Feminist Intersectional Analysis and Interpretation of Obesity in the U.S Essay

The discussion around obesity is based on some questions, i.e., what causes obesity? Is obesity a psychological issue is an obesity a societal problem? Is it caused by eating more calories than your body burns/ is obesity generic? Is it a lack of physical exercise the problem? Obesity prevalence rates in the United States remains high with socially disadvantaged groups, i.e., Hispanics, women, blacks as well as individuals with less education and income. In the United States different research and education programs have steadily risen with an aim to address the issue of obesity and obesity rates. In this essay I will be arguing from a feminist intersectional analysis/interpretation view of obesity in the United States.

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Feminist interpretation of obesity is studied in the fat studies field of study. Fat studies in an emerging field of study that has opened the door to exploring the cultural and political aspects of obesity more closely. Fat studies in an interdisciplinary, cross-disciplinary field of study which critiques cultural constraints notions on obesity. There exists inconclusive research linking obesity health problems arguments. Some researchers argue that obesity is not a cause for medical concern while others argue that obesity is bad for the body (Yancey, Leslie & Abel, 2006). Women have been caught at the crossroads of this discussion with women being asked to pick a side between the two opposing views. Women are being asked, on the one hand, to believe fat is bad and therefore they should revile it, on they believe that obesity is being unfairly discriminated against.

Feminism is concerned with oppression, equity, and justice which are central themes in public health ethics. There are many different ways of conceptualizing health. Though there are alternative types of knowledge, have always coexisted with legitimate or accepted knowledge. Feminists have consistently played a key role in issues especially those affecting women in the society (Weber, 2001). Therefore, feminists have challenged the biomedical approach. Researchers argue that a comprehensive feminist approach is based on eight pillars and can be characterized by its critical stance towards medical and government institutions (Weber, 2001). Feminist approach on health issues is influenced by some factors including the impact of globalization on health and our lives in general.

Feminist argue that while biomedicine is a mechanistic concept of the body which divides the individual into a collection of components, the human being as a whole, i.e., body and mind should be viewed as interacting with their physical and social environment (Weber, 2001). According to this approach, health should be defined holistically. This means that the body of human health is affected and influenced by the physical and social environment. Social relationships are likely to impact the health of an individual and thus should be encouraged (Geronimus, 2001). Also, the comprehensive feminist approach advocates for the recognition of the physiological and social differences between the sexes as opposed to the homogenizing vision of health. At the same time, the comprehensive feminist approach recognizes the differences between individuals, i.e., men and women (Weber & Parra-Medina, 2003). This approach argues that the different characteristics of a person should be acknowledged while discussing the health of a human being. These human characteristics either they are straight or gay, whether a man or a woman, societal status, i.e., rich or poor, living with a disability or not, etc. Feminists argue that these intersectionality traits should be recognized while discussing the topic of the health of human beings (Weber & Parra-Medina, 2003).

The feminist theory is concerned about exploring inequality, power dynamics, and oppression. The theory aims at giving a voice to those who are oppressed by familial, individual and institutional systems. Feminism emphasizes the importance of privileging people's desires over social expectations. Binary thinking is an obesity problem whereby obesity is viewed by many not from a medical point of view but across the social lines (Sherwin, 1992). The third wave of feminism seeks to eliminate binary thinking and instead view the obesity problem from a societal challenge point of view. Feminist researchers argue that obesity is seen as a failure for obese women. This has reduced overeating and obesity to character defects as opposed to looking at it as the expression of painful and conflicting experiences.

Medical professional according to feminists are trying to get women thin as opposed to getting then deal with the underlying problems which caused their obesity. Feminist argue that obesity is a coping mechanism for dealing with societal expectations over which women have a little say about. Therefore, the body of a woman becomes obese as their response to the first step in the process of fulfilling a prescribed social role which requires her to shape herself to an externally imposed image to catch a man. According to feminists, fat is an adaptation to the oppression of women in society (Yancey, Leslie & Abel, 2006). Obesity is, therefore, an unsatisfying personal solution and an ineffectual political attack. Fat women, for instance, are subjected to specific forms of bias and discrimination which are not directed towards fat women or thin women. According to feminist, compared to men, women are held to higher standards of thinness and suffer greater penalties if they are fat or obese. This presents double standards which according to a feminist is oppression to women.

Number of words: 891 words

Number of course readings cited: 5

Total number of citations: 9

References

Geronimus, A. T. (2001). Understanding and eliminating racial inequalities in women's health in the United States: the role of the weathering conceptual framework. Journal of the American Medical Women's Association (1972), 56(4), 133-6.

Sherwin, S. (1992). No longer patient: Feminist ethics and health care. Temple University Press.

Weber, L. (2001). Defining contested concepts. Understanding Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality: A Conceptual Framework, 92, 1-30.

Weber, L., & Parra-Medina, D. (2003). Intersectionality and women's health: Charting a path to eliminating health disparities. Gender Perspectives on Health and Medicine(pp. 181-230). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Yancey, A. K., Leslie, J., & Abel, E. K. (2006). Obesity at the crossroads: Feminist and public health perspectives. Signs: Journal of women in culture and society, 31(2), 425-443.