Obesity: Not a Symbol of Feminism
A medical doctor looks over his patient’s clinical history and notices a 35 pound weight gain of his patient. The doctor, confused, asks his patient the reason why she has gained the significant amount of weight. The patient responds, “I’m displaying feminism by trying to become fat.” The doctor, like any other logical person, is bewildered and attempts to persuade her to change her new habit. However, this one woman thinks differently than the average, sensical person. An article titled “Fat is a Feminist Issue” by author and psychotherapist Susie Orbach explains her ideology that women who are overweight are a direct representation of feminism. She gives examples of how women are too pressured and treated unequally. Consequently, she claims that females are becoming fat in retaliation to these complications. Orbach describes her idea on the relationship between fat and feminism; however, she inaccurately reports that obesity is not a lack of self-control, women are genuinely treated unequally, and fatness is a message of womanism.
In the article, Orbach describes her belief that women becoming overweight is simply a feminist tactic to display that they are not a replication of society’s sex ideals. Orbach states, “Getting fat can thus be understood as a definite and purposeful act; it is a directed, conscious or unconscious, challenge to sex-role stereotyping and culturally defined experience of womanhood” (449). What Orbach is saying here is that a woman purposefully attempting to become obese is justified because she is trying to prove that she is not a sex object. Orbach further asserts that women are thought of differently than men in terms of work, authority, and limits (450). She believes these classifications are made because of a woman’s biological ability to reproduce and nourish human beings (Orbach 450). In addition, Orbach declares that in order for a female to obtain a male, the woman has to think of herself only as a tool for sex. As a result, Orbach believes that industries dealing with physical image take advantage of these women desperate to find a man (451). Finally, he also claims that ever-changing body trends are a reason why women consistently feel undesirable (451). In summary, Orbach firmly supposes that women being fat is an act of feminism, which displays defiance against the expected physical standards of society.
In most circumstances, being overweight does equate to an individual having a hard time controlling what he or she eats; also, it most certainly does not represent resilience, courage, motherhood, or feminism. Orbach mistakenly asserts that “Fat is not about lack of self-control or lack of willpower. Fat is about protection, sex, nurturance, strength, boundaries, mothering, substance, assertion, and rage” (449). Most humans, with the exceptions of hereditary predispositions to be overweight, are fat simply because they allow themselves to eat more calories than they burn. This statement is a harsh truth, but most people would rather eat a bacon and grease smothered triple cheeseburger instead of a chicken salad. In addition, excess fatty tissue of the skin does not relate to any of the topics Orbach mentioned. For example, fat cells are not muscles cells and, consequently, do not make a person strong. Also, being fat does not make a woman a better mother. Lastly, a person being overweight does not symbolize a person’s rage: it simply symbolizes a person being overweight. On a different note, women are not treated unequally in the workplace because of a biological difference.
A woman is not classified differently than a man in terms of occupation or reputation just because a woman is able to become pregnant and deliver a child. Orbach inaccurately and carelessly states, “While this biological capacity [ability to give birth] is the only known genetic difference between men and women, it is used as the basis on which to divide unequally women and men’s labor, power, roles and expectations” (450). I believe this claim is unsound and has little evidence to prove it. However, there is a vast amount of research against the claim. For example, in the past few years, a study found that women made up 51 percent of all workers in a professional occupation (BLS Reports par. 11). Also, in the late 1970s, women earned 62 percent of what men did; now, that gap has increased to 82 percent (BLS Reports par. 1). Likewise, if Orbach or any other woman was treated unequally at her job, I highly doubt it was because of her ability to bring a baby into the world. I believe that Orbach is purely making an irrelevant generalization to try to prove her point. Moreover, Orbach also believes that being fat is a symbol that she will not be discriminated or treated differently. She thinks this symbolization will spread her nonsensical message to her boss, spouse, and society.
A erroneous and ludicrous remark Orbach states is that the fat on her body tells the world that she does not conform to the pressure to look a specific way. She mistakenly declares, “My fat says ‘screw you’ to all who want me to be the perfect mom, sweetheart, [and] maid. Take me for who I am, not for who I’m supposed to be. If you really interested in me, you can wade through the layers and find out who I am” (qtd. in Orbach 452). The only person Orbach is saying, “screw you” to is to herself. Allowing herself to be overweight will lead to short and long term health problems such as high blood pressure and risk of heart disease. Equally, being purposefully fat is not a positive element in any person’s life. Most individuals with excess weight feel unpleasant physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Author and psychotherapist Susie Orbach describes her idea on the relationship between fat and feminism; however, she inaccurately reports that obesity is not a lack of self-control, women are genuinely treated unequally, and fatness is a message of womanism. Orbach’s article titled “Fat is a Feminist Issue” by author and psychotherapist Orbach explains her idea that overweight females are merely demonstrating an act of feminism. She believes that these women are exhibiting that they do not fall to the pressure of society. However, logical people do not view obesity as an act of feminism but as a personal problem and a health risk. In short, a doctor should be totally astounded and doubtful if his patient claims to be overweight because they are a feminist.
