Fat is a Feminist Issue and Bodies

16. Read 30 books I haven’t read before (in addition to the above) and blog about them. (3 & 4)

#3 - Fat Is a Feminist Issue by Susie Orbach

I decided to read this book because I wanted to read Orbach's new book, Bodies (#4 below).  Orbach is a renowned feminist author and scholar, although I have to admit I was not specifically familiar with her work.  However, after reading this book, I realized that I was so familiar with it that it was actually all a given in my life.  This book was initially published in 1978 and hailed as revolutionary at the time.  As I'm reading it, all I could think was, "Really?  This is new?"  It's hard for me to think that during my own lifetime, some/all of what was written in this book was true.  There's a lot about how women are raised to be subservient and quiet and not plan to work.  I read that and thought, "Ha!  Like who?"  But as I read on, I realized that I am fortunate enough to be raised in the evolution and aftermath of this scholarship.  I was not raised to be subservient to a man - quite the opposite, actually.  I was raised to expect not just to work, but to have a career. The book talks about how being fat is a symptom of how women are treated in American/British society, and for certain this is true, but a lot has changed since this book was written.  At times, it was hard to get through because it is just that dated.  However, I was reading it as a foundation for the new book, so it worked perfectly for that purpose.

#4 - Bodies by Susie Orbach

This book talks about how the idea of the body has changed and continues to change in contemporary society.  It talks about how biology is no longer destiny, how people believe cosmetic surgery can fix any aspect of their lives, and how the urge to "fix" one's body is really a symptom of so much more.  This was a really interesting read for me since I have taken drastic steps to change my body - and I have failed to maintain the change, even though I thought I knew what I was signing on for.  This book really led me to think a lot about how I think about my body, why I want to change it - specifically why do I want to lose weight.  It also made me think a lot about the bridal industry (although it's not really specifically mentioned, but who doesn't know a dozen women who all lost or tried to lose weight for wedding) and about how people I know treat their bodies and the food they intake.

It's hard for me not to be judgmental about the way people fuel and feed themselves (and their families, if they have them).  But perhaps a lot of that judgmental energy is because I feel I am unable to fuel and feed myself the way I know I would like to.  But I still feel that there are a good number of people I know who would strongly benefit from some of the knowledge and ideas in this book (and in Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, another favorite of mine that I read before starting the 101 project).

In the end, I can only be responsible for myself and, at best, lead by example.  I know that I feel better - happier - when I am in control of my diet; and by "in control" I don't mean the sort of control that is restrictive and harmful.  I often feel out of control in regards to food, like it is this feature in my life that has a shadowy power over me.  When I am confident that I am eating a healthy diet - one that is balanced and helps me build and maintain a strong body and energy - I feel better overall.  This is my food goal.  I was there once, briefly.  I can get there again.