UCLA

Over time, the United States national narrative on the Obesity Epidemic created a xenophobic, racist, sexist, and fatphobic cultural paradigm that villainizes queer, and non-queer Latinos. The goal of this thesis is to understand how the Latino Obesity Narrative creates an internalized illusion of disease within fat Chicana lesbians. First, I use medical, public health, and fat studies research to delineate the Latino Obesity Narrative. Second, I use Chicana Lesbian Feminist methodologies to dissect the national paradigm on Obesity and begin my analysis of Fat Chicana Lesbian Photographer, Laura Aguilar. Aguilar’s photographs, videos, and letters are the backdrop to understanding the impact the American obesity consciousness has on Chicana lesbian bodies. Lastly, I conclude that Aguilar’s artwork is a foundation towards body liberation that resists the United States’ dangerous sense of the model body.