CW: discussion of fat phobia
Philosopher Kate Manne’s new book Unshrinking: How to Face Fat Phobia is out, along with lots of accompanying press. I haven’t read the book yet, but I’m getting my copy this week and will review it for the blog. Most of the reviews are extremely positive, praising it for uncovering and subjecting fat phobia to the kind of scrutiny usually reserved for those of us with bigger bodies. Here’s an excerpt from this review:
In Unshrinking, she argues that it’s not fatness that encumbers us, but “fatphobia,” which she describes as a system of oppression signaling “that some bodies should be ignored, disregarded, and mistreated.” It’s a set of attitudes and behaviors that work, metaphorically, like a straightjacket, with catastrophic results: limiting the freedoms and opportunities of fat people, and also—as Manne demonstrates persuasively yet heartbreakingly over the course of the book—causing them serious harm.
Fatphobia isn’t grounded in reason, science, or ethics. Rather, its roots are in the dark recesses of the human psyche: disgust. Manne recounts how this aversion to fat bodies was manufactured during the Enlightenment from racist and sexist ideologies, and is operative throughout the world today. The diet industry uses this loathing to its advantage and perpetuates it, knowing full well diets don’t work, but cashing in on the myth that they do.
We at Fit is a Feminist Issue have written a lot about fatness, diet culture and the ways those of us with larger bodies are discriminated against and discouraged from fully participating in active and full lives. Manne’s book includes many of those same themes.
Body positivity is one way to do battle with fat phobia, especially those negative feelings about our own bodies. However, life just isn’t that simple. Both Sam and Tracy have written about body positivity and another approach, body neutrality. Manne looks at both of these views, moving forward with her own, which she calls body reflexivity. How to explain it? She says its ethos is found in the words “my body is for me”. She elaborates on her view in this article she wrote for Time magazine. Here’s an excerpt:
Body reflexivity is compatible, to be sure, with appreciating our bodies—and also that of others. But the uncritical lens we adopt speaks against anything like scoring… Go for a walk sometime—you can appreciate a sunset, a flower, a dog, without comparing it to others or rating it as superior, inferior, or neutral. There’s a reason the popular X account We Rate Dogs is firmly tongue-in-cheek, with each delightful creature garnering more than a 10/10. It is absurd to rate dogs; dogs are too wonderful.
And so, I’ve come to understand, are human bodies—without necessarily being, or having to be, beautiful. I have come to channel the words often said to me by my husband—“I don’t look at you with a critical eye,” which means more to me, in the end, than his also telling me I’m beautiful. I have come to view others with an attitude of gratitude and gladness that they are here in the world amongst us, in all of our glorious individuality and diversity; our vulnerability; our differences in size and shape and age and disabilities. We need not assess every body positively or neutrally when we cease to assess bodies altogether.
OMG. What an idea. At the same time, doesn’t it sound familiar?
One of the things I really like about being in my 60s is gleefully letting go of body and age and fashion norms in favor of loving on someone’s e.g. jewel-toned tunic or new-to-them scarf, or shoes with bows on them– whatever it is that clearly brings them joy. What I don’t say (except to my dear ones) is how lovely or bold or brash they look as a person, how they represent one of the many ways this world is beautiful. Their bodies are for them, and they are taking them out for a spin. I find myself admiring this so much more these days.
Readers, have you heard about or read Manne’s book? Let us know what you’re thinking. I’ll be reviewing it soon and would love to hear your thoughts as well.
