There was a bit of a stir recently when Elle Magazine came out with its annual "Women in Hollywood” issue.
Four covers were shot with four different stars: Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Penelope Cruz and Melissa McCarthy.
Witherspoon wore a fitted black dress, Woodley wore a swimsuit and Cruz recently gave birth to her second baby, so hers was a close-up face shot. Curvy, full-figured McCarthy was swathed and bundled up in a big coat.
That led to criticism that McCarthy was covered up because she's full-figured — though it should be noted that Melissa McCarthy herself said she was glad to be a part of the cover.
But it does raise the issue of society's attitudes toward overweight or obese people.
35% of the population of Michigan is considered to be overweight, so it’s an issue that affects many in our state.
Is there a bias towards fat people that would not be tolerated elsewhere?
Joining us is Amanda Levitt, a graduate student at Wayne State University. Levitt writes the blog Fat Body Politics.
Listen to the full interview above.
