One of my favorite things about my blog, or should I say having a blog in general, is that I have an entire section dedicated to how body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) are portrayed in the media. I go out of my way to watch and/or read things that even hint at a character having a BFRB! It's so fun! What isn't so fun is a trend that I've noticed... Why is every character with trichotillomania unlikable?
It seems like in every form of media that I consume, the person with trichotillomania has extremely unlikable traits. They're viewed as "crazy" or worse—they're murderers! I know firsthand that having trichotillomania is just only one part of a person and that yes, the other parts can be unlikable but jeez! Where are all the positive characters with trichotillomania?
I'm going to use one word to describe the characters I've seen so far. I know they are more complex than that but you get the idea!
Ashley from The Boys = Hateful
Caitlin from The Sopranos = Annoying
Mavis from Young Adult = Alcoholic
Adora and Amma from Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn = Murderers
It has only been through firsthand accounts that trichotillomania gets the proper representation it deserves which makes sense—who better to fully explain the complexity of the disorder than someone who has it themselves? Otherwise it can seem like writers are just adding the disorder to an already unlikable character.
What are your thoughts?
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