Queer Eye: Stories Behind the Stories, Ep. 3
If you want to know why I’m writing these, click here for an overview.
“Got a bag and fixed my teeth/hope you h*** know it ain’t cheap.” — Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow”
Though the Fab5 work together in each episode, the episode’s individual story often forces one or two of the Fivers to do a more significant change. In episode 2, when Bobby tricked out Rahanna’s ride, he clearly had a grand impact on her life in a way that the other Fivers’ transformations complement. Other episodes have reflected that as well: sometimes the heroes thank one of the Fivers in particular. In this episode, I think Jonathan is the one who makes the most impact.
This episode takes us through the life of Kevin, a father of the bride, who engages in self-deprecating humor because he is unhappy with his appearance. Some of that is about his weight. Kevin confesses to the Fab5 while pointing at a picture of him at his heaviest: “I don’t like that Kevin.” His daughter, Haley, mentions that he takes on a happy, big guy persona to please others. Evidently, he feels the pressure to assuage people’s concerns about his weight by appearing to be jolly and happy-go-lucky. It is certainly the pressure of size-ism and fatphobia: to make others more comfortable about you being in a larger body, you temper any emotions that make you unpalatable (i.e., anger or sorrow) and play up emotions that make you fun to be around (i.e., happiness).
Some of Kevin’s discomfort is about his teeth. He says to Jonathan, “When I look in the mirror, I see a strange person, because I have lost teeth. I’m afraid of what they’re thinking when they see me smile and they see that I have lost teeth.” One could think of this as an individual issue since it is about his teeth and his mouth. However, the cultural narratives we have about teeth, smiling, and facial appearance affect all facets of our lives because those narratives are so strong. That’s why the “they” Kevin references are never named. In some sense, the whole world is “they.” As he says, “that takes away from meeting other people.”
Specifically, one’s teeth and gums tend to signal something about one’s class position. Straight teeth. Crooked teeth. Caps. Gold Teeth. Missing teeth. Braces. Differently sized teeth. Black gums. Pink gums. Discolored teeth. Chipped teeth. Fillings. Tartar. Plaque. Certain presentations of teeth and mouths signal that one has money or does not. If you want a common cultural example, you can look no further than a Halloween costume shop where the so-called redneck costumes and so-called ghetto costumes usually have orthodontic components indicating poverty.
If you want a structural reason, you should know that low-income areas struggle to receive dental care. Dental care is viewed as an item of lesser importance or a luxury item, particularly if you’re struggling with car payments or other recurring bills. Further, dental care is not well-covered by Medicaid. Even with the gains for dental care under the Affordable Care Act, some dentists do not take Medicaid because it barely covers the cost of their overhead.
To compound matters, if you do not have a bright, approachable smile with all your teeth cleaned and straight, this minimizes your chances of being taken seriously at a job interview or at other high stakes social interactions. In Kevin’s case, he may not be thought poorly of at his daughter’s wedding, but he knows what an impact his smile has had and will continue to have on his interactions with those around him. As a mortgage closer, Kevin works in an industry that relies on the smile as a symbol of trust, surety, and good will.
This reminds me of another QE episode (season 3, episode 3) with the Jones sisters: Deborah and Mary, nicknamed Little and Shorty respectively. Shorty also had a missing tooth which impacted her perception of her mouth so much that she covered it up when she talked, laughed, or smiled. Further, Shorty was unable to engage in business negotiations because she was concerned about how others would view her missing tooth. I would be remiss if I did not add that what remained unsaid during these conversations was that people with missing teeth are not just presumed to be of a low socio-economic status, but are often thought of as unintelligent. When Tan and Jonathan took Shorty to the dentist and she received the dental care she needed, she couldn’t stop smiling. Her radiance translated to all who saw. That lasted well beyond the QE episode. You can see a clip of the Jones sisters on the Steve Harvey Show here.
A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. — Phyllis Diller
During Kevin’s episode, he gets a partial denture from a dentist who is obviously a fan of Jonathan if not a fan of the show. (Side note: I’m not sure who chose the quote above as an epigraph to that segment, but I question it. A lot. Is the goal really to set things straight Queer Eye? Really?) When Kevin looks into the mirror after his dental work, he is hoarse and his speech is stultified. His daughter notices and has a similar reaction. His ex-wife has such an emotional reaction that it made me feel a little awkward for her current boyfriend. Tan, who is usually a voice of reason, tempers my own reaction when the camera cuts to him saying “I know it is a unique situation, but I’m glad she’s super supportive of him.” Tan doesn’t even hesitate on the word “unique.” I certainly would have.
It isn’t clear what impact this will have on his professional life since that wasn’t a large part of the show’s considerations. But, it is clear that Kevin smiles more and more genuinely in the rest of the show. You can see the difference when he dances with the Fivers at the end of the show — which is one of the best additions of the new season.
Post script: This episode may also require a rewatch of Karamo dancing in his skivvies.
For other episodes, click here: [Ep. 1] [Ep. 2] [Ep. 4] [Ep. 5] [Ep. 6] [Ep. 7] [Ep. 8] [Ep. 9] [Ep. 10]
