Can a Feminist Diet?

[Zuul]

I can honestly say this isn't a question I'd ever considered. Can a misogynist jog? Can liberals drink?

We feminists typically view dieting — and, particularly, the diet industry – as an expression of patriarchy that is bad for women. As a scholar who studies the harmful effects of our culture’s beauty standards, I agree with this. Diets (which FAIL 95% of the time) drain women’s energy, happiness, and wallets – often while risking our health. Hence, “RIOTS, NOT DIETS!” has become a well-known rallying cheer for many feminists.

Dieting can also be understood as a type of “patriarchal bargain” (an individual woman’s decision to accept gender rules that disadvantage women-as-a-group, in exchange for whatever power she can wrest from the system). By strategically losing weight, we accept the THIN=BEAUTIFUL*GOOD equation (which implies FAT=UGLY*BAD), and propel ourselves into positions of greater social advantage. On an individual level, having “thin privilege” feels empowering.

Can a Feminist Diet?

[What Exit?]

I don't understand. Not being overweight is just smart and healthier. Dieting to meet some standard of stick thin beauty is not the same as dieting in general. I agree diets usually fail. I know this all to well. But the earlier you start watching your weight and working out the easier it is for the rest of your life. It should have nothing to do with feminism or patriarchal whatevers.

[Zuul]

Yeah, I'm a little baffled that any and all dieting is being framed as a "patriarchal bargain." Don't men diet, too? Yes, there's a lot of unhealthy body image stuff out there aimed at women, but I don't think there's anything anti-feminist about making conscious decisions to improve your diet.

[Elendil's Heir]

Agreed. Any good thing can be taken to excess. Diet for good health, when necessary, but not just to conform or to meet the unrealistic social expectations of those around you.

[Marsilia]

I was actually thinking about this article while I was coming back from Wendy's with my Baconater (I guess I'm a hardcore feminist, or something), and I was thinking about the women my straight guy friends--you know, the Patriarchy--find attractive. They're invariably more attracted to curvy women, or athletic women. They'd rather see a boobirific Victoria's Secret model than a rail thin couture model. In fact, most of the straight guys I've spoken to seem to have a similar aesthetic appreciation. It's not to say there are no guys who are into super thin girls. It's just not as pervasive--I don't think--as blogs like this want to make it seem.

Meanwhile, many straight women seem to be obsessed with thinness and the beauty of it. Women's magazines are the ones that air brush* women's curves away, then advertise celebrity diet secrets. Yes, there are "healthy at any size" and "fat pride" movements by some women, if you look for them, but you do have to look.

Now, what was that about dieting as a "patriarchal bargain"?

[Orual]

Obesity is objectively bad - it is not a tool of the patriarchy. And yeah, in my experience women are much harder on other women vis-a-vis appearance and weight than men ever are.

Sometimes other feminists make me very, very tired.

[Zuul]

I am making a patriarchal bargain to have a burrito for lunch. Mm, CHEESE=TASTY*GOOD.

[Marsilia]

I might make a patriarchal bargain at the movies later. Chili cheese fries=winning

[Oliveloaf]

I've heard Janeane Garofalo rant about this. She basically thinks that any woman who works out is caving in to male expectations. She's pretty inflexible on this point.

I couldn't help noticing that she went on this rant during a stand-up routine, and that she was wearing shorts and tights--in which she looked pretty, well, hot. I've kinda got a crush on her anyway, though I find her
uber-left position a little unrealistic.

[Elendil's Heir]

It's easy to be P.C. about body image and patriarchy when you have a high metabolism.

[Orual]

And it's a great justification for snarfing down a plate of nachos.

::nom nom nom::

STICKING IT TO THE PATRIARCHY.

::nom::

[Marsilia]

It's easy to be P.C. about body image and patriarchy when you have a high metabolism.

Or, when you don't, and want to feel like a martyr.

[hatesfreedom]

oh modern feminism.

[artifex]

Huh, and here I always thought that diabetes and heart disease were bad things, not indicators that you have shuffled off the chains of patriarchal oppression.

[Marsilia]

...I always thought that diabetes and heart disease were bad things...

LIES OF THE PATRIARCHY!!!!!

[Hatshepsut]

Vanity dieting is open to criticism, sure. But making healthy choices about exercise and food is supposed to be a bad thing if you are a feminist? I'm not buying it.

I always thought working out was a GOOD thing from a feminist perspective, because it makes you strong enough to be independent and fight off (male) attackers. Clearly I have not been paying attention to where the movement has been going in recent years.