“Fat people have been discriminated against, denied recognition of our beauty, so we want to dignify the word ‘Gorda,'” says Madam. (Foto:Miguel Macías Malagón)
By Reynaldo Mena
It is a group of five women who have stormed prejudices, dominant culture, and concepts that seek to hegemonize society.
They call themselves the Gordas Expansivas Burlesqueras and are seeking to create a dissenting movement that dignifies the plurality of society, especially in relation to the human body.
“Some of us had taken acting courses within the burlesque genre; there were already circles of ‘Gordoridad’ that aim to be an alternative to ‘Gordofobia,'” says Fernanda Hernández, one of the founders.
“We wanted to do a show de ‘gordas’, against all the molds presented to us in the media, thin actresses, thin women. We didn’t exist,” she adds.
This group, based in Mexico City, represents a dissenting and dignifying vision of ‘fat’ individuals.
“We wanted to do a show de ‘gordas’, against all the molds presented to us in the media, thin actresses, thin women. We didn’t exist,” Fer adds. (Miguel Macías Malagón)
“There’s nothing wrong with that word. We are fat; sometimes when we walk down the street, people shout at us, ‘move, fatty,’ or something else. And we don’t see it as an insult; we respond, ‘Sure, I’m fat, so what?'” says Arantza Durand, another member.
Last year, they staged the play GordHorror, in which they made a significant impact in the capital.
“We are breaking a concept about the hegemony of beauty. We have always been told about a certain model of physical appearance, the perfection of beauty, the way we should admire it. Fat people have been discriminated against, denied recognition of our beauty, so we want to dignify the word ‘Gorda,'” says Madam Petra del Bosque del Terror, one of the founders.
For Fernanda, the body is a process in transition. There are stages when it’s fat, other times thin, other times in between. For her, it’s very difficult to pigeonhole the word ‘fat.’
“I haven’t undressed yet, I haven’t unlocked all my fears. I have unlocked many sensitivities, my control of expression, bodily, not hiding,” Sandra says. (Miguel Macías Malagón)
“Society understands the word ‘fat’ as if it wanted to convey that ‘we don’t fit here.’ If you’re looking for lingerie, there’s none in your size; if you travel, there are no suitable seats. Fat people are those they mock, the joke of the party,” adds Fernanda.
“All bodies have distinctions, are diverse, and that is denied. When have you seen autopsies on fat bodies?” she says.
They want to emphasize the false concept that a fat body is unhealthy.
“Everyone says that because we are fat, we are sick. A thin body also gets sick. No one talks about the different elements that influence a body to be fat. There’s stress, mental health, the environment one lives in, so many things, and society wants to limit it to the issue of food,” says Madam.
For them, losing weight is not a matter of diets.
“Everything we do comes from our loving side; we have a dialogue within the movement, the voice. We have to lose the fear of movement, create a discourse, connect with people,” said Arantza. (Miguel Macías Malagón)
“We all would like to lose weight. I’ve been on diets since I was eight; I enter one, leave, and enter another. It’s not about the food for me; it’s my genetics. That’s how my body is. I know how many diets you ask me about; I’ve become an expert, and it doesn’t work. On the contrary, it has caused health problems,” says Val, another member.
For them, the most important thing is to take care of themselves at the moment they are in, at the weight they are.
“I enjoy life in the process I’m in,” says Arantza. “Everything we do comes from our loving side; we have a dialogue within the movement, the voice. We have to lose the fear of movement, create a discourse, connect with people.”
The next show they are preparing has to do with animals.
“We seek to reclaim the animal that we are, not be ashamed, vindicate it,” adds Arantza.
“Each of us chooses a character we identify with, sensually undress, show our ‘love handles,’ our cellulite without shame,” says Fernanda.
Their show is also a questioning of diversity.
“We thought about the comments, the attacks, ‘Ew, fat women undressing.’ But we changed the discourse; now we become desirable women, with our rolls exposed. This is a dissenting movement,” says Fer.
They adopted the Burlesque genre, which consists of a kind of cabaret show. Within Mexican culture, it encompasses a political discourse, dancing, singing, provocation, and nudity.
“Burlesque can be very healing; it’s a personal experience,” says Madam.
Sandra Ortiz notes the challenges.
“I haven’t undressed yet, I haven’t unlocked all my fears. I have unlocked many sensitivities, my control of expression, bodily, not hiding,” she says.
“Our show aimed to make people uncomfortable, but when we got on stage, we realized that the audience wasn’t uncomfortable; they were captivated,” says Fer.”
