Lessons in feminism, as demonstrated by Cass Elliot
“I’ve been fat since I was seven, and being fat sets you apart,” Cass Elliot once said, tapping into the very thing bystanders chose to weaponise throughout her entire career. Elliot was much more than just her appearance; her approach to femininity and strength taught an entire generation about society’s wrongdoings and its approach to music diversity.
Elliot established a realm of independent women on demeanour and talent alone, mentally flipping the finger to anyone who was brave and bigoted enough to disregard her ethos. When The Mamas and The Papas achieved stardom in the mid-1960s, two of the major cornerstones of musical culture were The Beatles and misogynistic language.
However, Elliot lived her life the way she wanted to, often at the expense of others but for good reason. According to her bandmate and close friend Michelle Phillips, “more than most people I know, Cass was a big liver.” As a single mother and a lover of laughter, being around Elliot was both inspirational and uplifting. Oftentimes, she would also improvise her way through, even if it went against 1960s expectations.
Once, while performing with Big 3, a wardrobe malfunction almost stalled the performance, but Elliot was quick to suggest ideas, exclaiming: “Sew two sheets together and let me get out there!” At the time, modesty was a definitive value in the industry, but Elliot possessed a different sort of authenticity that reinstated the quintessential human factor that a lot of the business was missing. It was all about showbiz, but Elliot just wanted to be.
Elliot, of course, felt pressure when it came to her appearance, particularly after appearing on stage every night with Phillips. However, her confidence allowed her to break the mould of what was the norm back then: teenagers suddenly started to feel represented, empowered by the fact that people of all body types could occupy a stage and command a spotlight without being ridiculed.
Although it’s easy to view Elliot’s impact on broader culture through a modern lens, she also infiltrated the minds of those closest to her for the better. Despite engaging in various tiffs with her musical partner, Phillips, Elliot also had a lot to give when it came to teachable relationship moments. Specifically, the moments Phillips found herself in with lovers, no matter how fleeting.
“I wanted to be just like Cass,” Phillips once explained, discussing the ways in which she helped her during her most difficult times. “Cass liberated me; she stopped John from trying to have too much control over me. She taught me a lot about feminism, and she always encouraged me, although I was obviously inferior to her as a singer.”
Although Phillips regards Elliot’s sense of humour as her best quality, it takes a lot of courage to look at those around you and challenge their actions and values. Elliot was undeniably gifted when it came to musical talent, but she also adopted a certain burliness that a lot of female audiences didn’t think was even possible at the time.
However, her ability to hold up a mirror to society and urge it to do better became an integral part of her legacy. Many view The Mamas and The Papas as a single entity, but a lot of it was just Elliot doing what she did best and igniting the path for future music lovers and strong challengers who would change the industry for the better.
