The Book Industry's Idea Of "Plus Sized" Looks A Lot Like Fashion's
LatestWe’re familiar with the slim cartoon brunette on the cover of women-aimed books. And the whitewashing on the cover of YA books. But what about books featuring “large” women? Not on the cover please — we’re selling.
Sociological Images picks up on an Entertainment Weekly report by Kate Ward (not online) noting how books with “plus-sized” protagonists often have cover illustrations that are anything but.
To my mind, the most ridiculous specimens in this phenomenon are the ones whose title plainly purports to be about a larger woman, but are belied by the accompanying image, like the one above. Or like these:
Or what about this one, whose protagonist is known as “Scottish sausage”?
This one bears the closest resemblance to the character it describes, a “food addict”:
Good thing those heels probably make her look skinnier.
Seeing Is Believing [Sociological Images]
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