Summary

In Chapter 8, Jessica watched episodes of Catfight with Nina. The show had begun with six women who were systematically booted from the show if they lost a fight. Each of the contestants was painted as a stereotype and “she [they] seemed to move too far away from the stereotype by saying something reflective or smart [they] would self-correct” and say something to validity their supposed stupidity and vapidity (92). Ruby was portrayed as a sloppy clown on the show. Jessica paused the video after Ruby said, “but for real” (93). Nina contested that lots of people used that phrase in the nineties, not just Ruthy. Jessica knew that she was reaching, desperate for proof that the woman on the screen was their sister. Later, Jessica and Nina plotted to go to Boston where the production was being filmed.

Nina struggled to understand why anyone...