The American Novel Has a Major Problem With Fat People
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The American Novel Has a Major Problem With Fat People
Fatphobia can be defined as a feature of social systems that unjustly rank fatter bodies as inferior to thinner bodies, in terms of not only our health but also our moral, sexual, and intellectual status.
Kate Manne • Unshrinking: How to Face Fatphobia
Just as my friend Bethany is accused of ‘glorifying obesity’ just for having the gumption to exist without shame, Lindy describes being harangued with the same question – ‘isn’t this a slippery slope into poor health?’ – every time she asserts her humanity as a fat woman. As she puts it: ‘The question itself is an assault: it validates the idea
... See moreRuby Tandoh • Eat Up: Food, Appetite and Eating What You Want
This very brief (and bastardised) history of the body reminds us that these trends are always changing and the body is political. It is a canvas for cultures to pin its systems and values.
At this time, high moral character was trending and the era believed the body was keeping score of it. Thinness became associated with the highly valued traits of
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