Works Cited
Orbach, Susie. "Fat Is a Feminist Issue." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy
Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 448-453. Print.
BLS Reports: Women in the Labor Force. Rep. no. 1059. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015. Print.
In the article, Orbach describes her belief that women becoming overweight is simply a feminist tactic to display that they are not a replication of society’s sex ideals. Orbach states, “Getting fat can thus be understood as a definite and purposeful act; it is a directed, conscious or unconscious, challenge to sex-role stereotyping and culturally defined experience of womanhood” (449). What Orbach is saying here is that a woman purposefully attempting to become obese is justified because she is trying to prove that she is not a sex object. Orbach further asserts that women are thought of differently than men in terms of work, authority, and limits (450). She believes these classifications are made because of a woman’s biological ability to reproduce and nourish human beings (Orbach 450). In addition, Orbach declares that in order for a female to obtain a male, the woman has to think of herself only as a tool for sex. As a result, Orbach believes that industries dealing with physical image take advantage of these women desperate to find a man (451). Finally, he also claims that ever-changing body trends are a reason why women consistently feel undesirable (451). In summary, Orbach firmly supposes that women being fat is an act of feminism, which displays defiance against the expected physical standards of society.
In most circumstances, being overweight does equate to an individual having a hard time controlling what he or she eats; also, it most certainly does not represent resilience, courage, motherhood, or feminism. Orbach mistakenly asserts that “Fat is not about lack of self-control or lack of willpower. Fat is about protection, sex, nurturance, strength, boundaries, mothering, substance, assertion, and rage” (449). Most humans, with the exceptions of hereditary predispositions to be overweight, are fat simply because they allow themselves to eat more calories than they burn. This statement is a harsh truth, but most people would rather eat a bacon and grease smothered triple cheeseburger instead of a chicken salad. In addition, excess fatty tissue of the skin does not relate to any of the topics Orbach mentioned. For example, fat cells are not muscles cells and, consequently, do not make a person strong. Also, being fat does not make a woman a better mother. Lastly, a person being overweight does not symbolize a person’s rage: it simply symbolizes a person being overweight. On a different note, women are not treated unequally in the workplace because of a biological difference.
A woman is not classified differently than a man in terms of occupation or reputation just because a woman is able to become pregnant and deliver a child. Orbach inaccurately and carelessly states, “While this biological capacity [ability to give birth] is the only known genetic difference between men and women, it is used as the basis on which to divide unequally women and men’s labor, power, roles and expectations” (450). I believe this claim is unsound and has little evidence to prove it. However, there is a vast amount of research against the claim. For example, in the past few years, a study found that women made up 51 percent of all workers in a professional occupation (BLS Reports par. 11). Also, in the late 1970s, women earned 62 percent of what men did; now, that gap has increased to 82 percent (BLS Reports par. 1). Likewise, if Orbach or any other woman was treated unequally at her job, I highly doubt it was because of her ability to bring a baby into the world. I believe that Orbach is purely making an irrelevant generalization to try to prove her point. Moreover, Orbach also believes that being fat is a symbol that she will not be discriminated or treated differently. She thinks this symbolization will spread her nonsensical message to her boss, spouse, and society.
A erroneous and ludicrous remark Orbach states is that the fat on her body tells the world that she does not conform to the pressure to look a specific way. She mistakenly declares, “My fat says ‘screw you’ to all who want me to be the perfect mom, sweetheart, [and] maid. Take me for who I am, not for who I’m supposed to be. If you really interested in me, you can wade through the layers and find out who I am” (qtd. in Orbach 452). The only person Orbach is saying, “screw you” to is to herself. Allowing herself to be overweight will lead to short and long term health problems such as high blood pressure and risk of heart disease. Equally, being purposefully fat is not a positive element in any person’s life. Most individuals with excess weight feel unpleasant physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Author and psychotherapist Susie Orbach describes her idea on the relationship between fat and feminism; however, she inaccurately reports that obesity is not a lack of self-control, women are genuinely treated unequally, and fatness is a message of womanism. Orbach’s article titled “Fat is a Feminist Issue” by author and psychotherapist Orbach explains her idea that overweight females are merely demonstrating an act of feminism. She believes that these women are exhibiting that they do not fall to the pressure of society. However, logical people do not view obesity as an act of feminism but as a personal problem and a health risk. In short, a doctor should be totally astounded and doubtful if his patient claims to be overweight because they are a feminist.
Works Cited
Orbach, Susie. "Fat Is a Feminist Issue." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy
Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 448-453. Print.
BLS Reports: Women in the Labor Force. Rep. no. 1059. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015. Print.