Women's Culture in Society
1. Sirena J. Riley, “The Black Beauty Myth”
2. Nomy Lamm, “It’s a Big Fat Revolution”
* Is ‘health’ an objective, neutral, or stable concept? How do we measure it? * No it is not neutral or stable. Health is measured on certain medical statistics, but the type of questions asked or the type of people analyzed vary based on sex, . Health standards vary according to climate, age, height, class, diet, gender, race, and bodily configurations. All of these influence health as a concept. The body is never in a state of perfect optimum health. Have a cold? Not enough sleep? Tripped on the way to class and have a bruise? The body is always in an ever-fluctuating state. Health also depends on what people feel about themselves. “What’s important is that I feel healthy.” * What are some assumptions we tend to make about race, class, and body image? * We tend to make the assumption that only white females have body image issues. We also tend to make the assumption that African-American females are all satisfied with their bodies and are proud of them. We also tend to associate being overweight with poverty. * How is weight preoccupation a form of imaginary control? * It’s a form of imaginary control because weight and food controls your mind and body when you have this preoccupation. Everything that you do is centered on your weight and how it will be affected. This will then control your actions and thoughts and just have control over your life in general. Psychological. * How might the ‘fat’ body be seen as a threat to ‘acceptable’ norms of behavior? * The fat body can be considered a threat because it challenges the acceptable norms of behavior. In this ideal society that people dream up, everyone is skinny, or at least of athletic build. However, those that are overweight challenge this vision and the acceptable norms of behavior. * Consumption and the links between body image, capitalism, and power: * What we eat,
2. Nomy Lamm, “It’s a Big Fat Revolution”
* Is ‘health’ an objective, neutral, or stable concept? How do we measure it? * No it is not neutral or stable. Health is measured on certain medical statistics, but the type of questions asked or the type of people analyzed vary based on sex, . Health standards vary according to climate, age, height, class, diet, gender, race, and bodily configurations. All of these influence health as a concept. The body is never in a state of perfect optimum health. Have a cold? Not enough sleep? Tripped on the way to class and have a bruise? The body is always in an ever-fluctuating state. Health also depends on what people feel about themselves. “What’s important is that I feel healthy.” * What are some assumptions we tend to make about race, class, and body image? * We tend to make the assumption that only white females have body image issues. We also tend to make the assumption that African-American females are all satisfied with their bodies and are proud of them. We also tend to associate being overweight with poverty. * How is weight preoccupation a form of imaginary control? * It’s a form of imaginary control because weight and food controls your mind and body when you have this preoccupation. Everything that you do is centered on your weight and how it will be affected. This will then control your actions and thoughts and just have control over your life in general. Psychological. * How might the ‘fat’ body be seen as a threat to ‘acceptable’ norms of behavior? * The fat body can be considered a threat because it challenges the acceptable norms of behavior. In this ideal society that people dream up, everyone is skinny, or at least of athletic build. However, those that are overweight challenge this vision and the acceptable norms of behavior. * Consumption and the links between body image, capitalism, and power: * What we eat,