Exploring the Politics of Women's In/Visible `Large' Bodies

Body size is closely linked to the gendered issue of beauty or aesthetics. While slenderness is a prominent aspect of a culturally constructed beauty ideal for women (e.g. Bordo, 1993; Chernin, 1983; Malson, 1998), a 'big albeit lean body', according to Monaghan (2007: 587) is an 'int...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Feminism & psychology 2008-05, Vol.18 (2), p.260-267
Main Authors: Tischner, Irmgard, Malson, Helen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aesthetics
Attitudes
Body
Females
Feminism
Health
Human Body
Mass Media
Media
Obesity
Physical appearance
Politics
Social psychology
United Kingdom
Women
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Body size is closely linked to the gendered issue of beauty or aesthetics. While slenderness is a prominent aspect of a culturally constructed beauty ideal for women (e.g. Bordo, 1993; Chernin, 1983; Malson, 1998), a 'big albeit lean body', according to Monaghan (2007: 587) is an 'intentionally developed & valued' signifier of masculinity. Referring to Stearns (1997), Monaghan calls this the 'gendered inequalities in aestheticized body norms' (p. 587). Body size nowadays, however, is not only a matter of beauty but has become associated with irresponsibility in respect of a person's physical health & the nation's financial health, & as such both men & women seem to be (albeit still unequal) targets in the current 'war on obesity'. According to the World Health Organization (2007), the prevalence of 'overweight' & 'obesity' is increasing globally & in the UK (see also Rennie & Jebb, 2005), with health professionals & the government warning of an 'obesity epidemic' & its alleged related health risks, as well as financial implications for the nation (Department of Health, 2004a). Media coverage on the subject abounds, with regular news items on the health risks & causes of 'obesity' as well as reports on preventative measures taken in the UK & abroad. 'Large' people were warned, for example, about the risk of becoming blind (BBC, 2006a) & the nation was informed that Britain was the 'fattest country in Europe' (BBC, 2006b). Most of these reports have a negative tone & point towards the individual as the target of remedial action. [Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications Ltd., copyright 2008.]
ISSN:0959-3535
1461-7161
DOI:10.1177/0959353507083096