelming lack of diversity in novels today — particularly fantasy novels, as that is my book of choice.
To begin this saga, I want to speak specifically about the lack of body diversity in novels. During the entirety of 2021, I personally have read fifty-two books. Now out of these fifty-two books… How many of them featured plus-sized bodies? Perhaps one, maybe two.
Plus-sized bodies in fantasy novels are extremely hard to come by, unless they’re mentioned to lay judgment onto the character described. Why is it that, in a novel with such unique creatures, a bigger body is all but a myth?
To be able to lose yourself into new worlds is such an engaging experience; however, this can be tainted when none of the characters look like you. When the only time a character with your body shape is mentioned, is to degrade them — it can truly harm one’s mental health.
Larger and smaller bodies alike deserve to exist in fantasy. As it is now, with every character being described by how slender they are, it is as though the fantasy genre is holding a giant sign saying, “fat characters can’t be heroes.”
Of the top rated fantasy novels these past years, only two feature plus sized characters in a main role. These novels are Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, and From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout.
The women in these novels were stated by their author to be plus-size; however, in their respective novels, they are seldom described as being larger. The authors often touch on the characters in question being more curvaceous, and that they enjoy food.
Due to these blurry edged descriptions, many fans do not even realize these characters have bigger bodies. This has led to the audience marking them as straight sized, often drawing them as such.
With body representation in novels already at a staggering low, this is a major crush to plus sized bodies. Both of these characters had their bodies shrunken by fans to fit into the fantasy novel, and it is depressing to see.
Plus sized males come at even lower rates in books. Of the top rated fantasy novels these past years — none of them have featured plus sized men. When men in fantasy novels are described as being overweight, it is used as a slight against them. Instead of simply using it as a descriptor — it is used to signal them out as the “creepy men”.
This contrasts plus sized women in novels who are often seen as motherly or the comedic relief.
Reading is an escapism for many from the struggles of the real world. We all want to consume media that relates to us in some way, and to see ourselves reflected in the characters we admire. To bring more body diversity into novels would mean a new generation has the ability to grow up seeing themselves represented in their favorite genre — and that would be a great future.