Deenie

Deenie is made to wear a Milwaukee brace until the end of her adolescent growth spurt to correct her scoliosis, and her changing relationship with the brace becomes a metaphor for her changing sense of herself and her identity. This type of brace is visible even under clothing and fairly cumbersome, which affects Deenie’s self-image and sets up the novel’s theme of Disability as a Catalyst for Self-Acceptance. The young girl feels very self-conscious about it and becomes hyper-aware of other people’s attitudes, which range from curiosity to ostracization. As a result, Deenie’s brace spurs her emotional journey throughout the book, using her changing physical appearance to explore the challenges of growing up and identity during adolescence.

The contrast between Deenie’s condition, visible because of the brace, and Thelma’s emphasis on her beauty further highlights this symbolism. Due to a combination of familial and social factors, Deenie’s relationship to beauty standards strongly correlates with superficial societal norms rather than what lies below an individual’s surface. The focus on Deenie’s appearance has left little room for the young girl to explore her own desires and ambitions outside of modeling. The brace challenges her preconceived notions about her self-image and pushes her to explore deeper, more meaningful facets of her identity.

At first, Deenie is very resistant to the idea of wearing a brace, which exposes Deenie’s insecurities, suddenly made visible to the world and exposing her emotional vulnerabilities. The young girl tries to conceal the device by wearing scarves and larger clothing, she refuses to let her classmates see her change in gym class, and she even refuses to wear an undershirt for fear of being judged. Over the course of the story, however, Deenie befriends Barbara, whom she initially judged based only on the young girl’s appearance. Deenie also receives support and validation from her friends, as well as from her sister Helen. Eventually, she even agrees to wear an undershirt to protect her skin, a decision which hints at her journey toward self-acceptance.

At the end of the novel, Deenie’s dilemma on whether to keep her brace or remove it at Janet’s party illustrates her growth. The young girl’s decision to keep it on reveals that she now fully embraces her condition and has overcome her fears of being stigmatized for it. She does not feel the need to hide the brace—or, symbolically, her emotional insecurities—anymore.