Fat is a Feminist Issue
“Fat is a Feminist Issue”
Summary
Susie Orbach writes about the reality that many women face with problems of obesity, overweight, social roles, and sex-stereotypes in the US. In “Fat is a Feminist Issue” the author writes in extend to the main problem that women face with overweight in America, how it has become a serious issue in the topic of obesity, and the typical “sex-role stereotypes” differences that exist today (449). Manipulated by media ads and the pressure on women to pursue the ideal physical and beauty appearance, Orbach claims that women have been the target of a “ten billion dollar industry waits to remold bodies to the latest fashion” year after year (451-52). In addition to this, Orbach gives us some background history on fashion and how media ads affected the thinking of those young ladies who lived in the 60’s and 70’s, where television started to be a mainstream along with magazines and radio. Orbach writes that in the 60’s, there were only three ways to “feel acceptable” within one’s society: to be skinny, flat chested and straight hair (451).
By the 70’s the fashion was the opposite. Clearly, this statement clarifies the historical example of the classic American culture, slammed by media ads in which women are bombarded with new fashion styles and new trends every year. The fact of the matter is that Orbach claims that being fat is a “culturally defined experience of womanhood” (449), however, she calls society to make a change in this issue in which women are constantly fighting a never ending war of overweight and obesity.
Response
After reading this essay I’ve found there are reasons as to why women in our society today overeat. In terms of overeating, and the pressures society places on women, I agree that sometimes society place too much pressure on them to look or be a certain way. There are indeed some overweight woman who are perfectly healthy, and others who are not. Although, the issue comes when we try to impose what our
Summary
Susie Orbach writes about the reality that many women face with problems of obesity, overweight, social roles, and sex-stereotypes in the US. In “Fat is a Feminist Issue” the author writes in extend to the main problem that women face with overweight in America, how it has become a serious issue in the topic of obesity, and the typical “sex-role stereotypes” differences that exist today (449). Manipulated by media ads and the pressure on women to pursue the ideal physical and beauty appearance, Orbach claims that women have been the target of a “ten billion dollar industry waits to remold bodies to the latest fashion” year after year (451-52). In addition to this, Orbach gives us some background history on fashion and how media ads affected the thinking of those young ladies who lived in the 60’s and 70’s, where television started to be a mainstream along with magazines and radio. Orbach writes that in the 60’s, there were only three ways to “feel acceptable” within one’s society: to be skinny, flat chested and straight hair (451).
By the 70’s the fashion was the opposite. Clearly, this statement clarifies the historical example of the classic American culture, slammed by media ads in which women are bombarded with new fashion styles and new trends every year. The fact of the matter is that Orbach claims that being fat is a “culturally defined experience of womanhood” (449), however, she calls society to make a change in this issue in which women are constantly fighting a never ending war of overweight and obesity.
Response
After reading this essay I’ve found there are reasons as to why women in our society today overeat. In terms of overeating, and the pressures society places on women, I agree that sometimes society place too much pressure on them to look or be a certain way. There are indeed some overweight woman who are perfectly healthy, and others who are not. Although, the issue comes when we try to impose what our
Cited: Susie, Orbach. “They Say/ I Say”. New York/London: W.W Norton & Company, 2012,2010,2009,2006.