Am I Thin Enough Yet? Flashcards
How is a woman’s sense of worth determined?
By her ability to attract a man
What are the implications of the cultural messages found everywhere that reward thinness and punishes obesity?
- Women accept society’s standards of beauty
- Weight concerns and obsessions are normalized
- Dieting is not considered abnormal behavior, even among women who are not overweight
How do American, patriarchal industries control women?
“If women are so busy trying to control their bodies through dieting, excessive exercise, and self-improvement activities, they lose control over other important aspects of selfhood that might challenge the status quo”
What is wrong with the advertising related to female beauty industries?
“They offer ‘help’ to women, while presenting a standard nearly impossible to attain”
Who are the majority of food advertising targeted to?
Children and women
How did the food industry maximize profit?
They promoted more opportunities for snacking and created diet foods that the consumer equates with health
How does the diet and weight loss industry offer solutions?
MORE PRODUCTS!
Diet plans, products, programs targeted towards female market
What is wrong with treating women’s eating and weight problems as a disease?
Destructive eating behaviors get attributed as an addiction which blames the individual and biological realm rather than the oppressive outside forces that in sighted this behavior to begin with
-Reinforces dis-ease women feel about their bodies
Why do women continue to follow the standards of the ideal thin body?
Because of how they are rewarded by being in the right body
Access to feelings of power, self-confidence, femininity, male attention/protection, social and economic benefit
