Implicit Bias, Fatphobia, and The Circle on Netflix
I’ve never been much of a reality television person. And even the two that I do watch have been on for years. New stuff just hasn’t caught my attention and kept me interested. So when a friend of mine insisted that I watch The Circle, a new reality show on Netflix, I couldn’t help but think how much they have misread my television taste levels. But, as quarantine wore on, I needed something brainless to turn to after finishing up with clients for the day. I was exhausted and need to something that just let me escape.
I begrudgingly turned on The Circle.
If you have not watched it yet, The Circle is a reality competition show and social experiment revolving around social media. Contestants are secluded in their apartment with their only access to people interaction being through this fake social media app, The Circle. Each contestant could set up their profile to be whatever they wanted it to be. They had the choice to come in as their selves, as a catfish, or as something sort of in-between. Contestants used chat functions to get to know each of the other contestants, competed in games, and rated each other every episode. The two highest-ranked contestants then “met” to discuss who they were sent home. The goal of the game was simple...to make people like and trust you so you could be ranked highest and seen as most liked in the end.
As a HAES therapist, this was a little different from day-to-day.
By the end of the first episode, I was all in. I walked in expecting the worst in everybody, but what I found was a group of people who genuinely got to know and care about each other, despite only knowing one another by how they were representing themselves. Yes, there were definitely catfish. Most of the catfish though ended up as more of a hybrid of the catfish and themselves, meaning that they brought their true personalities to the game but represented themselves through pictures as somebody else.
This is where things get interesting.
Most people represented themselves as they were. These people also all fit into a standard definition of beauty. Thin, tan, and fit. Those who did not, decided to represent themselves with pictures of somebody who did. There was one exception to this, who I think is worth talking about another time. There is also definitely a discussion to be had about POCs on the show. But something that struck me hard numerous times throughout the show was how people in larger bodies both felt they needed to represent themselves and how they were treated by other contestants.
So, it was clear that fatphobia was present.
Three different contestants came onto the show in bodies that fell outside of the thin ideal. All three of these people chose to represent themselves as somebody thinner and more stereotypically “beautiful.” Two of the contestants, Karyn and Adam, both used pictures submitted by people they did not know but then created their personalities. The people they chose to be visually fit into the same beauty ideal as the other contestants. Sean, a body positivity advocate and part of the plus-size fashion industry on social media, also came in with catfish pictures of a friend/model.
Even with this in mind, it’s clear that fatphobia and implicit bias played a part.
They each had their own reasons for this choice, but each of them was well aware of the implicit bias that people live their life in a larger body. They were well aware that in order to make a good impression on the other contestants, they needed to remove barriers that may keep somebody from getting to know them. Karyn, who catfished as Mercedez, upon meeting another player, Antonio, IRL asked “Would you have talked to me if I looked like this on my default?” Karyn herself is a black female in a larger body and describes herself as “not ugly, but not feminine.” She goes on to share that she has been judged all of her life and just wanted to be seen for who she was. She played the game as her and made some solid, authentic connections, which, if Instagram is to be believed, those connections are still strong. She recognized that she would not have been given a second look on a show so heavily based on first impressions.
Sean came in with a similar experience.
She shared that she did not use her own pictures, not because she was not confident in her own body, but because she has “experienced the hate and harassment plus-size individuals receive online simply for existing.” I don’t know about you, but this feels significant. Hate and harassment from others, not her own feelings about her body, lead her to make the decision to pose as a straight-sized person. In the end, Sean did come clean about catfishing, shared her real pictures, and told the other about her experience of living life while fat. She let people get to know the “real” her before getting vulnerable.
Body acceptance was not given to everyone.
While most of the cast-mates responded very positively to Sean’s big reveal, several did not. Real-world responses have been similarly mixed. Sean was the whole reason the show was suggested to me in the first place. Sean understood the backlash she could receive as a result of fatphobia and chose not to expose herself. I get that. As somebody who works in the plus-size field, some feel that she missed a huge opportunity to represent body acceptance and a HAES message on a very large scale. I get that too. I also need to acknowledge that this was a game for a large financial prize. I also feel uncomfortable expecting somebody to “represent the cause” or “be an example for” anything just because they are the token person filling that role. Placing our own expectations on somebody else’s actions, especially when we do not even know that person, is setting ourselves up to be disappointed.
However you feel about Sean, or any of the catfish isn’t the point though.
Rather, I can’t help but think how much this silly reality show shined a light onto some tough realities. It showed us that despite, however “woke” we may feel we are, there are some hard truths we must face, and implicit bias is one of them. We all have them, that’s why they are implicit, right? Karyn, Sean, and Alex came in with their own implicit bias about what other people would be willing to accept. This comes from years of lived experience. Others, probably many watching, have their own bias towards bodies of size and what it says about them.
The show showed us how damaging fatphobia can be for a person.
Sean and Karyn both seemed to represent women who were very confident in themselves and who they were. But because of their lived experiences, they could not bring all of themselves onto the show because of the way they have been judged for the way they look. They understood that fatphobia could be the make-or-break thing that kept people from getting to know them and from them winning the prize.
Fatphobia allows space for “acceptable” bullying because of faux concerns about health.
We need to challenge that. Implicit biases around bodies of size result in assumptions about somebody’s motivation, health, intelligence, and income levels. Again, we need to challenge these views. The Circle took a brave step forward in doing this and showing viewers just how harmful those things can be. What was your response to the catfishers on The Circle? How did Sean’s big reveal sit with you?
If this stuff is right up your alley, you should work with me!
As a HAES therapist, this is my jam! I offer therapy for all things eating disorders, body image, and perfectionism. I am able to work with anyone through online therapy in Missouri and online therapy in Wisconsin. Or, I’m happy to see you in my St. Louis-based counseling practice. When you’re ready to begin therapy in St. Louis-based counseling practice, follow these steps:
Contact Embodied Self Counseling for a 20-minute consultation
Get through this wild thing we call life!
Other Therapy Services at Embodied Self Counseling
Fatphobia is heavily accepted in our culture. That’s why it’s important for us to identify truth from fiction. Your size does not define you. If you need support then Embodied Self Counseling’s St. Louis office can help. If you’re ready and want to learn more about services, you’re in the right place. The additional support offered includes online therapy in Missouri and online therapy in Wisconsin to accommodate your busy schedule. If you have "stuff with food" that others don't get, you could be a good fit for my eating disorder treatment. Additionally, I provide a unique approach to working with atypical anorexia and perfectionism. I offer eating disorder treatment for men too. Additionally, I offer Counseling for Compulsive Exercise, I am skilled with working with athletes and providing Counseling for Athletes. Plus, I provide Eating Disorder Treatment for Men. When you’re ready, get in touch!